Midlands school district cancels after-school activities ahead of approaching winter storm
A winter storm watch has been issued for four counties in the Midlands, leading one school district to cancel after-school activities.
The National Weather Service announced a winter storm watch for Edgefield, Fairfield, Newberry and Saluda counties from Friday to Saturday morning, according to its website. As a result, Lexington School District Two has canceled all after school activities Friday, according to a news release.
Other South Carolina counties under the watch include Lancaster and McCormick counties, and Lincoln County in Georgia.
As of Wednesday afternoon, Lexington School District Two was the only district that announced a modified schedule.
Officials with the National Weather Service said counties under the watch may possibly experience a heavy mix of ice and rain. In addition, snow and sleet accumulations may be up to one half-inch, with ice accumulations between one tenth and two tenths of an inch, according to the service.
While snow is possible in some northern counties of the state, the same isn’t expected in the Midlands.
“We’re not expecting snow to accumulate,” National Weather Service Meteorologist Tony Petrolito told The State on Wednesday. “There’s a low probability that precipitation could start off as snow ... but it will be insignificant and melt as it falls.
“It’s pointing toward freezing rain and sleet issues,” Petrolito said.
The forecast shows there’s a 90% chance of precipitation. It’s expected to be heaviest on Friday night before tapering off Saturday morning, according to Petrolito.
While rain showers seem most likely, freezing rain and sleet could present issues.
“Icing is a more serious threat” overnight Friday, Petrolito said. “Freezing rain is not something you want.”
Ice could form on elevated surfaces and then create problems as it builds on roads and bridges, according to Petrolito. While not much ice is currently predicted in Columbia, the area north of the capital city and toward Charlotte, N.C., is expected to be at greater risk for freezing rain, Petrolito said.
Should the forecast change and increase the possibility of snow, it would be the first time since January 2022 that there’s snow on the ground in the Columbia area, according to the National Weather Service. Between 1 and 3 inches of snow was recorded across the Midlands during that winter storm.
