Daniel Prince
Union escapes major problems, as limited power outages reported; slick roads remain the main hazard
Union County escaped major problems from the ice and snowstorm that blew through the area yesterday. A wintery mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain began in the overnight hours Sunday morning and continued much of the day, bringing an inch or two of accumulation. Combined with morning wind gusts of up to 30 mph, the fear was that there would be widespread power outages due to damage to trees and power lines. However, only isolated power outages were reported, including one affecting a small number of Broad River Electric Cooperative members in the county.
In the storm’s wake, dangerous black ice conditions will form across the area, as falling overnight temperatures caused any water on the roads to become icy again. Slippery, treacherous road conditions may persist into this morning. Transportation agencies are advising the public to stay off roads unless absolutely necessary. Any motorists that do venture out are urged to use extreme caution. If a road looks wet, it likely is covered in a thin sheet of ice. Temperatures will warm above freezing around 10 a.m. or so, and the lingering snow and ice will slowly melt. The high today is expected to reach 41 degrees.
The next storm system to watch comes in Friday and Saturday and could bring with it the possibility for snow, but it’s too early to know what impact, if any, it will have on our area.