Honestly, if you’ve spent any time in Berkeley County, you know the drill. You wake up in Moncks Corner and it’s basically freezing, but by lunchtime, you’re considering shedding that heavy coat for a light hoodie. It’s a weird, temperamental dance.
Right now, we are sitting in the thick of a Cold Weather Advisory. As of early Friday morning, January 16, 2026, the temperature in Moncks Corner is a crisp 27°F. It feels like 24°F thanks to a light 4 mph breeze coming from the southwest. It’s sunny, sure, but that sun is doing precious little to fight off the chill just yet.
People think "South Carolina" and immediately imagine palm trees and humid 90-degree afternoons. While that’s our bread and butter for six months of the year, January in the Lowcountry is a different beast entirely. It’s a month of sharp contrasts.
The Weekend Rollercoaster: Sun, 60s, and... Snow?
If you’re planning your weekend, buckle up. The forecast for Moncks Corner is doing that thing where it tries to be every season at once.
Today, Friday, January 16, is going to stay beautiful but chilly. We’re looking at a high of 50°F and a low tonight of 26°F. It’s dry, with humidity hovering around 35%. Basically, it’s a perfect day to stay inside or, if you’re brave, take a very brisk walk near Lake Moultrie.
But look at Saturday. We jump up to a high of 63°F. That is a 13-degree swing in 24 hours. It’ll be mostly cloudy, and you’ll start to feel that southwest wind picking up to about 10 mph.
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Then, the curveball.
Sunday, January 18, brings a legitimate chance of rain and snow. Yeah, you read that right. Snow in Moncks Corner. We’re looking at a 75% chance of precipitation during the day with a high of only 46°F. Most of the time, our "snow" is just slush that disappears before it hits the ground, but with a low of 30°F coming Sunday night, things could get interesting on the back roads.
The 10-Day Outlook at a Glance
Converting the raw data into something you can actually use:
- Monday & Tuesday (Jan 19-20): The sky clears out completely. It’ll be sunny but cold, with highs struggling to get past 52°F and 44°F respectively. Overnight lows will dip back to the 29°F to 30°F range.
- Mid-Week Rebound: By Wednesday and Thursday, we’re back into the mid-to-upper 50s. Cloud cover increases, but the rain risk stays low—around 10%.
- Next Weekend: Temperatures stay moderate, hitting 59°F on Saturday, January 24, with some light rain likely moving in late that night.
Why Moncks Corner Weather Is So Moody
There is a science to why we feel the cold differently here. Humidity is the culprit. Even when it’s cold, our humidity levels often stay high—Sunday’s humidity is projected at 81%.
In a dry climate, 30 degrees is cold. In the Lowcountry, 30 degrees with 80% humidity feels like the cold is actually trying to move into your bones and sign a lease. It’s a "wet cold."
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Also, being nestled between Lake Moultrie and the Cooper River creates micro-climates. You’ll often find that the temperature right by the water stays a few degrees warmer than the inland patches of the Francis Marion National Forest, simply because the water retains heat longer than the soil.
Common Misconceptions About Our Winter
I hear it all the time: "It’s too far south to snow."
Tell that to the 1989 or 2018 versions of us. While it’s rare, a "clipper system" or a well-timed "nor'easter" can absolutely dump snow on Berkeley County. The big issue isn't the snow itself; it’s the ice. Since our ground rarely stays frozen, snow often melts slightly on impact and then refreezes into a sheet of black ice once the sun goes down.
Another myth? That the "H" on the weather map stands for "Hot."
Actually, that blue "H" stands for High Pressure. In the winter, High Pressure usually means clear skies and colder temperatures because there are no clouds to act as a blanket and keep the Earth's heat from escaping into space. That’s exactly what we’re seeing this Friday—sunny skies but freezing mornings.
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Survival Tips for the Moncks Corner Chill
Since we aren't exactly equipped like Buffalo, New York, we have to be a bit more proactive when the mercury drops.
Protect Your Pipes
We don't bury our water lines as deep as they do up North. If you’re in an older home near the downtown area or out toward Pinopolis, wrap those exposed pipes. A slow drip in the faucet furthest from your main line can save you a $3,000 plumbing bill on Monday morning.
The "Pet Rule"
If you’re shivering in your driveway, your dog is shivering in the yard. If the temperature is going to be below 32°F—which is the case for most of this coming week—bring them inside. At the very least, make sure they have a wind-proof shelter and fresh, non-frozen water.
Watch the Bridges
Bridges freeze before roads. The Tailrace Canal bridge and the diversions can get slick long before the main stretch of Highway 52 does. If Sunday’s rain-to-snow transition happens, give yourself an extra 15 minutes for the commute.
Actionable Next Steps
- Check your antifreeze: With lows hitting the mid-20s this morning and again on Sunday night, make sure your vehicle's cooling system is actually ready for a freeze.
- Audit your emergency kit: Sunday's 75% chance of wintry mix might not shut the city down, but it's a good excuse to ensure you have blankets, a flashlight, and a few days of non-perishable food in the house.
- Drip the faucets: Plan to let your faucets drip Saturday night through Tuesday morning to prevent pressure buildup in your pipes.