What makes an ice storm so dangerous?

Ice storms in SC have caused widespread damage in the past, and as we brace for winter weather, we spoke to a meteorologist to find out why.

A frozen fountain

The frozen fountain is always a sign. | Photo by GVLtoday

Did you know 0.25 inches of ice weighs as much as two feet of snow? That’s why all eyes are on the forecast as the Upstate braces for what could become “a long-duration ice event.”

According to WYFF 4’s report yesterday, models show 1.50-2.0 inches of ice from ATL to GSP. Then, we’re expecting arctic air with little to no melting possible for several days. Note that models can change — that’s why we leave the forecasting to the experts:

GVL_SCDOT_Salt_Dome_JAN2026

SCDOT has two major salt domes that each hold 10,000 tons of salt. | Photo via SCDOT

What preparations are underway?

SCDOT says it has 60,000 tons of salt ready, 1,200 pieces of equipment staged across the state, and brine and calcium chloride ready to treat roadways as needed.

When has this happened before?

In February 2014, an ice storm caused 364,000+ power outages across SC and caused more than $260 million in damages. Officials compared the damage across parts of our state to that of Hurricane Hugo in 1989. Locally, you may remember the 2005 ice storm.

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