FIRST ALERT: Frosty night ahead, all eyes on late week

MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WMBF) - Winds will diminish as cold air settles in for tonight. A late week storm system may deliver a risk of wintry weather.

Gusty winds will quickly ease off tonight. With clear skies and light winds, temperatures will quickly fall into the middle and upper 20s inland and upper 20s to lower 30s along the Grand Strand. Plenty of moisture in the ground from Sunday’s rain combined with cold temperatures means a heavy frost is likely early Tuesday.

Tuesday afternoon will be sunny and less windy with temperatures climbing to near 50.

A bit of warm up arrive on Wednesday and Thursday as afternoon temperatures climb all the way into the upper 50s to near 60.

Major changes will start to arrive on Thursday and Thursday night as a cold front ushers Arctic air into the region. As the front moves through, a few showers will be possible during the day.

Thursday night and Friday will see the front push off shore and much colder air move into the area. The front will stall over the Atlantic and will be the focus for an area of low pressure to develop. The developing area of low pressure may through moisture back into the Carolinas. With such cold air in place, wintry weather is possible.

The exact position and strength of the off shore area of low pressure will determine what kind of wintry weather the area may see. If it’s too strong and very near the coast, mainly rain would fall with any ice or snow well inland across the western Carolinas.

If low pressure is far enough off shore, freezing rain, sleet or even a little snow would be possible. If the low pressure is too far off shore, moisture would not make it on land and the forecast would remain dry.

At this point, all scenarios remain possible and the forecast may change drastically over the next few days. Stay tuned!!

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