Upstate South Carolina Winter Storm Threat

A major winter storm is forecast for the Upstate and mountains of South Carolina this weekend (Jan 24-25, 2026), with heightened risk of hazardous travel from accumulating snow, sleet, freezing rain, and ice. Cold arctic air arrives Friday night, dropping temperatures into the 20s (teens in mountains), while a moisture-rich system moves in, setting up widespread wintry precipitation. Model uncertainty remains on timing and track: most scenarios show a mix of accumulating snow (heavier north, possibly double digits near the NC/TN border) and heavy sleet/ice southward across much of the state; a northern shift could limit impacts to rain or light ice, while a southern track risks severe icing. The pattern resembles the February 2014 storm. Monitor updates closely, prepare supplies, avoid unnecessary travel if wintry conditions develop, check on vulnerable neighbors, and review SCEMD’s winter weather guide—details will refine closer to the event, but significant impacts appear likely for at least parts of the region.