Rare Southern Snowfall Breaks Multi-Decade Records Across South Carolina and Georgia, With Some Areas Seeing Their Heaviest Snow Since 2004

UNITED STATES — A rare and significant winter storm brought widespread snowfall across parts of South Carolina and eastern Georgia over the weekend, producing amounts that many communities have not experienced in more than a decade — and in some cases, more than 20 years — according to snowfall analysis data from the National Weather Service office in Columbia, South Carolina.

Snowfall reports collected between 1:00 a.m. Saturday, January 31, and 7:00 a.m. Sunday, February 1 show accumulations ranging from 1 inch to nearly 9 inches, with the heaviest totals concentrated across central and northern South Carolina.

Central South Carolina Sees Widespread 3 to 6 Inches of Snow

Much of central South Carolina, including areas surrounding Columbia, recorded 3 to 5 inches of snow, an unusually high amount for the region. Observations across Richland, Lexington, and neighboring counties consistently reported totals near 3.5 to 5.5 inches, confirming a widespread, impactful snowfall event.

Several locations north and northwest of Columbia exceeded 5 inches, with localized reports approaching 5.4 to 5.5 inches, placing this storm among the more notable winter events in recent regional history.

Northern Midlands and Pee Dee Region Record Higher Totals

Farther north and northeast, snowfall amounts increased even more. Portions of the Pee Dee region and northern Midlands reported 6 to nearly 9 inches of snow, with some of the highest totals occurring near the North Carolina border.

The map shows isolated reports of 8.4 to 8.9 inches, marking the heaviest snowfall in those areas in decades. These totals stand out sharply in a region where measurable snow is infrequent and accumulations of this magnitude are rare.

Historic Context Highlights How Unusual This Storm Was

According to climatological comparisons included with the data:

• The Augusta, Georgia area experienced its most snow since February 2010
• The Columbia, South Carolina area saw its largest snowfall since January 2011
• The Lancaster and Chesterfield County areas recorded their most snow since February 2004

For Lancaster and Chesterfield, this storm represents over 20 years since a comparable snowfall, underscoring how exceptional the event was for northeastern South Carolina.

Southern and Coastal Areas See Lighter but Still Notable Snow

Snowfall amounts tapered moving south and east, but many locations still recorded 1 to 3 inches, including parts of southern South Carolina. Even lighter totals in these areas are notable given the region’s typically mild winter climate.

The widespread nature of the reports shows that this was not an isolated band of snow, but rather a broad winter storm impacting much of the state, from inland counties to areas closer to the coast.

A Rare Winter Event for the Deep South

Snowstorms producing this level of accumulation remain uncommon across South Carolina and Georgia, particularly in the modern climate record. For many residents, this event will be remembered as a once-in-a-generation snowfall, disrupting travel, closing schools, and reshaping how the region views winter weather risks.

As snow reports continue to be archived, this storm will likely rank among the most significant southern winter events of the past two decades.

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