The area gradually began to thaw Tuesday from a two-day winter storm, but slick secondary roads and a dense layer of fog continued to make travel treacherous.
Gov. Mark Sanford declared a state of emergency in South Carolina, citing the seriousness of the storm. Many people in the Midlands were left without power, and roadways statewide were icy. Six people have died as the result of weather related collisions in the state, but none were from York, Chester or Lancaster counties.
Slightly warmer weather mixed with ice on the ground and moisture in the air throughout the area Tuesday, creating a "good situation for fog," said Doug Outlaw, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Greenville. The looming fog and clouds kept the sun at bay, making it harder for ice to melt.
Most schools, county and city offices and businesses in the tri-county area were closed for the second day in a row. Outlaw said today's forecast calls for highs in the mid-40s and partly sunny skies, which should aid the thaw.
Roads also are expected to be easier to navigate, but police say motorists should still exercise caution. Many of the main roadways are clear, but ice still clings to several secondary roads, especially those in rural areas or spots shaded by trees.
More than 400 weather related collisions have been reported in York, Chester and Lancaster counties and surrounding areas since Sunday, said Lance Cpl. Bryan McDougald of the S.C. Highway Patrol. Police and S.C. Department of Transportation vehicles trying to assist those drivers have often become stuck in the process, he added.
McDougald said the majority of the collisions the state Highway Patrol has seen have happened on Shelly Mullis Road in Indian Land, where multiple cars were spotted in a ditch Tuesday. Mary Ann Lang, who lives on the Lancaster County road, watched as a stockpile of cars gathered in front of her house over the last three days.
"It was like a parking lot," Lang said Tuesday afternoon, adding that most of the cars have since been towed away.
She said most drivers ran into trouble at the place where the road begins to incline after a bridge crossing. Many cars couldn't make it up the hill, and others had difficulty passing a car that got stuck in the middle of the roadway.
"Some people were stuck right in front of our home, so we helped push their car out of the ditch or my husband gave them a ride home," said Lang, a first-grade teacher. "I, however, have stayed in and not attempted to drive anywhere. The farthest I have been out is to scrape the driveway."
McDougald said other wrecks have occurred on Armenia Road in Chester County and U.S. 21 out of York heading toward Chester, where a stretch of the four-lane highway is covered with ice. Many drivers have been caught off guard by the slick spot because the majority of the road is clear, he said.
"It's still as treacherous as ever on those secondary roads. Drivers need to decrease their speed and following distances," McDougald said. "People also need to keep in mind that wherever you see water now (Tuesday), you'll see ice in the morning. So be prepared."
No major power outages
But unlike last year's winter storm, which knocked out utilities, officials say no major power outages have been reported in the area as the result of the weather. Statewide, the Midlands had the most widespread power outages.
York Electric Cooperative dispatched four crews Tuesday to assist with the power restoration effort for Mid-Carolina Electric Cooperative customers in the Columbia area. Approximately 20,000 of Mid-Carolina's 45,000 customers were without electricity in the morning, officials say.
Paul Basha, CEO and president of York Electric Co-op, said the company was glad to assist, though he didn't know how long the four crews will be needed.
"We were indeed fortunate that we had no outages from this winter storm and want to do what we can to assist our fellow Touchstone Energy Cooperatives," Basha said.
Contact Erica Pippins at 329-4072 or epippins@heraldonline.com.
