WATCH: Video shows Greenville before and after winter storm
Take a look at how Greenville landmarks looked before and after the winter storm with this video.
A significant winter storm will impact the area Friday afternoon (Jan. 30) through Saturday night (Jan. 31), bringing heavy snowfall and very cold temperatures, according to the National Weather Service.
The winter storm watch has been upgraded to a winter storm warning for Upstate South Carolina and the rest of the coverage area for the Greer National Weather Service station. Snowfall accumulations have increased, and a band of heavy snow may affect parts of the area.
The main uncertainty is where the heaviest snowfall occurs. There are indications that the heaviest axis of snowfall may shift southwest toward the I-26 corridor. Regardless, at least 4-7 inches of snow is expected across the area, with locally higher totals of 8-12 inches where the heaviest band of snow develops, according to the weather service’s latest forecast on Friday, Jan. 30.
Keep up with the latest information on the incoming storm below.
Utility companies are bracing for the winter storm expected to dump 4-7 inches of snow on the Upstate over the weekend.
Anticipated high wind gusts pose the greatest risk to the power grid – especially in areas where trees were potentially weakened by the recent ice storm, according to Duke Energy officials.
“Dry, powdery snow is less likely to affect power equipment, but strong wind gusts can still bring down trees and cause outages,” Rick Canavan, Duke Energy storm director said in a statement.
Canavan added that should power go out, for safety, crews cannot perform elevated work in bucket trucks when winds reach 30 mph or higher, which may slow restoration in some areas.
Duke also warns that high winds combined with heavy snowfall could create whiteout conditions that limit visibility and make travel hazardous.
“We encourage customers to prepare now and avoid driving until conditions improve.”
Customers are advised to keep cellphones and other electronic devices charged and to prepare emergency kits that include flashlights and extra batteries.
-Leisa Richardson
Forecast from the National Weather Service around noon on Friday, Jan. 30, shows heavy snow is expected to begin around 5 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 31, with a high chance of precipitation continuing throughout the day. Gusty winds are expected to accompany the snowfall, potentially leading to reduced visibility and drifting snow.
The chance of precipitation is 90%, with new snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible on Saturday, Jan. 31. Accumulation for the event is predicted to be 4-7 inches for much of the Upstate region; some areas could see lower and higher numbers.
Dangerously cold temperatures and wind chills are predicted to impact the region Saturday through Monday morning, Jan. 31-Feb. 2.
-Travis Rose
Latest snow forecast
Strong winds, along with dry, powdery snow, may result in patches of blowing snow, reducing visibility, according to the National Weather Service. Isolated brief instances of blizzard conditions cannot be completely ruled out either.
The weather service warns that very cold temperatures will cause snow to quickly stick to roads, resulting in significant travel impacts through the weekend.
National Weather Service forecast calls for dangerously cold air to move in during the storm and persist into Monday morning, Feb. 2. Overnight lows in the single digits to low teens Saturday night, combined with gusty winds, will result in very cold wind chill values ranging from -10 to -20 across the mountains to -10 to 0 east of the mountains. An extreme cold watch has been issued for the entire area.
The Weather Channel has snow starting at 4 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 31, and continues until 9 p.m.
Jose Franco
Fox Carolina Meteorologist Kendra Kent’s forecast on social media:
Snow Latest
Start: 2-6 a.m. Saturday
Peak: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
End: Sat Evening
2-4 inches likely, with locally higher amounts possible.
Jose Franco
The National Weather Service at Greenville-Spartanburg advises having a winter storm plan.
- Have emergency supplies for your home and car
- Check your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
- Replenish fuel for your car
- Have multiple ways to receive warnings
- Bring pets indoors and ensure they have water
- Check on neighbors and family
- Properly ventilate emergency heat sources
- Keep generators at least 20 feet from your home
- Take it easy when shoveling
Great snow for snowballs and sleds
WYFF Meteorologist Chris Justus on social media said, “The latest European ensemble — which blends 51 different model solutions — shows a 90% chance of 3 inches or more of snow across the western Carolinas. That’s a strong signal and a far more responsible way to assess risk than relying on a single model run.
“All guidance continues to point toward high snow totals, lining up well with my current forecast of 4–8 inches across the area.
“Confidence continues to rise in a high-impact snowstorm Saturday, with steady snow from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., heavy at times. Most areas are expected to receive 4–8 inches, with a few spots likely to be higher.
“The good news? This is the play-in-the-snow kind of storm — not ice.
“The not-so-good news? It’ll be cold. Wind chills in the teens and a 9° low Sunday morning mean the snow sticks around.
“Great day for snowballs and sleds.
“Not great for roads — expect issues lingering into next week.”
Jose Franco
SCDOT makes preparations for ‘statewide snow event’, extreme cold
The South Carolina Department of Transportation has begun pretreating state roadways in preparation for the snow and extreme cold forecast for the weekend.
Transportation Secretary Justin Powell on Jan. 29 addressed how crews are monitoring snowfall probabilities across the state, with snow expected to begin as early as Friday night. According to the National Weather Service’s Greenville-Spartanburg forecast, a winter storm watch takes effect at 4 p.m. on Jan. 30 and continues until 7 a.m. on Feb. 1. There will also be an extreme cold watch in effect from 7 p.m. on Jan. 31 to 10 a.m. on Feb. 1.
Greenville, Spartanburg, and Anderson counties could receive 4-7 inches of snow, according to the NWS.
Bella Carpentier
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Will winter storm impact Clemson basketball game vs Pitt? Latest forecast
Clemson basketball has another game at risk of postponement due to inclement weather.
No. 19 Clemson (17-4, 7-1 ACC) will host Pitt (9-12, 2-6) on Jan. 31 (noon ET, ACC Network) at Littlejohn Coliseum.
The National Weather Service issued a winter storm watch in the Upstate from Jan. 30 (4 p.m. ET) through Feb. 1 (7 a.m. ET).
AccuWeather’s forecast projects “Colder with intermittent snow and flurries, accumulating an inch or two; breezy in the morning; storm total snowfall 1-3 inches; watch for slippery spots” with 32-degree temperatures on Jan. 31 in Clemson.
Derrian Carter
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