Extreme Cold Warning Hits North Carolina, South Carolina, and Northeast Georgia as Dangerous Wind Chills Plunge to -30°F
NORTHEAST GEORGIA — A powerful surge of arctic air is bringing life-threatening cold to parts of North Carolina, South Carolina, and northeast Georgia, prompting an Extreme Cold Warning from Saturday afternoon through Sunday morning, according to National Weather Service offices in the Carolinas.
Forecasters warn that wind chill values will drop as low as -15°F to -30°F in the mountains, with single-digit and sub-zero wind chills spreading into foothill and Piedmont communities overnight.
Extreme Cold Warning Timeline and Areas Affected
The warning is split by elevation and region:
- North Carolina & South Carolina Mountains:
Saturday 1 PM through Sunday 1 PM - Foothills and Piedmont (including Upstate SC):
Saturday 7 PM through Sunday 10 AM
Counties across western North Carolina, Upstate South Carolina, and northeast Georgia are included, with major population centers such as Asheville, Greenville, Spartanburg, Hickory, and surrounding communities facing dangerously cold conditions.
Wind Chills to Reach Life-Threatening Levels
Meteorologists emphasize that wind — not just temperature — is the primary danger with this event.
- Mountain wind chills: as low as -30°F
- Foothills: -10°F to -20°F
- Piedmont areas: near 0°F or slightly below
At these levels, frostbite can occur in as little as 10 minutes, especially on exposed skin.
Daytime Temperatures Remain Below Freezing
Even during daylight hours on Saturday, temperatures struggle to rise:
- Western North Carolina highs: upper teens to low 20s
- Upstate South Carolina & northeast Georgia highs: mid-20s to near 30°F
Saturday night brings the most dangerous conditions as clear skies and gusty winds allow arctic air to fully settle across the region.
Why This Cold Is Especially Dangerous
Unlike short cold snaps, this system combines:
- Strong arctic air
- Persistent winds
- Very low humidity
This combination dramatically increases heat loss from the human body, raising the risk of:
- Hypothermia
- Frostbite
- Frozen pipes
- Power strain and heating failures
Safety Officials Urge Immediate Precautions
Residents across NC, SC, and GA are urged to take this cold seriously:
- Limit outdoor exposure
- Wear multiple insulated layers
- Cover exposed skin completely
- Bring pets indoors
- Protect exposed plumbing
- Check on elderly neighbors and those without adequate heat
Cold Pattern May Continue Into February
Forecasters also note this is not an isolated event. Climate outlooks indicate another round of below-normal temperatures may impact the eastern United States between February 7 and February 13, though exact impacts will become clearer in the coming days.
Stay with WaldronNews for continued weather alerts, state-specific updates, and safety guidance as this dangerous cold outbreak unfolds.