Rare Thunder-Ice Threat Emerges as Powerful Winter Storm Brings Freezing Rain and Lightning Across the Carolinas Sunday Evening
SOUTH CAROLINA & NORTH CAROLINA — A rare and potentially dangerous winter weather phenomenon known as thunder-ice is expected to develop Sunday evening as the strongest portion of a major winter storm moves through the Carolinas, according to forecast imagery and timing data.
Meteorologists warn that areas still locked below freezing could see heavy freezing rain combined with thunder and lightning, an unusual setup that significantly increases the risk of power outages, falling trees, and extremely hazardous travel conditions.
Freezing Rain and Lightning Possible From the Upstate Into Central North Carolina
Forecast data shows a wide swath of pink shading — indicating freezing rain — stretching from Upstate South Carolina through Charlotte and into central North Carolina, including the Triad and Triangle regions.
Cities within or near the highest risk zone include Greenville, Greenwood, Charlotte, Greensboro, Raleigh, and Lumberton, where surface temperatures are expected to remain at or below freezing while warm, unstable air moves overhead.
Lightning icons displayed across the freezing rain band signal the possibility of embedded thunderstorms, creating conditions favorable for thunder-ice late Sunday evening.
Columbia and Augusta Near the Transition Zone
The map indicates Columbia and Augusta sitting near a critical transition area where heavy rain and thunderstorms may shift into freezing rain as colder air pushes southward.
This boundary zone is especially concerning, as even slight temperature changes could rapidly turn rain into ice, leading to dangerous flash-freezing on roads and bridges.
Coastal Areas See Mostly Rain, But Inland Ice Risk Remains High
Along the coast, including Charleston, Georgetown, Myrtle Beach, and Hatteras, precipitation is expected to remain mostly rain, though pockets of heavier showers are visible offshore.
Farther inland, however, the combination of freezing surface temperatures and strong lift within the storm system raises the risk for significant ice accumulation, particularly across interior portions of South Carolina and North Carolina.
Timing: Sunday Evening Into the Night
The most intense phase of the storm is expected around and after 6:00 p.m. Sunday, when freezing rain coverage expands and lightning chances increase within the cold air mass.
Travel during this window could become extremely dangerous, especially in areas experiencing thunder-ice, where ice accumulation can occur rapidly and without warning.
Residents across the Carolinas are urged to avoid unnecessary travel, prepare for possible power outages, and closely monitor local weather updates as this rare winter threat unfolds. Stay with SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com for continued storm coverage, safety updates, and regional impacts as this system moves through the Southeast.
