SC Upstate winter storm comes into focus. Details on timing, how much ice, areas to be hit hardest

With Winter Storm Fern bearing down on South Carolina, the State Climate Office says the weekend forecast is becoming clearer.

For the Upstate, the Catawba Region, the northern Midlands and northern Pee Dee, state severe weather liaison Frank Strait says, “confidence continues to increase that at least a part of South Carolina will be affected by a major, long-duration winter storm this weekend.”

Most likely, precipitation will begin late Saturday, likely as sleet, accumulating an inch or two along and north of Interstate 85 before a change to freezing rain.

Areas southeast of I-85 will see less sleet with an earlier transition to freezing rain.

If any snow falls, it will likely be for the first hour or less once the storm begins.

“Damaging ice buildup is likely across the region, especially west of I-26 and southeast of I-85 further east,” Strait said.

Expect widespread tree and power line damage. Travel will be difficult to dangerous Saturday night through at least Monday morning, likely through Tuesday morning.

Ice could be over a half an inch and possibly up to an inch. Half an inch is when you start to see problems with falling limbs, trees and power line damage.

Here’s his forecast — “A cold front slowly crosses South Carolina through Friday, bringing light rain to much of the state; temperatures remain mild across the Coastal Plain on Friday, while the Upstate turns cooler. A second cold front arrives Friday evening, leading arctic air into South Carolina.”

The storm arrives causing roads to become “slick as grease,” he said.

“It looks really cold early next week. I mean, ‘Pennsylvania called, they want their weather back,’ kind of cold,” he said.

He said the cold will slow the melting and travel will be impeded into Tuesday morning and possibly Wednesday.