SC Gov. McMaster declares state of emergency ahead of possible bad winter weather
Gov. Henry McMaster has declared a state of emergency for South Carolina as state and local authorities ready for possible bad winter weather headed toward the Palmetto State.
The governor plans to hold a press conference Saturday afternoon.
“South Carolina will be impacted by a major winter storm this weekend, likely beginning Sunday morning,” McMaster said in a statement Friday afternoon. “There is a potential for very dangerous conditions caused by accumulations of ice and snow, which will likely result in power outages across the state. I urge South Carolinians to monitor their local weather forecasts and begin taking safety precautions.”
A winter storm watch has been issued for Lexington and Richland counties, and the northern part of the Midlands has been upgraded to an ice storm warning.
The National Weather Service said Friday that it anticipates significant ice accumulation from freezing rain across the northern part of the Midlands starting late Saturday night. Chesterfield, Fairfield, Kershaw, Lancaster and Newberry counties are under an ice storm warning.
And Richland, Lexington, Lee, Saluda and Sumter counties are under a winter storm watch.
The weather service also is forecasting significant snow, sleet and ice starting early Sunday for much of the Upstate and Midlands, the governor’s office said.
“We have experienced ice storms before, and we’re as prepared as we can be to respond to any requests for aid from our local emergency managers,” said Kim Stenson, director of the state Emergency Management Division. “It is vital for people to meet us halfway in this effort by being personally prepared for this winter storm.”
Reporter Morgan Hughes contributed to this report.
This story was originally published January 14, 2022 at 4:34 PM.
