5 hours Ago By GENE ZALESKI T&D Staff Writer
The coldest air of the season is forecast to grip Orangeburg, Calhoun and Bamberg counties this weekend and into early next week. Temperatures are expected to dip below freezing early Monday. Also, a cold front will move into the area on Thanksgiving Day, bringing with it the possibility of isolated severe storms.
There’s a slight chance of showers before noon Thursday, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between noon and 2 p.m. Showers are likely and a thunderstorm is possible after 2 p.
m., according to the National Weather Service. Thursday’s high temperature is forecast to be 74, dropping to a low of 45 that night.
Friday, Saturday and Sunday are forecast to have highs in the 50s. Friday and Saturday nights will have temperatures at or near freezing. The forecast low for Orangeburg Monday morning is 28 degrees.
That will most likely require the National Weather Service to issue its first freeze warning for the area. There is an increased threat of water pipes freezing on Tuesday morning. Tuesday morning’s forecast low is 25 degrees.
Monday and Tuesday’s high temperatures will be around 50. The cold snap will officially end the growing season. The normal high temperature for Orangeburg for early December is 61 degrees.
The average low temperature for this time of year is 38. The temperatures are more typical for mid-January. Temperatures and rainfall for the next two weeks are forecast to both be below normal.
Freeze protection tips include: • Bring plants indoors. • Water plants thoroughly. • Cover tender plants overnight with an inverted bucket or flower pot, or with a layer of mulch.
It is important to uncover them in the morning when the temperature rises above freezing. • Cover larger plants such as shrubs and trees with fabric, old bed sheets, burlap or commercial frost cloths (avoid using plastic). • To prevent freezing and possible bursting of outdoor water pipes, they should be wrapped, drained, or allowed to drip slowly.
• Those that have in-ground sprinkler systems should drain them and cover above-ground pipes to protect them from freezing. Contact the writer: [email protected] or 803-533-5551.
Check out Zaleski on Twitter at @ZaleskiTD. Get the daily forecast and severe weather alerts in your inbox! Staff Writer {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items..
