Ice Storm in South Carolina, December 4 to 5, 2002

Name: Ice Storm in South Carolina, December 4 to 5, 2002
Start: 2002-12-04T07:55
End: 2002-12-05T10:00
Location: South Carolina

December 4 to 5, 2002 · NWS CAE · 11 events in 11 counties and zones

Freezing rain fell over most of the Midlands, PeeDee, and western CSRA. Ice accumulations were around a quarter of an inch in McCormick, Saluda, Lexington, Richland, Sumter, and Lee counties.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 10 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 11

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS CAE wrote it up.

Freezing rain fell over most of the Midlands, PeeDee, and western CSRA. Ice accumulations were around a quarter of an inch in McCormick, Saluda, Lexington, Richland, Sumter, and Lee counties. Around a half an inch of ice accumulated in Newberry, Fairfieldm and Kershaw counties. Lancaster and Chesterfield counties were hardest hit with around an inch of ice. Many trees and powerlines were down in these two counties and people in Lancaster county went without power for several days.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

11 ice storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Ice Storm, Chesterfield

When: December 4, 7:55 AM EST to December 5, 10:00 AM EST
Where: Chesterfield forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 34.640, -80.159 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A major ice storm produced 1/2 to 1 inch of ice taking down trees and powerlines. Many power outages were reported. Roadways were extremely hazardous.

Ice Storm, Lancaster

When: December 4, 7:55 AM EST to December 5, 10:00 AM EST
Where: Lancaster forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

A major ice storm produced around an inch of ice that took down many trees and powerlines. Roads were hazardous. Many were without power for several days.

Ice Storm, McCormick

When: December 4, 9:55 AM EST to 10:00 AM EST
Where: McCormick forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 33.900, -82.310 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Minor ice storm produced 1/4 inch of freezing rain on trees, powerlines, and other outdoor structures.

Ice Storm, Newberry

When: December 4, 9:55 AM EST to December 5, 12:00 AM EST
Where: Newberry forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 34.290, -81.600 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An ice storm produced 1/2 inch of ice taking down some large tree branches and powerlines. A train derailed and the ice storm was tagged as partly to blame.

Ice Storm, Fairfield

When: December 4, 9:55 AM EST to December 5, 2:00 AM EST
Where: Fairfield forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 34.395, -81.121 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An ice storm produced 1/2 inch of ice. Large tree branches and powerlines came down causing some power outages.

Ice Storm, Lexington

When: December 4, 11:56 AM EST to 5:56 PM EST
Where: Lexington forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 33.902, -81.272 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Minor ice storm produced 1/4 inch of freezing rain on trees, powerlines, and other outdoor structures.

Ice Storm, Richland

When: December 4, 11:56 AM EST to 5:56 PM EST
Where: Richland forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 34.022, -80.903 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Minor ice storm produced 1/4 inch of freezing rain on trees, powerlines, and other outdoor structures.

Ice Storm, Saluda

When: December 4, 11:56 AM EST to December 5, 12:00 AM EST
Where: Saluda forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 34.006, -81.727 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Minor ice storm produced 1/4 inch of freezing rain on trees, powerlines, and other outdoor structures.

Ice Storm, Kershaw

When: December 4, 11:56 AM EST to December 5, 4:00 AM EST
Where: Kershaw forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 34.339, -80.590 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Minor ice storm produced 1/4 inch of freezing rain on trees, powerlines, and other outdoor structures.

Ice Storm, Lee

When: December 4, 11:56 AM EST to December 5, 2:00 AM EST
Where: Lee forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 34.163, -80.254 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Minor ice storm produced 1/4 inch of freezing rain on trees, powerlines, and other outdoor structures.

Ice Storm, Sumter

When: December 4, 11:56 AM EST to 5:56 PM EST
Where: Sumter forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 33.916, -80.382 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Minor ice storm produced 1/4 inch of freezing rain on trees, powerlines, and other outdoor structures.

What these are

Ice Storm: Freezing rain accumulating a quarter inch or more of ice, or less where it caused significant damage.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in South Carolina in 2002 Every state in 2002 This day in weather history Warnings in South Carolina, December 2002

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5326047, 5326048, 5326042, 5326045, 5326046, 5326039, 5326040, 5326041, 5326043, 5326044, 5326049.