Personal Injury Attorney in Hilton Head, SC.

In the South Carolina Lowcountry, alligators are a familiar sight.

Whether basking by a marsh, prowling golf courses or lurking in local waterways, these reptiles are a constant presence.

But as the cooler months set in, it’s not uncommon for alligators to seemingly vanish.

Don’t be fooled — they haven’t left for good. As temperatures dip, these creatures are simply taking a seasonal break, retreating into their underground hideouts .

Here’s what to know and when they emerge from their winter slumber.

So, where do alligators go?

When temperatures fall below 70 degrees, alligators begin a behavior known as brumation. Unlike hibernation, which is a deep, sleep-like state, brumation is a dormant period for cold-blooded animals, the South Carolina Aquarium states.

Alligators remain inactive but don’t completely shut down. They still drink water to stay hydrated and might occasionally emerge to bask in the sun on warmer days.

To escape on chillier days, alligators dig long mudholes, sometimes referred to as “gator holes,” using their tails. These burrows can be up to 65 feet in length and offer protection from the cold for the alligators to survive until temperatures rise again.

When will alligators return?

The South Carolina Aquarium states that the brumation period lasts anywhere from four to five months, generally stretching from November through February.

But if temperatures spike above the 70 degree threshold, these reptiles may make an early appearance.

Typically, alligator activity peaks between 82 and 92 degrees.

What happens during snow and ice?

For two years in a row, South Carolina has experienced a winter rarity: snowfall.

When the cold does intensify, alligators must adjust.

When alligators are burrowed in the cold, they will come stick their snouts out every 12 or so hours to get some fresh air. If it’s icy, they can break through it to reach the surface and continue breathing.

Once they’ve gotten their fill of oxygen, they’ll retreat back into their holes to await more moderate temperatures.

With spring and summer right around the corner, there’s no doubt these reptiles will be out and about soon.

If you ever encounter an alligator, it’s important to note that it is illegal for any person to feed or entice an alligator with food.

For more information on South Carolina’s alligators, click here to visit the Department of Natural Resources webpage.

South Carolina drivers who are still reaching for their phones behind the wheel could soon pay the price.

Starting Feb. 28, law enforcement officers across the Palmetto State will begin issuing tickets under the new hands-free driving law, marking the end of the 180-day warning period.

The South Carolina Hands-Free and Distracted Driving Act, signed into law by Gov. Henry McMaster on May 12, was designed to reduce crashes caused by distracted driving and bring the state in line with almost 30 others that already enforce hands-free driving rules.

The law took effect on Sept. 1, but officers have only issued warnings in an effort to educate drivers and allow time to adjust.

What does this law change?

Under the law, drivers are prohibited from holding or supporting a mobile electronic device with any part of their body while operating a motor vehicle. This includes activities such as texting, scrolling, watching videos or making handheld phone calls.

A “mobile electronic device” is defined as any portable device capable of voice or data communication, including smartphones, tablets, GPS units, electronic games and other stand-alone devices.

Specifically, drivers may not:

The law does allow the use of hands-free technology such as an earpiece or wrist-worn devices for voice-based communication.

Map navigation through systems like CarPlay is also permitted, so long as the driver is not holding a phone.

What are the penalties?

Violations of this act lead to fines and license points, which include:

According to the South Carolina Department of Public Safety, 145,761 traffic collisions were reported statewide in 2023.

Of those, 9,067 were attributed to distracted driving, 87 to cell phone use and 56 to texting.

Distracted driving with the use of a phone falls under ​​all three types of distractions for drivers: visual, manual and cognitive.

While South Carolina banned texting while driving in 2014, officials say the broader hands-free law helps further restrict dangerous behavior behind the wheel.

What are the exceptions to the Hands-Free Act?

Drivers are permitted to use their phones in certain situations, which include:

For more information on the new hands-free law and penalties, click here.

11 Beaufort County food businesses and one Jasper County location received B and C grades in January health inspections conducted by the South Carolina Department of Agriculture.

Here is a rundown of the restaurants that received the lowest ratings for the month and why they scored poorly:

Bojangles had a routine inspection on Jan. 7 and scored an 84% (B). Issues noted by inspectors included:

It was reinspected on Jan. 15 and scored an 87% with a C letter grade, and again on Jan. 23 and scored a 93% with a C letter grade, both for repeated infractions.

Bojangles was last inspected on Jan. 28 and scored a 99% (A).

Johnson Creek Tavern & Restaurant had a routine inspection on Jan. 21 and scored a 71% (C). Issues noted by inspectors included:

Johnson Creek Tavern & Restaurant was reinspected on Jan. 28 and scored a 100% (A).

Basil & Bourbon, formerly Nonna Rosa, held a routine inspection on Jan. 6 and scored a 70% (C). Issues noted included:

Basil & Bourbon was reinspected on Jan. 13 and scored a 100% (A).

OKKO was inspected on Jan. 6 and scored a 70% (C). Issues noted by inspectors included:

OKKO was reinspected on Jan. 14 and scored a 99% (A).

New York City Pizza held a routine inspection on Jan. 14 and scored an 82% (B). Issues noted by inspectors included:

New York City Pizza was reinspected on Jan. 23 and scored a 97% (A).

Antojitos Agustin was inspected on Jan. 13 and scored a 91% with a B letter grade for repeated infractions from a Jan. 7 inspection. Issues included:

Antojitos Agustin was reinspected on Jan. 20 and scored a 98% (A).

Bluffton Elementary School was inspected on Jan. 30 and scored a 97% with a B letter grade for a repeated infraction:

Bluffton Elementary School has not been reinspected as of Feb. 2, but one is required within 10 days.

Centro Mex Deluxe had a routine inspection on Jan. 30 and scored an 80% (B). Issues included:

Centro Mex Deluxe has not been reinspected as of Feb. 2, but one is required within 10 days.

House of Tang had a routine inspection on Jan. 12 and scored an 82% (B). Issues included:

House of Tang was reinspected on Jan. 21 and scored a 100% (A).

La Familia had a routine inspection on Jan. 13 and scored a 78% (B). Issues noted by inspectors included:

La Familia was reinspected on Jan. 14 and scored a 96% (A).

Miramare Italian had a routine inspection on Jan. 13 and scored an 82% (B). Issues included:

Miramare Italian was reinspected on Jan. 21 and scored a 100% (A).

Agave Azul Tacos and Tequila had a routine inspection on Jan. 12 and scored an 85% (B). Issues included:

Agave Azul Tacos and Tequila was reinspected on Jan. 20 and scored a 100% (A).

What the grades mean

Inspectors give restaurants a grade of A, B or C, depending on the conditions found at the time. Points are docked for various infractions, and restaurants have a chance to correct the problems and improve their score in a reinspection.

The grade scale is as follows:

In January, the SCDA recorded 247 inspections of restaurants, schools, stores, and other food establishments in Beaufort County and 34 in Jasper County.

The agency publishes the results of these health inspections on its website.

Newer food-grade decals include a QR code that customers can scan with their phones to see a food establishment’s latest report.

How to request an inspection

If there is an establishment for which you wish to request an inspection, you can submit a concern to the SCDA by filling out the Food Safety Complaint Form.

To learn more about how the grading system and inspections work, click here.

Snow coated Hilton Head Island’s streets, walkways and parks Sunday morning, a rare sight in a vacation destination known for its beaches and golf courses.

Sunshine slowly started to melt the white fluff that accumulated on the roof of Coligny Plaza around 9 a.m. Snow on the roof slowly turned into water, and raindrops fell from the shopping center’s roof onto the pavement.

It was cold, in the low-to-mid 20s, but people were outside, walking their dogs, strolling along the beach and grabbing a cup of coffee or groceries. By 12:30 p.m., the temperature on the island reached 30 degrees.

It was the second time in two years that the Hilton Head area saw snow. Last year, the island got about 3 inches; early Sunday reports estimate snow totaled 2 inches on Hilton Head, 1.9 inches in Beaufort and 3.5 inches near Port Royal. Local officials are asking people to stay off the roads, and black ice is possible later in the day.

On Sunday, the walkway to Coligny Beach was coated with snow. There were footprints on the pathway, but the sand itself looked untouched, and ocean waves roared in like a summer day. It was almost like someone forgot to tell the ocean there was a big storm the night before. Palm trees towering over Coligny Beach Park were also spared from white flakes.

Walking along the beach in the morning were Emily Zimmerman and Angel del Valle, who have lived on the island for 17 years. They live within walking distance of Coligny, and Zimmerman said she walks the beach about five days a week.

Sunday was “beautiful,” she said, although del Valle said he was disappointed to see there was no snow on the sand itself.

Chad Albrent, a construction worker from central Wisconsin, also decided to check out Coligny for the first time on Sunday. He’s in town helping build a middle school for about a month; as of Sunday, he’d been here for two-and-a-half weeks. He tried to go to South Beach, but opted for Coligny instead because his first choice was closed off.

“I don’t like it right now,” Albrent said of the weather. “I live in the cold, so I came here to work so I actually could be warm.”

South Beach wasn’t the only spot on the island closed to the public. Harbour Town was closed on Sunday, according to a guard at the Sea Pines gate. Sea Pines was not allowing visitors to buy guest passes Feb. 1.

Wesley Totin and Puddles, his American Eskimo, were out for a walk around Coligny Plaza Sunday morning. Totin said he usually walks to Sweet Al’s Cafe in the mornings, either with Puddles or his seemingly identical brother, Pampers.

Totin said he’s in Hilton Head for three or four months every year for the “warm weather.” But on Sunday, his wife, who is in Chicago, told him the “feels like” temperature was just as cold on the island as it was in the Midwest metropolis.

Puddles didn’t seem to mind, though. The fluffy white dog walked confidently on the sidewalk with his dad, as if he was having the time of his life.

The creation of this content included the use of AI based on templates created, reviewed and edited by journalists in the newsroom. Read more on our AI policy here.

The warning was in place for Oconee Mountains, Pickens Mountains, Greater Oconee and Greater Pickens as well as Cherokee, York, Anderson, Abbeville, Laurens, Union, Chester, Greenwood, Greenville and Spartanburg counties.

"Lighter winds have returned this morning and temperatures will steadily warm throughout the day. Thus, the Extreme Cold Warning will be allowed to expire at 10 a.m.," according to the NWS Greenville-Spartanburg SC.

The warning is in effect until 10 a.m.

Extreme cold warning: Take Action! An extreme cold warning is issued when dangerously cold air temperatures or wind chill values are expected or occurring. If you are in an area with an extreme cold warning, avoid going outside. If you have to go outside, dress in layers, cover exposed skin, and make sure at least one other person knows your whereabouts. Update them when you arrive safely at your destination.

Extreme cold watch: Be Prepared. An extreme cold watch is issued when dangerously cold air temperatures or wind chill values are possible. As with a warning, adjust your plans to avoid being outside during the coldest parts of the day. Make sure your car has at least half a tank of gas, and update your winter survival kit.

Cold weather advisory: Be Aware. A cold weather advisory is issued when seasonably cold air temperatures or wind chill values, but not extremely cold values, are expected or occurring. Be sure you and your loved ones dress appropriately and cover exposed skin when venturing outdoors.

Source: The National Weather Service

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