Freezing rain & ice in Myrtle Beach and inland Horry County. When will the storm start?
This weekend the Grand Strand could see a mixture of winter weather precipitation, forecasts show.
The latest update from the National Weather Service out of Wilmington, NC, shows that light pressure moving through the Southeastern United States will cause inland areas of Horry County to experience light freezing rain on Friday night.
As of 8:02 a.m., the forecast said the inland areas are expected to receive 0.10” of freezing rain, away from the coast.
At the beginning of the precipitation, the NWS forecast said some sleet and snow will mix in with the freezing rain, but the total accumulation levels are expected to be under an inch.
The NWS has issued a winter weather advisory, but said there is not enough ice accumulation expected for them to issue an Ice Storm Warning.
Horry County Emergency Management encouraged residents to “exercise caution as weather moves into the area” in a social media post on Friday morning.
By Saturday, the forecast shows that the precipitation should stop, leaving conditions dry and cold for the remainder of the weekend.
With freezing temperatures forecast through the first half of the weekend, there are some things that can be done to prepare, including leaving faucets at a slow drip so pipes don’t freeze.
When driving on ice or in icy areas, it’s always important to drive slow and leave lots of space for breaking between cars.
The NWS said that the freezing rain could create dangerous driving conditions, especially on bridges, overpasses and elevated road surfaces.
Because of their elevation and inability to trap heat, wet bridges will always freeze over before roads, requiring extra caution when traversing them, according to previous reporting.
All-Star Driver Education, one of the country’s largest driver training organization, lists several tips and tricks for how to drive on bridges during winter weather events.
They include:
- Be aware of the weather and temperature. Any time there is precipitation and temperatures below freezing, ice is able to form on bridges. If ice has formed on your windshield, it is very likely that it has formed on bridges as well.
- Slow down when approaching the bridge, you will be less likely to lose control.
- Avoid accelerating, braking, or changing lanes as you pass over the bridge. Vehicle movements like this can cause your car to slide or spin or out of control.
- If you do have an accident on a bridge, don’t panic. As your vehicle slides, turn into the slide to regain control. Be aware of other vehicles around you, as there is a chance they may slide on the ice as well.
- Never exit your vehicle on an icy bridge, this puts you at risk for being hit by other cars.
