Kitchen Remodeling Contractor in Isle of Palms, SC

Sun-soaked Florida and other parts of the South appear to have shattered snowfall records in what many are calling a once-in-a-lifetime chance to witness sandy snowscapes on beaches, of all places

ATLANTA (AP) — Sun-soaked Florida and other parts of the South appear to have shattered snowfall records in what many are calling a once-in-a-lifetime chance to witness sandy snowscapes on beaches, of all places.

So much of the white stuff piled up across the South that snowballs flew on Bourbon Street in New Orleans and children and parents who don’t own sleds used inflatable alligators, laundry baskets and yoga mats to slide down snow-covered Mississippi River levees.

Here’s a look at some of the heaviest snowfall totals around the South:

Milton, Florida

A whopping 9.8 inches (24.9 centimeters) of snow fell near the small town of Milton, Florida, which would smash the all-time Florida state record for snowfall from 1954, if confirmed.

“It’s an incredible, incredible event,” said Michael Mugrage, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service office in Mobile, Alabama, where many of the highest snowfall totals from the region were reported. “It puts it in perspective how rare this is.”

The snow total near Milton is unofficial for now, and will be reviewed by the state’s climate office.

Milton is just northeast of Pensacola, where 8.9 inches (22.6 centimeters) shattered the city’s previous all-time snow record of 3 inches (7.6 centimeters) set in 1895.

New Orleans

Ten inches (25 centimeters) fell in some places in the New Orleans area, smashing the city’s record of 2.7 inches (6.8 centimeters) from 1963, the National Weather Service reported. There was also an unofficial report of 11.5 inches of snow in Saint Bernard Parish east of the city.

Houston

Up to 4 inches (10 centimeters) of snow fell in the Houston area, a community that doesn’t own any snowplows. There was also a preliminary report of 6 inches (15 centimeters) of snow near La Porte, Texas, southeast of Houston.

Charleston, South Carolina

More than 4 inches (10 centimeters) of snow fell in the Charleston area, where snow closed the airport and the massive Ravenel Bridge. It closed since water freezes on the cables of the bridge, and then large chunks of ice can fall and smash vehicles below the cables, authorities said.

Mobile, Alabama

At Mobile Regional Airport, 6.2 inches (15.7 centimeters) was recorded, breaking the city’s one-day snowfall record of 5 inches (12.7 centimeters) from Jan. 24, 1881, the weather service said. There were also several unofficial reports of more than 9 inches (23 centimeters) of snow in Gulf Coast communities outside Mobile.

A preliminary snowfall total of 11 inches (28 centimeters) in the small town of Babbie in southern Alabama was among the highest reported nationwide, the weather service said.

It's cold, y'all!

The storm system that brought so much snow also sank thermometers into record-breaking territory across the Deep South. It was so cold Wednesday morning that it was warmer in Anchorage, Alaska than it was in Atlanta, New Orleans, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Jacksonville, Florida, the weather service reported.

In Alabama, a low of 6 degrees (minus 14 Celsius) tied the third-coldest low temperature on record for the city of Mobile, which was set in 1899, the weather service said.

In Louisiana, all-time records for low temperature were set in the cities of New Iberia and Lafayette, forecasters said. Wednesday's low of 2 degrees (minus 17 Celsius) in New Iberia broke a record that stood since 1962. Lafayette's low of 4 degrees (minus 16 Celsius) broke a record that dates back to 1899.

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This story has been updated to reflect that the National Weather Service on Wednesday afternoon updated the snowfall total in Pensacola, Florida to 8.9 inches.

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. —

A historic winter storm brought heavy snow to parts of the Carolinas.

The biggest impact from the winter storm was along the Gulf and Atlantic Coasts where it does not snow very often.

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Areas including North Myrtle and Myrtle Beach also got hit with snow up to 4.5 inches.

WXII 12 News viewer Frank Husfelt shared this photo of the snow in North Myrtle Beach.

Frank Husfelt

Snow in North Myrtle Beach

He also shared this beautiful ocean view of the snow at North Myrtle Beach.

Frank Husfelt

Check out these images from the South Carolina Department of Transportation of snow-covered roads in Myrtle Beach.

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This is of US 17 North at 29th Ave in Myrtle Beach.

Here's a look at US 17 North at Palmetto Point.

Here's what roads look like at US 17 BP at Harrelson Blvd.

Check out the snow at the Isle of Palms near Charleston.

WXII 12 News viewer Mike Scott shared these photos of a snow-covered beach.

The Isle of Palms near Charleston received up to two inches of snow.

Another image of the snow in the Isle of Palms beach area.

Sullivan's Island also received two inches of snow and three inches were reported in Charleston, according to the National Weather Service.

Check out more snow totals in South Carolina here.

Beaches in North Carolina also got lots of snow. Check out snow totals here for areas in North Carolina.

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As it prepares to hit another calendar milestone, one of South Carolina's biggest and longest-running real estate investment and development businesses is promoting a veteran executive from within as its next president.

John Darby, the longtime leader of The Beach Co., is handing off the title he's held since 1999 to Dan Doyle.

The change is effective Jan 1.

Doyle called it "a tremendous opportunity."

Darby will continue as chief executive officer and chairman of the board of the family-owned Charleston-based firm, which marks its 80th anniversary this year.

"This milestone not only celebrates our history but sets the stage for our future," Darby said in a written statement. "With the appointment of Dan ... as president, I am confident that The Beach Co. will continue to grow strategically and remain dedicated to developing places that improve lives and inspire the next generation of communities.”

Doyle has been with the firm since 2004, most recently as senior vice president and chief operating officer.

He becomes the fourth president since The Beach Co. was established — and the first outside the founding family. He follows Darby, Charlie Way and J.C. Long, an attorney who in 1945 paid $120,000 to buy the Isle of Palms and went on to develop it into housing.

Darby said the latest succession has been deliberately planned, just as it was for him. As the founder's grandson and Way's nephew, The Citadel graduate was named president in 1999, nine years after joining the business. He added the CEO title at the start of 2004.

During his tenure, The Beach Co.'s staff has swelled from about 12 employees to more than 700 as the firm built up businesses like its Gulfstream Construction unit and expanded beyond its home state to other up-and-coming real estate markets, such as Savannah, Nashville and Richmond. Its projects and investments are now spread across 27 cities around the Southeast

Darby credited Doyle for helping the firm push its boundaries.

"Part of our strategy was to diversify geographically, and it was hard to do because South Carolina was such a good market. ... And it was really Dan who ... gave us that confidence," he said.

He also said Doyle has become part of the Darby-Way family over the past 20 years.

"He is well-respected and well-liked," Darby said. "He's done a great job. And a lot of our successes, a lot of the progress we made, Dan has been a big part of that. So it was not a hard decision."

The company remains a major real estate player in the Charleston region, where its biggest single undertaking is the 2,000-acre Kiawah River master-planned community and resort on Johns Island.

Another notable deal was The Jasper, a luxury residential and commercial development at the west end of Broad Street and home to the company's headquarters. The 12-story project set off a fierce battle with preservation groups and a costly round of litigation with the city over the height and scale. The firm ultimately prevailed.

Darby acknowledged the development cycle for the company has slowed, partly because of high borrowing costs, but it's showing signs of recovery. The Beach Co. is preparing to break ground on two sizable projects, including a major deal in Wilmington, N.C.

"We were averaging three to four starts a year, and we've had two in three years," Darby said last week. "Now, we're starting to go again. Capital is starting to free up."

As he steps away as president, Darby said he plans to spend "a fair amount of my time at Kiawah River and a couple other things."

"But the day-to-day operations will go to Dan," he added.

The incoming president has a bachelor's degree in architecture and master's degree in business administration from the University of Michigan. He said he's been asked "a hundred times" in recent weeks what he plans to tweak or shake up as he settles into his new role.

"There really aren't ... any pressing items that need to be fixed. .... We've been working on this for quite some time now, so it's really a seamless transition in terms of our our partners, our lenders, and most importantly, our our employees," Doyle said.

He said his main job will be to execute the company's strategic plan, which was updated last year and includes three key priorities.

"We continue working hard, and what does that mean? It's that our managers, our department heads, set great examples for others to follow," he said. "The other is staying focused, really looking at the things that we do best, and focusing our attention on those efforts, versus being distracted and trying to do too many things at one time."

"And finally, really just having fun," Doyle continued. "Our company culture is tremendous, and what we can do to reinforce why someone wants to work for The Beach Co., how we can attract talent and how we keep those valued associates ... is incredibly important to our success."

Contact John McDermott at 843-937-5572.

ISLE OF PALMS, S.C. (WCSC) - Communities across the Lowcountry are kicking off the holiday season with festivals and parades, including the Isle of Palms.

The Isle of Palms celebrated Saturday afternoon with their Holiday Street Festival.

This annual event started with the Sullivan’s Island Elementary School choir spreading Christmas cheer and singing loud for all to hear.

Over the last decade, thousands of people have looked forward to this event every year.

The city’s recreation supervisor of special events Kelsey Marsh says they had to prepare extensively for all of the fun and games.

“You know, you don’t always think about what it’s going to be like, but being able to be here in the moment and see all the kids having fun, riding all the rides, seeing all the families out here, it’s just really is the best part about my job,” Marsh says.

Mark and Maria Gessey of Mount Pleasant say nothing compares to celebrating the Christmas season along the seaside.

“It’s a sense of community, warmth and that togetherness in the community is just what Christmas is about,” the Gesseys say.

Mark Gessey says they spend time at the beach every month, and December is no different.

“It’s very relaxing,” Gessey says. “There’s a lot of stress at Christmas—all the ‘hubub’ of shopping and all that, to get out to the beach and just relax for a little while, breathe the fresh air, just a peaceful environment it helps restore my sanity."

As Ocean Drive is lined with local vendors, food and other organizations, mom Jennifer Boccelli says this has become a beloved tradition among her daughter’s group of friends.

She says being able to show their kids how to give back is especially important around the holidays.

“That we’re giving back and able to support small businesses and help them thrive, especially after COVID-19,” Boccelli says.

She says the free activities for kids and families ultimately point to the kind of community Isle of Palms is.

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