Published: Monday, Feb. 01, 2010 / Updated: Friday, Feb. 12, 2010 11:46 AM

Freezing rain on tap for tonight, then later in week

Refreezing water could mean slick roads for drivers today, weather officials said, and all four York County school districts canceled school today due to the threat of ice.

Lancaster County schools also are closed today; Chester County schools will operate on a two-hour delay.

Also, all classes have been canceled at York Technical College, although faculty and staff are to report at 11 a.m. York Tech's child development center also opens at 11 a.m.

Winthrop will run on a normal schedule today.

The bright Sunday afternoon sun melted a lot of the snow and slush that lined York County’s roads after a weekend storm blanketed the area, but experts said refreezing snow and slush overnight poses a danger this morning.

As temperatures warm up from the mid-teens today, there might be patches of black ice on roads, overpasses and bridges, said Blair Holloway, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

Rock Hill, Clover and Fort Mill schools announced plans Sunday for a snow makeup day on Feb. 15, which had been scheduled as a President’s Day holiday.

St. Anne Catholic School’s open house will start as scheduled at 6 tonight at the school, 1698 Bird Street, Rock Hill. For details, call 803-324-4814 or e-mail info@stanneschool.com.

Warmer temperatures today and Tuesday, with highs in the mid-40s, are expected to melt away the rest of remnants of the weekend storm, Holloway said. However, he said, there’s a chance for refreezing again Monday night, with lows in the 20s.

South Carolina Department of Transportation crews worked Sunday to clear the main and secondary roads of slush and snow. Statewide, more than 200 employees used more than 160 trucks to clear and treat the roads, according to the DOT.

Although the roads were icy early Sunday, no major crashes were reported. By 10 a.m. Sunday, Interstate 77 was reported in good condition with traffic moving freely. Road crews in York, Chester and Lancaster counties spent the rest of the day spreading anti-icing materials on icy patches on primary and secondary roads.

This weekend’s winter weather might not be an isolated incident, Holloway said. There’s a chance of snow again Thursday and Friday, he said.

“At this time, it looks like there could be some chance of wintery precipitation Thursday night into Friday,” Holloway said. “There’s a potential for a system but no real details at this time.”

What's ahead

Tonight: Cloudy skies and a chance for some light freezing rain toward dawn. Lows near 30 degrees.

Tuesday: After the morning ice chance, just plain rain for the day with highs near 40.

Wednesday: A beautiful day but still behind on the warmth. Highs once again in the 40s.

Thursday: Clouds will thicken with time by the afternoon. Temperatures in the middle 40s.

Friday: Yet another storm- this one looks to be stronger than what will deal with on Tuesday. We'll be riding the fence as far as temperatures. Wet weather is a certainty but a wintry threat is still up for discussion. Temperatures in the 30s.

- WSOC-TV Meteorologist Keith Monday