South Carolina is a state where you can see all that Mother Nature has to offer — including some extreme weather. From hot, humid summers to bitter cold moving with the occasional heavy snowfall in the winter. What about the extremes? 

Temperatures

The Palmetto State is probably more known for the heat we experience during the long summer months. Average high temperatures top out around the 90s from June through August for much of the state, and combined with the oppressive humidity, the feels-like temperatures routinely top out above 100 degrees.

In 2012, the South Carolina Upstate and Midlands had a record-shattering heat wave that brought widespread heat above 100 degrees. Columbia hit 113 degrees, which still stands as South Carolina’s highest temperature on record.

Alternatively, we can get some bitter cold during the winter. Overnight low temperatures regularly drop down near the freezing mark, especially in the Upstate.

In 1985, a record cold snap swept over the eastern U.S. leading to 15 deaths in South Carolina. Caesars Head in Greenville County broke the state record for the lowest temperature when it dropped to -19 degrees.

Precipitation

Coastal South Carolina can feel like a tropical paradise during the summer. Unfortunately, that comes with the threat for tropical weather and hurricanes, too. Hurricane Floyd brushed past the coast in 1999 before making landfall in Cape Fear, N.C., and it brought up to 15 to 20 inches rainfall to Horry County.

According to the South Carolina State Climatology Office, the Waccamaw River flooded more than 1700 homes and remained above the flood stage for 55 days. Myrtle Beach received 16.8 inches of rainfall from Floyd, including 14.8 inches in just 24 hours.

Except for portions of the Upstate and the higher elevations, South Carolina doesn’t average a lot of snowfall every winter. It doesn’t mean that it never happens, though, as some winters have delivered snow measured in feet.

The Blizzard of 1973 is remembered as one of the most significant snowfall events for the entire state. Surprisingly, the Upstate didn’t see much snow at all from this storm. Most of the snow fell in the Midlands.

The highest snowfall total was in Clarendon County, just south-southwest of Rimini. 24 inches of snow fell there, with totals in coastal areas up to 6 inches. Property damage estimates were over $30 million.

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