7:15 p.m.
The following are the only current weather alerts from the National Weather Service for South Carolina:
A winter weather advisory was issued at 7:09 p.m. and is in effect until 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 4, for the following counties: Allendale; Beaufort; Charleston; Coastal Colleton; Coastal Jasper; Dorchester; Hampton; Inland Berkeley; Inland Colleton; Inland Jasper; Tidal Berkeley.
A winter storm warning was issued at 3:11 p.m. and is in effect until 6 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 4, for the following counties: Dillon; Florence; Marion. Central Horry; Coastal Georgetown; Coastal Horry; Inland Georgetown; Northern Horry; Williamsburg.
A winter storm warning was issued at 3:11 p.m. and is in effect until 6 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 4, for the following counties: Dillon; Florence; Marion. Central Horry; Coastal Georgetown; Coastal Horry; Inland Georgetown; Northern Horry; Williamsburg.
A winter weather advisory was issued at 3:11 p.m. and is in effect until 6 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 4, for the following counties: Darlington; Marlboro.
6 p.m.
The National Weather Service in Columbia said Orangeburg up through Sumter and Bishopville has seen the heaviest snowfall today. Weather advisories are still in effect due to hazardous snow and ice covered roads. Temperatures will not get above freezing until Thursday afternoon.
Snowfall is ending across the state as dry air is blowing in, according to NWS Columbia.
Current Weather Alerts
The following are the only current weather alerts from the National Weather Service for South Carolina:
A winter storm warning was issued at 5:58 p.m. and is in effect until 10 p.m. for the following counties: Bamberg; Calhoun; Clarendon; Lee; Orangeburg; Sumter.
A winter weather advisory was issued at 5:58 p.m. and is in effect until 10 p.m. for the following counties: Chesterfield.
A winter storm warning was issued at 5:45 p.m. and is in effect until 11 p.m. for the following counties: Charleston; Dorchester; Inland Berkeley; Tidal Berkeley.
A winter storm warning was issued at 3:11 p.m. and is in effect until 6 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 4, for the following counties: Dillon; Florence; Marion. Central Horry; Coastal Georgetown; Coastal Horry; Inland Georgetown; Northern Horry; Williamsburg.
A winter weather advisory was issued at 3:11 p.m. and is in effect until 6 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 4, for the following counties: Darlington; Marlboro.
5 p.m.
No winter storm-related fatalities have been reported, S.C. Dept. of Public Safety Director Leroy Smith said during a press conference at the state emergency operations center.
"We've seen a lot of collisions and a lot of disabled vehicles," Smith said. "If you're in the impacted areas please stay home."
Smith said 183 State Highway Patrol officers and S.C. Dept. of Natural Resources officers are responding to the storm.
Roads are expected to refreeze overnight and conditions across eastern and coastal South Carolina are expected to remain hazardous on Thursday. Officials urge citizens and visitors avoid unnecessary travel.
An up-to-date list of Charleston road closures is available here.
City of Charleston offices will remain closed on Thursday except for emergency services and storm response. City of Charleston garbage and trash pick-up has been suspended through Thursday. Pick-up will resume when weather and road conditions permit.
The city’s citizen information line remains in service for non-emergency, weather-related questions at 843-973-7219.
4:22 p.m.
A winter storm warning was issued at 4:22 p.m. and is in effect until Wednesday at 10 p.m. for the following counties: Bamberg; Calhoun; Clarendon; Lee; Orangeburg; Sumter.
A winter weather advisory was issued at 4:22 p.m. and is in effect until Wednesday at 10 p.m. for the following counties: Chesterfield; Fairfield; Kershaw; Lancaster; Richland.
A winter storm warning was issued at 4:01 p.m. and is in effect until Thursday at 12 a.m. for the following counties: Beaufort; Charleston; Coastal Colleton; Coastal Jasper; Dorchester; Hampton; Inland Berkeley; Inland Colleton; Inland Jasper; Tidal Berkeley.
As of 4:15 p.m. Wednesday, thousands are without power across coastal South Carolina and school and office closings are happening as far as the Midlands, as a frigid winter weather system of snow and freezing rain grips the state.
Gov. Henry McMaster will hold a press conference at 4:30 p.m. for local media. SCETV will provide updated information online.
South Carolinians in winter weather advisory and warning areas are encouraged to stay off roadways, as local and state officials report high collision rates in the areas.
The National Weather Service expects snow to be as high as four inches in some parts of the Pee Dee and Lowcountry, following rain and freezing rain that occurred earlier in the day.
Snowfall forecasts through 1 a.m. Thursday: Allendale: 1-2 inches, Barnwell: 2 inches, Beaufort: 1-2 inches, Charleston: 1-2 inches, Columbia: less than 1 inch, Florence: 2 inches, Georgetown 2 inches, Johnsonville: 3 inches, Kingstree: 3 inches, Manning: 3 inches, Moncks Corner: 3-4 inches, Myrtle Beach: 2 inches, Orangeburg: 2 inches, Summerville: 3-4 inches, Sumter: 3 inches, Walterboro: 2-3 inches.
Forecasters expect precipitation to end between midnight tonight and daybreak Thursday. Then, in the wake of this storm system, dry weather will last through the weekend, though another arctic blast will keep temperatures far below seasonal levels.
Additional resources and contact information are available at the South Carolina Emergency Management website SCEMD.org.
Shelters
A list of available shelters can be found here.
Power Outages
As of 5:15 p.m., there are 5,700 outages--primarily in Beaufort, Charleston and Colleton counties, due to the storm. SCE&G's outage map is updated here.
Nearly 800 electric cooperative customers are also without power, according to the Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina's outage map here.
Other utilities that serve the heavily affected area, primarily east of Interstate 95, include several electric cooperatives and Duke Energy Progress. Those utilities are reporting limited outages at this time.
Report an outage:
SCE&G 1-888-333-4465 or click here
Duke Energy Progress: 1-800-419-6356 or click here
Berkeley Electric: 1-888-253-4232, Coastal Electric: 843-538-5800, Edisto Electric: 1-800-433-3292, Horry Electric: 843-369-2212, Palmetto Electric: 866-445-5551, Pee Dee Electric: 1-800-693-0190, Santee Cooper: 1-888-769-7688.
Weather Alerts
Find the most up-to-date weather alert information from the National Weather Service here.
A winter storm warning is in effect until Thursday at 6 a.m. for the following counties: Dillon; Florence; Marion; Central Horry; Coastal Georgetown; Coastal Horry; Inland Georgetown; Northern Horry; Williamsburg.
A winter weather advisory is in effect until Thursday at 10 a.m. for the following counties: Darlington; Marlboro.
A winter weather advisory is in effect until Thursday at 12 a.m. for the following counties: Allendale; Beaufort; Charleston; Coastal Colleton; Coastal Jasper; Dorchester; Hampton; Inland Berkeley; Inland Colleton; Inland Jasper; Tidal Berkeley.
A winter storm warning is in effect until Wednesday at 10 p.m. for the following counties: Calhoun; Clarendon; Lee; Orangeburg; Sumter.
A winter weather advisory is in effect until Wednesday at 10 p.m. for the following counties: Chesterfield; Fairfield; Kershaw; Lancaster; Lexington; Richland.
A winter weather advisory is in effect until Wednesday at 9 p.m. for the following county: Chester.
Closings
School closings can be found here.
All state office and county office closings can be found on the South Carolina Emergency Department’s web site here.
Airports
The runways at Charleston International Airport have been closed by Joint Base Charleston due to icy conditions. No flight operations are permitted until the U.S. Air Force determines the runways are safe for aircraft and passengers. The airport advises passengers to contact their airlines to rebook any canceled flights.
Road conditions
Road and bridge conditions for your area can be found by clicking the tabs on this S.C. Dept. of Transportation web page here. Conditions are also available by region on SCDOT's Twitter account. SCDOT also provides road condition updates and collision information on its regional Twitter accounts: @SCDOTLowCountry, @SCDOTMidlands, and @SCDOTPeeDee.
Road and bridge closures can be found here.
511SC.org also provides real-time traffic cameras and accident information for state roadways.
SCDOT's call center will remain open until the winter storm passes. Call anytime at: 1-855-GO-SCDOT, 1-855-467-2368, or 803-737-2314.
