Snowstorm to blanket parts of South Carolina

COLUMBIA – Stay inside.

That was the warning from South Carolina officials on Sunday as the state braced for a winter storm forecast to bring up to several inches of snow to the Palmetto State through Monday.

"We're warning people to be careful," Joe Farmer of the state Emergency Management Division said Sunday.

Farmer advised people to track the storm and keep safe. "That means that unless you need to travel, stay off the road," he said.

The National Weather Service posted winter storm warnings for most of the northern and central areas of South Carolina. Rain was expected to turn to snow around midnight and continue until Monday morning. Accumulations of up to half a foot or more were predicted for the Upstate region while from 2 to 4 inches were expected to fall in the state's Midlands region.

Meteorologist Blair Holloway of the NWS office in Greenville-Spartanburg had gotten early reports of a sleet-snow mix, but expected steady snowfall to begin after sunset once temperatures dropped.

Holloway said if predictions held, it could be the area's most significant March snowstorm since nearly 10 inches of snow were recorded at Greenville-Spartanburg Airport in 1993.

Like others in the affected area, Gov. Mark Sanford was monitoring developments. He has not announced closings or emergency measures because of the storm. "But that could change," spokesman Joel Sawyer said.

The South Carolina Highway Patrol has already begun deploying troopers for the increase in traffic accidents and roadway problems it figures to see during and after the storm, Sgt. Kelly Hughes said.

"We'll prepare for the worst and hope for the best," Hughes said.

Hughes of the Highway Patrol says there's a spike in roadway mishaps no matter how few inches fall because those residents excited about seeing snow drive around their neighborhood and aren't always fully prepared to handle the slicker conditions. When higher amounts hit, something Hughes says happens once every few years, people are more apt to stay indoors until road conditions improve.

The Emergency Management Division issued guidelines for those unfamiliar on handling cold weather and snow storms, including topping off gas tanks, moving farm animals to shelter and showing caution in using portable generators because of power outages.

Emergency management leaders have been talking with the governor's office and other agencies the past two days as the storm's threat grew. Farmer says they'll be prepared for whatever comes South Carolina's way. "We've been getting an extensive number of weather forecasts and we're talking to all state agencies to provide assistance," he said.

Several flights from Greenville-Spartanburg Airport to Atlanta were canceled, according to the airport Web site. Duke Power said close to 6,400 South Carolina customers were without power Sunday evening.

There were several reports of trees down in the Upstate because of high winds. WSPA-TV said one of its television towers had bent because of ice and strong gusts in the area.

Several school districts in the affected counties had canceled classes.

The soggy weather had already disrupted a host of outdoor sporting events and even one indoors.

A women's basketball game at Coker College in Hartsville for Sunday night was postponed because of the weather.

The list of college baseball games disrupted included Clemson's first visit to South Carolina's new, $35.6 million stadium on Sunday afternoon. Officials say they will try and find a makeup date for the popular rivalry contest. The teams waited to start their game Saturday at Clemson for nearly two hours because of bad weather.