Rock Hill region faces growing chance winter storm will hit this weekend, NWS says

There’s growing confidence among meteorologists that the Rock Hill region will feel a winter storm this weekend, which could cause significant disruptions.

A winter storm watch is in effect from Saturday morning to Monday afternoon for York, Lancaster and Chester counties. That notice for York and Chester counties issued by the National Weather Service on Wednesday afternoon forecast 1 to 6 inches of snow.

“Significant ice accumulation on power lines and tree limbs may cause widespread and long-lasting power outages,” the watch notice said. “Ice and snow covered roadways will become treacherous and impassable.”

Outages could last for days in places, it said, potentially impacting the Monday morning commute.

A separate watch notice that includes Lancaster County doesn’t give a potential snowfall amount.

“Roads, and especially bridges and overpasses, will likely become slick and hazardous,” that notice said. “Significant ice accumulation on power lines and tree limbs may cause widespread power outages. Plan on slippery road conditions.”

Chances of snow in the Rock Hill region

Those winter storm watch notices come after forecasters already warned of potential weather issues this weekend.

Rock Hill has a 24% chance of snowfall this weekend of 4 inches or more, the National Weather Service projected Wednesday morning. Lancaster has a 16% chance. There’s a 49% chance in Rock Hill of at least a quarter inch of ice, and a 60% chance in Lancaster. And the threat of ice also means there is a threat of widespread power outages.

There’s a 60% to 70% chance of at least moderate impacts from snow, sleet and ice this weekend in York and Chester counties, according to the National Weather Service office in Greer. That office provides forecasts and weather information for northwestern South Carolina, western North Carolina and northeastern Georgia.

“Moderate winter storm impacts are disruptions to daily life that include: hazardous driving conditions, road closures and infrastructure disruptions like power outages,” said a winter storm update posted Wednesday.

There’s a greater than 90% chance of minor weather-related impacts from the storm.

Lancaster County gets its weather information from the National Weather Service office in Columbia. Lancaster County falls within the same 60% to 70% range for moderate impacts. Some sort of wintry mix could come from early Saturday to late Sunday, but forecasters say it’s too early to pin down details.

“While the severity and extent of impacts is still uncertain, now is the time to make preparations for wintry weather,” said a notice from the Columbia NWS office on Wednesday.

There’s a 20% chance of rain in Rock Hill on Thursday, then at least a 50% chance of rain or wintry mix every day through Sunday. The seven-day forecast shows a 70% chance of wintry mix on Saturday, 100% on Saturday night and 90% on Sunday.

The high temperatures are 31 degrees Saturday and 28 Sunday, with a low Saturday night of 18 degrees.

This story was originally published January 21, 2026 at 11:22 AM.