Roads Impacted by Winter Weather; Drivers Urged to Stay Home if Travel Is Not Necessary

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February 1, 2026

Columbia, S.C. – Snow continues to create hazardous driving conditions across portions of South Carolina, and members of the South Carolina Emergency Response Team are urging residents to stay off the roads if they do not have to travel.

While crews have been working around the clock to treat priority routes, many roadways, including primary roads remain slick and dangerous for travel. Cold temperatures are preventing rapid melting, and refreezing is expected overnight, increasing the risk of black ice.

Emergency officials stress that unnecessary travel puts drivers at risk and can delay response efforts for emergency personnel and road crews.

“Even though the snowfall has ended, the danger has not,” said South Carolina Emergency Management Director Kim Stenson. “Snow remains on many roadways, especially in areas that do not receive direct sunlight.”

The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) continues to prioritize interstates, primary routes, and critical access roads. However, officials caution that conditions can vary widely from one area to another.

“Road conditions are still hazardous in many parts of the state,” said SCDOT Secretary Justin Powell. “Our crews are working around the clock, but we have seen a highly unusual amount of snowfall and it will take time to fully clear and reopen the roads. If you do not have to be out, please stay home and give our teams the space they need to do their work.”

“Limiting traffic helps protect drivers and gives law enforcement, emergency responders, and road crews the room they need to work safely,” said South Carolina Department of Public Safety Director Robert Woods.

Director Woods adds that drivers who can not avoid travel are urged to decrease their speed, increase following distance, and use extreme caution, particularly on bridges, overpasses, and roads that appear wet, due to the probability that it’s ice.

Residents are encouraged to monitor local weather forecasts and follow official updates from SCEMD, SCDOT, SCDPS and local officials for the latest information on road conditions and safety guidance.

State and Local Activities:

  • The South Carolina Emergency Management Division has received and processed over 68 requests for a range of capabilities, including shelter support and generators.
  • The South Carolina Department of Transportation has shifted to 24-hour operations with approximately 3,000 personnel mobilized.
  • Road safety remains a top priority. The South Carolina Department of Public Safety has activated 24-7 coverage until further notice. As of Saturday, 595 Highway Patrol troopers, State Transport Police officers, SLED agents, PPP officer and DNR officers were mobilized for traffic incident response.
    • Within a 24-hour period (from 7 a.m. on Saturday, January 31 through 7 a.m. on Sunday, February 1), the above agencies responded to 1,490 calls for service. Of those, 1227 were for reported collisions or to assist motorists.
  • Over 350 service members from the South Carolina Military Department are postured to support Winter Storm Gianna operations, including 14 vehicle recovery teams working under the direction of the South Carolina Highway Patrol. A total of 47 vehicles have been dispatched to aid in these efforts.
  • 9 general population shelters are currently in operation. View shelter information here.
  • The South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) opened its Triage Line for residents to call to determine their eligibility for Medical Equipment Power Shelters (MEPS) and expanded the hours of its Care Line to 24 hours a day until 2 p.m. Sunday Feb. 1. During the storm, DPH had four Medical Equipment Power Shelters and one quarantine shelter on standby across South Carolina for shelterees and their companions.
  • State government office closing and delay information is available at https://www.scemd.org/closings/

 

For more information, visit SCEMD.org.