Myrtle Beach New Home Community NEWS |
It snowed a few inches - from 2.5 to 5.5 in certain areas- in Myrtle Beach yesterday. This is quite a rare occurrence for the Myrtle Beach area. Snow is an infrequent occurrence along the South Carolina coast. The combination of cold air and moisture is difficult to achieve since winds bringing moisture in from the Atlantic Ocean or Gulf of Mexico are almost always bringing warmth in as well.
Of note have been just a couple of snowfall events of some significance. In December of 1989 roughly 14 inches of snow fell in Myrtle Beach, in March of 1983, roughly 7 inches of snow fell in Myrtle Beach, and in 1973 roughly 9 inches of snow fell in Myrtle Beach. That’s about it!
Myrtle Beach rarely sees snow because of its relatively warm coastal climate, meaning temperatures seldom drop low enough for precipitation to fall as snow; instead, it usually falls as rain, and even when cold air does move in, the area often lacks the necessary moisture to produce significant snowfall; the average annual snowfall in Myrtle Beach is minimal, usually less than an inch per year.
Myrtle Beach, SC had never had a long, systematic snowfall record. After examining snowfall measurements from FAA and U.S. Air Force records at the Myrtle Beach airport, local NWS cooperative observer records at various locations around Myrtle Beach, and unofficial reports from newspapers and the public, they have been able to thread together an unofficial snowfall climatology for Myrtle Beach dating back to 1940. Although not official in a legal sense, this snowfall record helps fill a gap in the understanding of the frequency and severity of wintry weather in South Carolina.
The accompanying graphic from the National Weather Service shows just how infrequent snow is in the Myrtle Beach area.
The National Weather Service (NWS) provide weather, water and climate data, forecasts, warnings, and impact-based decision support services for the protection of life and property and enhancement of the national economy.
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