Drivers warned of freezing rain, icy roads in Beaufort County. Here’s the latest forecast
Rain throughout the day Friday could become freezing rain over parts of Beaufort County as temperatures start to drop around sunset.
The entire state is under a winter weather advisory until 7 a.m. Saturday.
The greatest risk for ice accumulation is across inland parts of the county, particularly north of the Broad River and in the area closer to I-95 and U.S. 17, according to the National Weather Service in Charleston. The Yemassee area could see accumulations of a tenth of an inch, with a light glaze of ice elsewhere in Beaufort County.
Drivers should expect the possibility of icy roads, particularly on bridges and overpasses.
A bulletin from the weather service cautioned that even trace amounts of ice can make driving treacherous.
Outdoor steps, porches and sidewalks may become slippery, and damage to trees and power lines because of ice could result in power outages.
The high temperature for Beaufort County on Friday is not forecast to be over 43 degrees, with a low dropping to right around freezing in the evening.
Saturday’s forecast
There is a slight chance of freezing rain early Saturday, but it is expected to gradually become mostly sunny, according to the weather service’s forecast for Beaufort County. Temperatures should stay cold but above freezing, with a brisk north wind during the day. There is a chance a wind chill advisory may be issued.
Saturday night, the forecast indicates a low of around 27, which would refreeze any remaining water on the roads overnight and could result in black ice, a transparent layer of ice that can’t be seen by drivers.
“Thanks to very cold air settling in for the weekend, be prepared for icy roads to start Saturday, slow melting of whatever falls, and potentially icy spots again on untreated roads Sunday morning due to refreezing,” wrote severe weather liaison Frank Strait in a news release from the S.C. State Climate Office.
