As snow impacts Midlands, businesses close, school districts extend e-learning, cancellations
Many have long known Columbia as the city that is “Famously Hot.”
That wasn’t the case on Wednesday.
Snow and icy conditions gripped Columbia and the Midlands area on Wednesday morning after an overnight snowfall. Up to an inch and a half of snow was measured in parts of the area Wednesday morning, and temperatures remained in the mid-20s as of 9:18 a.m. The Grand Strand area near the coast of South Carolina had seen several inches of snow as of Wednesday morning.
The snow and ice, combined with stubbornly frigid temperatures expected to stretch into Thursday morning, led to a host of closures and delays across the Midlands on Wednesday. And on Wednesday afternoon, school districts across the region began announcing changes for Thursday, as well.
Here’s a look at planned closures or schedule changes for Thursday, Jan. 23 in the Columbia and Lexington areas:
- Richland School District 1 announced all of its schools and offices will be closed on Thursday. It will not be an e-learning day, the district said in an email. All Richland 1 after-school activities for Thursday will be canceled, as well. The Richland 1 called board meeting at 1 p.m. Thursday will be held virtually.
- Richland School District 2 also will have an e-learning day on Thursday, the district announced on social media.
- Lexington District 1 will have an e-learning day on Thursday, according to an email from the district. After-school activities are canceled for Thursday. Lexington 1’s board of trustees workshop on Thursday also has been canceled.
- Lexington District 2 will also have e-learning on Thursday, per an email from the district. “Lingering snow and ice is expected to refreeze tonight and into the early morning hours Thursday, creating unsafe travel conditions, particularly on neighborhood and secondary roads,” the district wrote. After-school activities in Lexington 2 also are canceled Thursday.
- Lexington District 3, in the Batesburg-Leesville area, announced it will have an e-learning day for students on Thursday.
- Lexington District 4 announced its schools and offices will be closed on Thursday. The district said on its website that it will have an in-person makeup day on Feb. 17.
Lexington-Richland School District 5 announced in an email that all of its schools and offices will be closed on Thursday. It will use March 17 as a makeup day, with in-person instruction that day.
Midlands Technical College announced that its campus will reopen at noon Thursday. Classes will begin at 12:45 p.m., per a college email.
The University of South Carolina will reopen at noon Thursday, with all employees expected to report to campus at that time, per an update posted to the university’s website. “In-person classes scheduled to begin prior to noon on Thursday are canceled, but those beginning after noon will continue as scheduled unless otherwise notified,” the university posted. “Hybrid and asynchronous classes that meet online will meet as scheduled.”
The USC women’s basketball game against LSU, which was scheduled for Thursday night, will be moved to Friday at 5 p.m. at Colonial Life Arena, to accommodate travel plans for LSU. To read more about that change, click here.
City of Columbia facilities will open on a delay at 10 a.m. Thursday “due to the threat of black ice and dangerous roads,” the city announced in a release. “Citizens are encouraged to access City services on-line or by calling 803-545-3300 until facilities open,” the city said. “The City of Columbia Payment Center, Municipal Court, city parks, recreational and community centers, Parking Services and Washington Square will also be opening at 10:00 a.m. Public safety and other essential functions will operate as normal.”
Richland County government announced its offices, which were closed for most of Wednesday, will reopen for normal operations at 1 p.m. Thursday.
Richland Library announced via email that its branches will open on a delay Thursday. They’ll open at noon.
Lexington County administrative offices will operate on a two-hour delay Thursday, according to a release from the county. Judicial facilities, Lexington County Recreations and Aging Commission offices and activities, the Lexington County Judicial Center, magistrate courts, and most libraries will open at 10 a.m. The Chapin, Gilbert-Summit and South Congaree-Pine Ridge library branches will open as normal at 11 a.m. The Lexington County Landfill will open on a three-hour delay beginning at 10 a.m. The county’s curbside collection operations will also be on a delay.
The South Carolina Department of Transportation Commission meeting that was scheduled for Thursday has been rescheduled to Jan. 31, per a department email.
The City of West Columbia announced in an email that West Columbia City Hall will remained closed on Thursday, due to anticipated hazardous road conditions. The city’s parks also will remain closed.
And below are a number of closures and delays for Wednesday, Jan. 22 across the Midlands, in both Richland and Lexington counties:
- City of West Columbia offices were closed on Wednesday. West Columbia also reported that the following parks were closed until further notice: B Avenue Ball Park, Bark West Dog Park, Carraway Park at the Riverwalk, Douglas Reeves Community Park, Fowler Community Park, Rosamunda Percell-Butler Community Park, West Columbia Riverwalk Park and Amphitheater, Moffatt Street Entrance to the Riverwalk.
- Midlands Technical College initially announced that its campuses would open at noon Wednesday, but later reversed course and announced that it would remain closed all day. All Wednesday classes are canceled.
- The University of South Carolina announced that its campus would remain closed Wednesday. In-person classes were canceled, but online and asynchronous classes will meet as scheduled.
- Shed one tear, barbecue lovers. Maurice’s announced on social media that all of its restaurants in the Midlands would be closed Wednesday. They did suggest, naturally, that residents add some Southern Gold BBQ sauce to their home cooking during the snow day.
- City hall in Forest Acres is closed all day Wednesday. Forest Acres also noted sanitation trucks would not run Wednesday.
- Town hall in Lexington is closed Wednesday, the town noted on Facebook. All town parks in Lexington also were closed Wednesday. Lexington Police continue on their patrols and are responding to calls for service.
- Rush’s, the Midlands mainstay for burgers, shakes and more, announced on social media that it is closed Wednesday and will likely have reduced hours Thursday.
- Citing declining weather conditions and the closure of the landfill, the City of Columbia noted on Facebook that garbage, recycling and yard waste pickup would not happen Wednesday. Collection will be pushed back a day, weather permitting.
- The Columbia Metropolitan Airport was open Wednesday, but noted those planning to fly should be aware of winter weather affecting flights across the U.S. “If you have plans to head to the airport today, make sure to check your airline’s app for the most up-to-date flight status before leaving the house,” the airport said on Facebook. “Many airports across the country are dealing with delays and cancellations due to inclement weather.”
- Other than essential personnel, the city of Cayce’s offices were closed Wednesday. All city of Cayce parks, the Cayce Riverwalk and Timmerman Trail also were closed.
- The Highway 601-S bridge in Lugoff was closed because of ice as of 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, per the Kershaw County Sheriff’s Office.
- Don’t worry, you’ll be able to get one of those Auntie Anne’s pretzels soon enough. The opening of the Columbiana Centre mall was delayed until 1 p.m. Wednesday.
- The COMET bus system, which serves Richland and parts of Lexington counties, announced via email that it would not provide bus service on Wednesday, because of weather and road conditions. The bus system plans to restart service at 10 a.m. Thursday, depending on road conditions.
- Snowed out: BOHO Pizza and Brew, which is located near Lexington High School, announced that it would be closed Wednesday, out of caution for workers and customers.
- Calvary Chapel Northeast church on Killian Road announced via email it was canceling Wednesday night services, as well as its ladies’ Bible study on Thursday.
- Government offices in Saluda County are closed Wednesday, per the county’s social media.
- The South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services announced that all parole hearings scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 22 were canceled. They will be rescheduled for a later date and all parties involved will be informed of that new date.
- Too cold for a cold one, at least in one spot. Bierkeller Columbia announced in a Facebook post that it will be closed Wednesday, and plans to reopen on Thursday.
- Game on: The University of South Carolina said on X that its Wednesday night men’s basketball game against Florida will be played as scheduled. It tips at 7 p.m.
- Lizard’s Thicket, the Midlands country cooking staple, announced on social media that all of its restaurants will close at 2 p.m. Wednesday. They plan to reopen at 8 a.m Thursday.
- Villa Tronco, the storied downtown Columbia Italian restaurant, announced it will be closed Wednesday night.
- Surcheros, the fresh-Mex restaurant in the Cardinal Crossing development in Forest Acres, closed Wednesday because of weather.
- Even places that notoriously stay open during winter weather were bowing out on Wednesday. Lexington’s Keg Cowboy, whose owner Brian Nelson hails from western New York, announced it would be closed Wednesday night. “With an abundance of caution, I am not having my staff put themselves at risk to sling beers to a few of you die hard knuckleheads like me. I grew up in WNY, my crew did not! Haha!” Nelson wrote on Facebook.
This story will be updated.
This story was originally published January 22, 2025 at 9:36 AM.
