‘Nearly impossible road conditions’ Sunday for some Midlands counties, forecaster says
The National Weather Service said that Sunday morning may have “nearly impossible road conditions” for northern Midlands counties, as freezing rain and snow roll into South Carolina.
Those counties include most of those north of Interstate 20 such as Newberry, Fairfield, Lancaster and Kershaw counties.
On a social media broadcast, a National Weather Service meteorologist said Saturday afternoon that the time for making preparations is now in those northern Midlands counties.
Most of Newberry, Fairfield and Lancaster are set to see the most significant impacts of the ice storm in the Midlands, the meteorologist said. In those areas, travel will be “very dangerous” on Sunday.
A winter weather front is rolling into South Carolina between Saturday night and Sunday, forecasters have said. Rains will come in on Saturday night and turn into snow and freezing rain between 3 a.m and 7 a.m. Sunday. In the Upstate snow is expected, but in the Midlands freezing rain and wind gusts are predicted.
Between a tenth and a quarter-inch of ice could accumulate in the Columbia and Lexington areas.
Widespread and extended power outages are possible, the National Weather Service meteorologist said.
S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster warned Saturday that residents in some parts of the Midlands and Upstate could find themselves without power for multiple days. It only takes about a quarter-inch of ice to bring down a power line, McMaster noted.
Forecasters “are concerned” about road conditions in Richland and Lexington counties, including the Columbia area, on Sunday and Monday. Officials, including McMaster, have strongly recommended that people stay at home on Sunday and do not attempt to travel on the roads.
In the latest forecast, meteorologists haven’t changed a winter weather advisory for Columbia, Lexington and most of the Midlands counties south of Interstate 20 as of Saturday afternoon. Those areas could see freezing rain.
But counties north of I-20, including Newberry, Fairfield and Kershaw are expected to get ice storms. The National Weather Service still have an ice storm warning for those areas as of Saturday afternoon.
Snow is expected to fall in the Upstate, with 1 to 2 inches possible along the Interstate 85 corridor and as much as 8 inches in the mountains, forecasters said.
This story was originally published January 15, 2022 at 3:06 PM.