SOUTH CAROLINA — New high-resolution forecast data indicates that the South Carolina Upstate is facing a long-duration freezing rain event, with ice remaining the dominant precipitation type for nearly the entire storm. Unlike surrounding regions that may see temperature moderation, the Upstate is expected to stay locked below freezing, setting the stage for dangerous travel and widespread power disruption.
Meteorologists say this setup favors significant ice accumulation, especially across northern Upstate counties, where freezing rain may persist for more than 18 hours. Ice is expected to begin late this evening and may not fully end until around 5:00 p.m. Sunday, creating an extended period of hazardous conditions.
Conditions west of Asheville and into the higher elevations of the southern Appalachians may fare better, as warmer air aloft and weaker northeast cold-air influence could keep temperatures near or just above freezing at times. For the Upstate, however, the story is much different…