Weather

SC officials urge road caution after snowfall, cold in York, Chester, Lancaster

14-year-old Lila Hutto, left, and 10-year-old Laurel Hutto sled down a hill Saturday at their Rock Hill home.
14-year-old Lila Hutto, left, and 10-year-old Laurel Hutto sled down a hill Saturday at their Rock Hill home. tkimball@heraldonline.com

Emergency officials are urging drivers to use caution Saturday after some roads had icy conditions because around two inches of snow fell in some areas of York, Chester, and Lancaster counties.

Conditions exist for the possibility of iced roads, said Lt. Michael Chavis of the Rock Hill Police Department.

Chavis urged drivers to use caution.

The snow started falling Friday night and finished early Saturday, yet temperatures remained below freezing Saturday morning, according to the National Weather Service. Temperatures will slowly rise above freezing by noon, officials said.

All of York County received snow and many roads as of 8 a.m. Saturday remain covered with snow, said Chuck Haynes, emergency management director. Haynes urged drivers to stay off the roads if possible until roads clear.

No reports of power outages or other snow-related problems were reported, Haynes said

The combination of warming temperatures and clearing skies will help melt any lingering snow by Saturday afternoon but until then, drivers should be alert for slippery roads and delay travel until later in the day if possible, the weather service said in a statement.

The weather service issued a forecast of a high of 40 degrees for Rock Hill Saturday afternoon.

Chester County had snow throughout the county but as of Saturday morning at 8 a.m. had not had reports of any power outages or other widespread problems, said Ed Darby, emergency management director.

Many areas of Lancaster County had two inches of snow or more, said Darren Player, emergency management director. Secondary roads that do not have much traffic to help melt snow could remain snow-covered Saturday, Player said.

And even with melting Saturday on many roads, the potential for icy conditions will return Sunday morning as the low expected into Sunday morning is expected to be in the lower 20s, according to Player and the weather service.

Sunday’s temperatures are expected to reach the upper 40s, the weather service forecast said.

This story was originally published January 22, 2022 at 8:21 AM.

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Andrew Dys
The Herald
Andrew Dys covers breaking news and public safety for The Herald, where he has been a reporter and columnist since 2000. He has won 51 South Carolina Press Association awards for his coverage of crime, race, justice, and people. He is author of the book “Slice of Dys” and his work is in the U.S. Library of Congress.
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