Winter Storm Watch Issued for South Carolina as Snow, Ice Expected

GREENVILLE, S.C. — A winter storm watch has been issued for parts of South Carolina, with snow and ice expected to impact the region starting Friday morning. The National Weather Service warns of hazardous road conditions and potential power outages as the storm moves through the area.

The storm is expected to bring light snow to the Upstate region between 9 a.m. and noon on Friday, with heavier snowfall and freezing rain mixing in by the afternoon. Southern areas of the Upstate and parts of northeast Georgia will likely see the first signs of frozen precipitation, which will then spread northward. The winter storm watch remains in effect until 7 a.m. Saturday.

Forecasters predict 1 to 2 inches of snow for most of the Upstate, with localized areas potentially receiving up to 3 inches. Areas south of Interstate 85 may see lighter accumulations of a quarter-inch to 1 inch, while the mountains could receive 3 to 6 inches of snow. Ice accumulations are expected to range from a light glaze to a quarter-inch, particularly in southern regions.

“When you’re getting to that quarter-inch mark of ice, that’s when you do not want to be on the roadways,” said a meteorologist with WYFF News 4. “We could also see some spotty power outages in areas with higher ice accumulations.”

The storm is expected to taper off by early Saturday morning, with sunshine returning and temperatures rising above freezing. However, refreezing overnight could create additional hazards on roads through Monday morning.

Residents are urged to prepare for potentially dangerous travel conditions and to monitor updates from local authorities. The South Carolina Department of Transportation has already begun pre-treating major roadways in anticipation of the storm.

For the latest updates, residents can track the storm using interactive radar tools and live skycams provided by local news outlets. The winter storm watch covers the entire Upstate region, including Greenville, Spartanburg, and Anderson counties.