Lowcountry on lookout for snow tonight

MORNING HEADLINES | The first big winter snow in six years is heading to South Carolina as a storm is expected to coat the coast tonight with snow, sleet and freezing rain.

Coastal regions can expect about one inch of ice/snow while people further inland could see two to four inches. It will snarl roads and chill bones.

Temperatures, which will be in the mid-30s for much of the day in Charleston, will start dropping at sunset and may plunge to 27 degrees, forecasts say.

The National Weather Service in Charleston has issued a winter storm warning for Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton and Dorchester counties from 5 p.m. Tuesday until noon Wednesday.

The city of Charleston says it is actively taking steps ahead of the storm, working closely with Charleston County Emergency Management officials, the S.C. Department of Transportation and the National Weather Service to monitor the situation and prepare roads for potential closures.

In response to the inclement weather, city offices will close at 3 p.m. Tuesday and will remain closed all day Wednesday, while Charleston County schools will have a two-hour early dismissal on Tuesday and will remain closed through Wednesday.

Tips for keeping safe and warm:

Add winter supplies, like shovels and rock salt, to your emergency kit.
Prepare for possible isolation in your home by having sufficient heating fuel; regular fuel sources may be cut off.
Insulate pipes with insulation or newspapers and plastic and let faucets drip slightly in cold weather to prevent freezing.
Use portable generators carefully during outages; follow the manufacturer’s instructions to avoid deadly carbon monoxide poisoning.
Drip faucets in your hope one drop per second to prevent pipes from freezing.
Ensure your fireplace has a sturdy screen to contain sparks. Cool ashes before placing them in a metal container, kept at a safe distance from your home.
Have chimneys inspected and cleaned yearly by a professional to prevent creosote buildup, which is highly flammable.
Equip every vehicle with a winter emergency kit, including a shovel, windshield scraper, flashlight, battery-powered radio, water, snacks, matches, extra hats, socks, mittens, a first aid kit, medications, blankets, road salt, booster cables, emergency flares and a fluorescent distress flag.

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