The last time Columbia saw snowfall accumulation was in January 2022 . Some flurries fell earlier this month .

A winter storm advisory has been issued in northern areas, including in Chesterfield, Edgefield, Fairfield, Kershaw, Lancaster, Lee, Lexington, McCormick, Newberry, Saluda, Sumter and Richland counties.

Temperatures are expected to range between the mid-30s and high teens for the first half of the week.

Officials encourage residents to take extra care driving and dress warmly throughout the winter conditions.

School closures

Area schools have opted to dismiss students early on Jan. 21 ahead of the projected snowfall and winter weather conditions.

Richland School District One's elementary schools will dismiss at 11 a.m., high schools at 11:45 a.m. and middle schools at 12:30 p.m., the district said. After-school activities for Tuesday are canceled.

Richland Two elementary schools will dismiss at 11 a.m., middle schools at 11:45 a.m. and high schools at 12:30 p.m., the district said.

Lexington District One will send home elementary school students at 11:20 a.m. Gilbert Middle School will dismiss at 12:15 p.m., all other middle schools at 12:05 p.m.

Pelion High School and Gilbert High School will dismiss at 12:25 p.m. Lexington High School, White Knoll High School and River Bluff High School will dismiss at 12:45 p.m.

In Lexington District Two, elementary schools will be dismissed at 11:30 a.m., while middle and high schools will be dismissed at 12:30 p.m.

Lexington-Richland Five will dismiss intermediate schools at 10:30 a.m., elementary schools at 10:40 a.m., Academy for Success at 11:20 a.m. and middle schools at 11:45 a.m.

Spring Hill High School will dismiss at 11:40 a.m. All other high schools will dismiss at 11:55 a.m.

Each school district also canceled all after-school activities on Jan. 21.

Lexington One, Lexington Two, Lexington-Richland Five and Richland Two will conduct classes online and cancel after school programs on Jan. 22, the districts said. Other districts were still awaiting updates.

Caleb Bozard covers business, growth and development for the Post & Courier Columbia. He has previously written for The State and the Times and Democrat. He graduated from the University of South Carolina in 2023.