Honestly, if you've lived in the Upstate for more than a week, you know the deal. You wake up to a "cloudy" outlook, grab a heavy coat, and by noon you're sweating in 50-degree humidity while wondering why you trusted the screen in your pocket. Right now, it’s about 37°F outside in Anderson. It feels like 34°F because of a light 4 mph breeze coming from the south. The sky is mostly cloudy, which is pretty standard for a January night around here.
But the real story isn't just the current temperature. It's the weird, oscillating nature of the weather forecast Anderson SC residents have to deal with this week. We’re looking at a high of 53°F today, Saturday, January 17, but don't get too comfortable. By tomorrow, that high drops to 41°F. That’s a 12-degree swing in 24 hours. Classic South Carolina.
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The January Seesaw: Rain, Snow, and Sunshine
If you're looking at the week ahead, it's a bit of a mess. Today has a 26% chance of rain, and tonight that shifts into a 20% chance of snow. Will it stick? Probably not. Usually, when we see these low-percentage snow "threats" in the Upstate, it's just enough to make people panic-buy milk and bread at the Publix on Highway 81, only for the ground to stay perfectly dry.
The humidity is sitting at 54% right now, but it'll climb toward 64% as the day progresses. It’s that damp, "gets in your bones" kind of cold that makes 37 degrees feel way worse than it would in a drier climate like out west.
What the next few days look like:
- Sunday, January 18: It’ll be sunny with a high of 41°F and a low of 29°F. The wind is going to kick up a bit from the west at 13 mph, so it’ll feel significantly colder than the actual thermometer reading.
- Monday, January 19: Expect more sun. High of 47°F, low of 28°F. Perfect for a brisk walk at Darwin Wright Park, provided you've got a decent windbreaker.
- Tuesday, January 20: The mercury stays low with a high of 44°F. The air is going to be super dry—only 33% humidity—which is a nice break from the usual mugginess.
Why Anderson Weather is So Hard to Predict
Microclimates are a real thing here. Being in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains means we get these weird "damming" effects where cold air gets trapped against the mountains. Meteorologists often struggle with the exact line where rain turns to sleet or snow. A two-degree difference is the gap between a "work from home" day and a perfectly clear commute.
Historically, January is our coldest month. We've seen averages around 53°F for highs and 34°F for lows, but the record books show how wild things can get. Back in 1985, the Anderson Regional Airport recorded a bone-chilling -6°F. Compare that to some Januaries where we've hit the 70s, and you realize why you can never pack away your shorts or your heavy parka.
The Mid-Week Curveball
Things get interesting around Wednesday. The clouds roll back in, and while the high is 48°F, the low stays down at 26°F. Then, on Thursday, January 22, the forecast calls for light snow during the day with a high of 54°F.
Wait, snow with a high of 54?
That’s that weird transition weather. It’ll likely start as some flurries in the chilly morning hours and turn into a cold rain as the sun tries to poke through. By the time we hit next Monday, January 26, there’s a 35% chance of a rain and snow mix with a high of only 39°F. That’s the kind of day where the bridges on I-85 get sketchy.
Staying Prepared Without Losing Your Mind
Look, you don't need a survival bunker, but a little prep goes a long way when the weather forecast Anderson SC starts throwing snow percentages around.
First, ignore the "total accumulation" hype until about 12 hours before the front hits. The models change constantly. Second, keep a windshield scraper in your car. Even if it doesn't snow, the frost at 26°F (like we'll see Tuesday night) is enough to delay your morning.
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Basically, keep an eye on the wind. When it's coming from the northwest at 10-13 mph, like it will this Sunday, the wind chill is the real enemy, not the actual temperature. Layers are your best friend. Start with a thermal, add a fleece, and keep a shell handy for the inevitable drizzle.
Check your tire pressure too. These 20-degree drops between day and night cause your "low tire" light to pop on like clockwork. It’s not a leak; it’s just the physics of cold air.
Stay warm out there, and maybe keep an extra blanket in the trunk just in case the "mostly cloudy" turns into "surprisingly icy." It's better to have it and not need it than to be stuck on the 28 bypass wishing you'd listened to the forecast.
Practical Next Steps:
- Check your antifreeze levels before the low of 26°F hits on Tuesday night.
- Layer up for Sunday’s 13 mph winds, which will make the 41°F high feel closer to freezing.
- Keep an eye on the Thursday morning window for that potential light snow/rain mix before temperatures climb.