Snow and ice blanket the Lowcountry overnight Wednesday

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – Lowcountry residents will wake up to a blanket of ice and snow that fell overnight as frigid temperatures mixed with an offshore low-pressure system.

What began as cold rain around 4 p.m. eventually mixed with sleet and snow as the sun set Tuesday evening and continued throughout the night.

Icy roads caused the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge to close around 8 p.m., followed by the Ashley River bridges and multiple roadways across the tri-county. The Ashley River bridges have since reopened; however, the Ravenel Bridge remains closed at 3 a.m., although snowplows were seen working on the bridge.

The airfield and control tower at Charleston International Airport were also closed due to hazardous conditions caused by the winter storm.

Snow and ice are expected to continue falling through Wednesday morning. Temperatures will stray below freezing – the forecast calls for a high of 34 and an overnight low of 18. Wind chills will be much lower. What melts during the day could re-freeze going into Thursday morning.