Ice Storm — Southern Oconee, South Carolina

2000-01-29 to 2000-01-30 · Southern Oconee, South Carolina

Wider weather episode

Weakening low pressure in the Ohio River Valley, developing low pressure along the Gulf Coast and cold, arctic air in place across the Carolinas resulted in an icy mess across Upstate South Carolina. Precipitation which breifly began as a light mixture of sleet and snow, quickly turned to freezing rain. By 9 pm on the 29th, freezing rain resulted in a glaze 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick on exposed surfaces. Power outages were common across the region, especially in the Lower Piedmont from Abbeville to Greenwood, where many trees fell and the storm was described as "the worst in 20 years." Greenville and Pickens counties did not experience the damaging ice accumulation, but still had enough ice around to be a nuisance.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5129509. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.