Ice Storm — Greenwood, South Carolina

1999-01-02 to 1999-01-03 · Greenwood, South Carolina

Wider weather episode

A shallow cold arctic airmass in place ahead of a developing storm system in the southern Plains set the stage for a significant ice storm for most of the Upstate during the evening of the 2nd. Patchy sleet began during the late morning and became more widespread and heavier during the afternoon - mixing at times with freezing rain. Sleet accumulated to nearly one inch across the foothills before changing to freezing rain in the early evening. Freezing rain continued through the evening, heavy at times and accumulated to damaging levels. Downed trees and power lines caused widespread power outages, totalling 160,000 across the Upstate. Much of the damage to homes was due to ice damming and to a lesser extent, fallen trees.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5680776. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.