Weather update: Ice storm warning issued for Columbia area
An ice storm warning has been issued for the Midlands this weekend, covering all of Richland and Lexington counties, the National Weather Service announced early Friday afternoon.
The warning, which will be in effect from 1 p.m. Saturday to 1 p.m. Monday, calls for significant icing of between two-tenths and three-tenths of an inch, with total sleet accumulations up to a quarter-inch.
An ice storm warning, which is more severe than an advisory or a watch, is triggered when there is high confidence that a quarter-inch or more of ice will accumulate from freezing rain.
The brunt of the storm is expected to hit the Columbia area early Saturday evening and continue through the night into Sunday morning. After a break in precipitation Sunday, another wave of primarily rain is expected to fall Sunday afternoon into evening.
Power outages and tree damage are likely due to the ice, and hazardous conditions could extend into Monday morning.
As a result, travel could be “nearly impossible,” and is strongly discouraged, according to the National Weather Service.
Gov. Henry McMaster on Friday requested a federal emergency disaster declaration to assist storm response efforts, and multiple school districts and municipalities have already announced closures and cancellations in anticipation of the extreme weather.
This story was originally published January 23, 2026 at 2:04 PM.