(Midlands) Jan. 18, 2007 - Winter weather
moved through parts of South Carolina Thursday.
The National Weather Service reported snow
showers in Anderson and Florence early Thursday
morning. Freezing rain was reported in Columbia
and Sumter.
The prediction of icy roads and wet weather
Thursday morning was reason enough for officials
to delay school in many parts of the Midlands.
Teachers at Dent Middle School in Columbia
used the extra two hours to salt their steps
before students arrived.
Parents were notified about the delay
Wednesday, and say they believe it was the right
thing for the school to do.
"The arrangement is very good because during
the early morning the road is very slippery and
dangerous for our children," said Annie Fan.
"I was happy," said student Brandon Corley.
"I was in basketball practice and the coach ran
in and said we had a delay. I was like, yes! We
get to sleep in!"
Richland County offices and the City of
Columbia offices also opened late Thursday
morning.
The wintry mix was strong enough to cause
some power outages in Sumter at various traffic
lights and at a Citgo gas station near Shaw Air
Force Base.
A mix of rain and sleet caused icicles to
hang off of trees, street signs and traffic
lights. Even fruit at the State Farmers Market
got a good soaking.
Despite the conditions, some people braved
the chilly temperatures. For them, it was
business as usual.
Just to the north, the cold weather is being
blamed for a large water main break in
Charlotte. The 18-inch water main ruptured in
Charlotte early Thursday morning, spilling 1,200
gallons of water per minute into the streets.
Officials say the break was caused by
freezing temperatures in the area.
Other parts of the country are still
recovering from this week's winter blast. Snow
stopped traffic on a California interstate just
north of Los Angeles.
In Austin, Texas, thousands are still without
power as crews work to fix frozen lines. And
some New York residents also don't have any
power, but they do have a new cold system
hitting the area.
updated 11:00pm by Bryce
Mursch
Sources: AP, NOAA,
FEMA
