Snowfall lands lightly, with heavy impacts that will last
A young motorist had a little fun in the empty Tabor City IGA parking lot Sunday morning, while town workers and business owners cleared streets and parking lots, and a snowman took shape in an East 5th Street yard. (Deuce Niven/Amy Niven photos)
By DEUCE NIVEN
tribdeuce@tabor-loris.com
While the Tabor-Loris Community was largely spared from any significant impacts from overnight snowflakes Friday into Saturday, a foot or more of light, powdery snow that began around sundown Saturday and ended after dawn Sunday will have impacts counted in days, not hours, officials from local emergency managers and the National Weather Service said.
“A very cold air mass will combine with snowfall and gusty winds to produce dangerous cold conditions through at least early Tuesday morning,” a NWS briefing at 9 a.m. Sunday said. “Hazardous travel and impacts to infrastructure will continue for days to come due to snow, melted snow and icy conditions.”
High temperatures were not expected to exceed the freezing point Sunday with a gradual warming to the mid-30s on Monday, mid-40s on Tuesday, and 50 degrees with a chance of rain on Wednesday that could remove most of the snowfall remnants. Overnight lows were forecast at about 11 degrees Monday morning, 19 degrees Tuesday morning, and in the mid-30s Wednesday morning.
Public warming centers across Columbus County housed 23 residents who needed an escape from the bitter cold that accompanied the most significant snowfall in the area in perhaps 35 years, a news release from Columbus County Emergency Services said.
Power outages were few and isolated, with 48 customers impacted across Columbus County Sunday morning, the news release said.
“Road conditions throughout Columbus County remain hazardous and are not drivable,” the news release said. “Officials strongly emphasize that residents should remain off the roads to prevent accidents and to allow emergency responders and utility crews to operate safely.”
Despite the warnings some were out on the roadways Sunday morning. Most businesses in Tabor City appeared closed, including grocery stores, though some convenience stores and the local Burger King was open, while McDonald’s was closed.
Public schools in Columbus and Horry will operate with remote learning Monday, those decisions announced on Friday. Southeastern Community College will also remain closed Monday with all in person activities cancelled, but “will conduct remote work and instruction where possible” Monday, an SCC news release said.
Columbus County and most local government offices will be closed Monday, and GFL trash collection in the county will also pause Monday, with the plan to delay collections by one day for the remainder of the week.
Stay home remained the message from emergency managers.
“County officials will continue to monitor conditions and coordinate response efforts,” the Columbus County Emergency Services news release said. “Residents are encouraged to shelter in place, avoid unnecessary travel, and remain attentive to official county communications for further updates.”
Look for updates here as events warrant and a wrap-up of the winter storm impacts in the next Tabor-Loris Tribune in print and online.
