Myrtle Beach, South Carolina — Near-blizzard to blizzard conditions are possible along the Grand Strand through Sunday morning, creating extremely dangerous travel conditions and increasing the risk of power outages along major coastal roadways.
According to the National Weather Service Weather Prediction Center, a rapidly strengthening coastal storm is producing powerful onshore winds and heavy snow from northeastern South Carolina northward through far southeastern Virginia. Along the coast, wind gusts are expected to become strong enough to sharply reduce visibility as snow is blown across roadways, particularly along U.S. Highway 17 and connecting routes.
Forecasters warn that blowing and drifting snow could make travel extremely treacherous overnight into early Sunday, even where snowfall totals are lower than inland areas. Visibility may drop rapidly during heavier snow bands, making driving hazardous or impossible at times. Officials caution that conditions may meet or approach blizzard criteria for short periods along exposed coastal areas.
The Weather Prediction Center also notes that the strong onshore winds could become potentially damaging, raising the likelihood of scattered to widespread power outages across coastal communities. Snow accumulation combined with wind stress may impact power lines and trees, especially in areas closer to the shoreline.
This storm is part of a larger winter system affecting much of the eastern United States. Snowfall has already been reported across western and central North Carolina, and impacts are continuing to expand eastward as the storm intensifies offshore.
Residents and visitors along the Grand Strand are urged to avoid unnecessary travel overnight and into Sunday morning, particularly commuters, service workers, and early-morning drivers. Conditions are expected to gradually improve later Sunday as winds weaken, but lingering impacts may persist into the afternoon.
