Black ice, icy roads are expected through Monday across Spartanburg County
Winter storm pulling away
The winter storm that dumped up to 5.5 inches of snow and sleet in Spartanburg on Sunday is moving away and will be gone by later tonight, according to the National Weather Service.
A period of snow is possible between 4 and 8 p.m., and could add less than a half-inch to the daytime sleet and snow totals, meteorologist Doug Outlaw said.
Heavier snow from the same system will continue moving northward through the western North Carolina Mountains Sunday night into Monday morning, Outlaw said.
In all, the storm was not as bad as expected because prolonged periods of freezing rain south of Interstate 85 did not materialize in Spartanburg County, Outlaw said.
Had that happened, there would have been many reports of downed trees and power lines, he said. Through Sunday afternoon, Outlaw said his office had not yet heard of any such reports.
"Freezing rain mainly affected areas north of Columbia, from Newberry to Camden and to some degree Chester and Lancaster," Outlaw said. "It is fortunate Spartanburg was spared the worst of that.
However, the combination of snow and sleet-covered roads throughout the region on Sunday, made driving "treacherous," Outlaw said.
Some snow and sleet totals reported through Sunday afternoon include Landrum, 8 inches; Chesnee, 6 inches; Moore, 5.5 inches; Duncan, 5.2 inches; Lyman, 4.5 inches; Wellford, 5 inches; and the City of Spartanburg, 4 to 5.5 inches.
He said the storm produced snow from 1 a.m. to sunrise Sunday, then mostly sleet through the morning and into the afternoon.
"This is the most sleet I can remember from a weather system in quite some time," Outlaw said.
Outlaw said sunshine Monday should help melt ice on roads, but those that are shaded will remain hazardous. Black ice is expected Monday night with forecast lows between 18 and 22.
For the rest of Sunday, a winter storm warning remains in effect. Light snow and sleet will become all snow after 4 p.m. with patchy fog and a high near 30 and northeast wind of 7 to 9 p.m.
Gradual clearing is expected overnight, with patchy fog and a low around 27 and winds of 9 to 14 mph and gusts to 18 mph.
Monday, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, will be sunny with a high near 40 and west wind of 10 to 14 mph with gusts as high as 22 mph.
Monday night will be mostly clear with a low around 20 and west wind of 3 to 8 p.m.
Tuesday will be sunny with a high near 43 and calm wind.
Wednesday will be partly sunny with a 30 percent chance of showers after 4 p.m. and a high near 48.
Shelters in Spartanburg County close
All four shelters in Spartanburg County are now closed at this time, according to Spartanburg County Emergency Management.
With less than expected ice accumulation, no request for sheltering and fewer power outages in Spartanburg County, there is no need for them to be open, the agency reported on its Facebook page.
The shelters include Wofford College, Benjamin Johnson Arena, Spartanburg; Dorman Freshman Academy Gym, Roebuck; High Point Academy Expo Center, Spartanburg; and Chapman High School auxiliary gym, Inman.
Spartanburg road conditions: SC Highway Patrol says avoid unnecessary travel
The S.C. Highway Patrol still is advising residents to avoid unnecessary travel due to snow and ice-covered roads throughout the area.
Noon: Snow moves out of Spartanburg but sleet, freezing rain continue
Spartanburg city roads are "pretty treacherous," according to City Communications and Marketing Manager Christopher George. The city encourages people to stay off the roads, and the crews are working on clearing the main roads at the moment.
The bulk of snow and ice has moved out of Spartanburg County, but there will still be sleet and freezing rain into the afternoon, followed by a period of snow before the winter storm is finished, NWS meteorologist Chris Horne said.
Horne said there was more snow overnight throughout the area than the freezing rain and sleet that was expected.
"The storm evolved a little differently," Horne said. "There have been very little reports of freezing rain. It was mostly a period of snow that started at 1, then accumulated decently through 7 a.m. From south to north it then changed to sleet."
Be prepared: Thousands across the Upstate without power
He said sleet has accounted for about a half-inch of the snow totals.
The forecast for the rest of Sunday is for a continued winter storm warning through midnight. The high will be near 30, with northeast wind 13 to 18 mph decreasing to 7 to 12 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 32 mph. The chance of precipitation is 100%.
Road conditions: SC winter storm: Road conditions are bad and deteriorating, according to Highway Patrol
For Sunday night, there is a 40 percent chance of snow, mainly before 9 p.m. Otherwise, cloudy during the early evening, then gradual clearing, with a low around 28 and west-southwest wind of 5 to 8 mph. New snow accumulation of less than a half-inch possible.
Sunshine is expected Monday, with a high near 41 and west wind of 8 to 15 mph with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Monday night will be mostly clear with a low around 20.
A slow warming trend is expected, with a high of 43 on Tuesday and a nighttime low of 24, and a high of 48 Wednesday with a nighttime low of 37.
Horne said forecasters are keeping an eye on another potential winter storm next weekend, with the potential of wintry precipitation Friday into Saturday.
"We will be watching carefully," he said.
SC Highway Patrol assisting motorists on roads
The S.C. Highway Patrol responded to several incidents Sunday morning, including:
Troopers reported assisting motorists at Wood and Little streets, Spartanburg; Interstate 26 westbound at exit 16, Spartanburg; I-26 westbound at exit 18; Reidville Road at Freys Drive, Spartanburg; I-26 westbound at exit 33; I-85 northbound at exit 75.
Accidents, no injuries, Little Africa Road, Spartanburg County; Asheville Highway at Water Oak Street, Spartanburg County; Bryant Road at Clark Road, Spartanburg County, according to the S.C. Highway Patrol.
The Spartanburg Herald-Journal is providing this important information about the winter storm free of charge. Please remember that your subscription to the Herald-Journal helps us provide this and other important journalism. Thank you for reading, and please consider buying a subscription. For information, visit subscribe.goupstate.com
6 a.m.: NWS reports snow inch counts in South Carolina
The National Weather Service office at Greenville Spartanburg International Airport reported 4.3 inches of snow already had fallen. The snow that already has fallen is near the expected totals for GSP (4.7 inches).
Be prepared: Everything you need to know about the winter storm forecast for Spartanburg, South Carolina
"There will be some melting Monday, but the low temperature is 18 tomorrow night," Outlaw said. "We'll see re-freeze potentially on the roads heading into Tuesday with any moisture still around."
The Herald-Journal wants to know what the conditions are like in your area. Email photos and information (name and where the photo was taken) to managing editor Gabe Whisnant at gwhisnant@shj.com.
This is a developing story. Check back for more information
This article originally appeared on Herald-Journal: Spartanburg weather: Winter storm brings freezing rain, snow, wind
