Winter Storm in Northern Lancaster, South Carolina

A CoCoRaHS observer on Johnna Ln, in the northern tip of Lancaster Co, reported 1.7 inches of snow. A public report of around 1.7 inches of snow near Van Wyck was also received via social media.

A cold front shifted south through the region on January 20th, allowing cool and dry air from a polar air mass to begin filtering into the region. The front stalled to our south on January 21st, while upper level energy approached the region, and a wave of low pressure moved NE along the stalled front offshore. This allowed precipitation to spread into, or develop over, our region during the afternoon of January 21st. The precipitation generally started out as light rain then it transitioned to freezing rain, sleet, and/or snow, or a combination thereof, as low level temperatures continued to fall. The precipitation continued through the evening and night of January 21st, then shifted out of the region late that night. Total snow amounts generally ranged from 3-4 inches across the NE Midlands of SC, to 2-3 inches over other portions of the northern and central Midlands, to lesser amounts elsewhere. Freezing rain amounts ranged from a trace to about 1/8 of an inch across much of the region. No reports of significant damage or downed trees/power lines were received, though there were reports of vehicle accidents. The fact that the snow and ice fell on a Friday evening through early on a Saturday morning may have minimized impact.