After severe storms ripped through the Upstate last weekend and a relatively mild work week, Old Man Winter looks to finally rear his head today (Friday, Jan. 29) and Saturday, Jan. 30 — right before the groundhog is due to give his prediction on when spring will start.
The Greenville-Spartanburg office of the National Weather Service has upgraded the winter storm watch for a large part of the Upstate — including Union County — to a winter storm warning that starts at 6 p.m. today and runs through 6 p.m. Saturday.
The NWS forecast is calling for a mix of rain and snow to transition to mostly snow around 10 p.m. tonight and last through 1 a.m. Saturday and then snow and sleet the rest of the early morning hours tomorrow. Snow accumulation is expected to be 1-3 inches.
By later Saturday morning the precipitation is expected to change to freezing rain and sleet with sleet accumulation of less than an inch and ice accumulation of between one-tenth and three-tenths of an inch possible during the day before the storm is all said and done.
There’s also a chance of additional freezing drizzle before 1 a.m. Sunday morning.
The southern portion of the Upstate is expected to see mainly a cold rain out of the system.
Tonight’s low temperature will hover in the upper 20s. Saturday’s high will be right around freezing — the reason for the freezing rain — and the area will see an overnight low on Saturday in the lower 20s.
The storm is the offspring of a strong low pressure system moving into the Upstate and western North Carolina from Texas that will track east across the Gulf Coast through tonight before moving off of the Atlantic coast Saturday.
The South Carolina Highway Patrol hasn’t issued any special travel recommendations for the winter storm, but being prepared and taking the correct precautions if you have to travel during the storm is the best advice, according to Lance Cpl. Scot Edgeworth who is the Community Relations Officer for SCHP’s Troop 2.
“Anytime we have inclement weather, we have to make sure we’re prepared,” he said.
Edgeworth said if travel during the storm is unavoidable, make sure your cell phone is charged before you leave home. He also said it might be a good idea to have a thermos, water and blankets in the vehicle with you in case you become stranded in the storm.
“It’s making sure you use everything available to keep you safe,” he said.
Driving in inclement winter weather is hazardous; however, Edgeworth said taking the same precautions you do everyday in normal weather conditions remain the same.
“We have to be responsible and drive appropriately for the conditions,” he said.
Also, if motorists come upon a slick spot or emergency situation while driving in the storm Edgeworth encourages them to dial *47 from their cell phone to alert the highway patrol of the situation. Edgeworth said by doing so, the state is aware of the emergency or slick spot and make sure those areas are attended to as soon as possible.
The chance for snow lingers into Saturday night here in the Upstate but skies are expected to clear out by Sunday and temperatures should reach back close to the 40-degree mark.
By Monday, the winter storm will be just a fading memory as the sun is expected to shine with a high near 50 degrees. This could be the beginning of a seesaw weather pattern, too, as the next chance for winter weather comes in Tuesday as a 30 percent possibility of rain or freezing rain comes back into the picture with a high in the mid-40s.
Wednesday, however, is expected to be partly sunny with a high in the lower 50s.
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