Severe weather brings downed trees, power outages, flooding to York County region
Trees were down across York County Thursday, crushing cars in Rock Hill and blocking roads in the western part of the county.
A tornado watch was issued for York County in what could be as much as 4 inches of rain on Thursday, officials said.
The National Weather Service issued the tornado watch around 10:45 a.m. It was scheduled to run through 5 p.m.
The National Weather Service issued a flood warning for York and Chester counties, and upper Lancaster County including Indian Land, according to a weather service alert and Lancaster County Emergency Management.
At least three vehicles were damaged in Rock Hill when a large tree fell on the cars on Park Avenue near the Winthrop University campus, officials said. No injuries were reported.
Trees also were reported down on Black Street near downtown Rock Hill, Rock Hill Police Department and fire department officials said in a Twitter social media post.
Dave Lyle Boulevard west of Interstate 77 to John Ross Parkway in Rock Hill was shut down Thursday afternoon as the street flooded, Rock Hill police and S.C. Highway patrol troopers said. Traffic was detoured onto I-77 in both directions.
Pinewood Road, Red River Road and Aaron Avenue were also shut down because of flooding, city police said.
More than 2,000 customers were without power in York, Chester and Lancaster counties Thursday.
Flooding was reported on West Old Limestone Road in western York County, said Trent Faris, spokesman for the York County Sheriff’s Office. A tree was knocked down at the intersection of Lincoln Road and Jim McCarter Road, Faris said.
According to the York County government website, the following roads were closed Thursday evening due to flooding:
- Bookout Road
- Montview Road
- South Fork Road
- Love Valley Road
- Stallcup Road
- Wilson Chapel Road
- Blanton Road
- Morningview Road
- Lakedale Drive
- Gunsmoke Road
- Forest View Road
- Garvin Road
- Simpson Road
Boyd Road in York also was blocked by a fallen tree, officials said.
The bridge over Paraham Road near Nichols Road was closed after flooding over the bridge, sheriff’s deputies said. S.C. DOT officials closed the road at the bridge, deputies said.
York County Sheriff Kevin Tolson and deputies urged drivers to avoid any standing water and turn around if any water is pooled on any highway. The sheriff’s office issued safety precautions on Facebook and Twitter.
The weather service also issued a severe thunderstorm warning for York and Lancaster counties. York, Chester and Lancaster counties are under a flash flood watch.
Rainy conditions were expected through the day, and several crashes were reported on major roads.
Wrecks were reported on Interstate 77 south at Porter Road and Anderson Road at I-77 in York County, according to the S.C. Highway Patrol website. Interstate traffic was slowed from the collisions, troopers said.
Lancaster County had a reported crash on Charlotte Highway at Shiloh Unity Road, troopers said.
The flood watch that includes a possibility of tornadoes runs through Friday morning, according to the National Weather Service.
The flood watch means rapid rises on streams and creeks are likely to occur along with the threat of flooded roads, the weather service said.
“Flooding is also likely to occur on larger rivers which would linger through Friday,” the weather service said. “Storm total rainfall through Thursday evening may be as much as 3 or 4 inches across the area with locally higher amounts possible.”
The weather service said a flash flood watch means that conditions may develop that lead to flash flooding.
“Flash flooding is a ‘very dangerous situation,’” weather service officials said in a statement.
A person was killed Thursday in York County when a tree fell on a vehicle near Fort Mill, troopers said. The identity of the person killed has not yet been released by the York County Coroner’s Office.
Winds on Thursday were expected to push 20 mph, with the potential for higher gusts, officials said. The potential rain totals also rose about an inch from earlier forecasts of up to 3 inches.
Chuck Haynes with York County Emergency Management urged residents to avoid roads that are known to flood and prepare for the possibility that electrical service could be disrupted.
York County emergency responders had to rescue a woman in January from the roof of a car that was stranded in a flooded road.
“With the prediction we may see flooding in the area including on our roadways, trees may fall causing power outages, and high wind could cause damage,” Haynes said. “We remind motorists please do not drive into flooded roadways as the condition of the road may have changed under the water. Moving water has many hazards.”
This story was originally published February 6, 2020 at 8:07 AM.
