A significant winter storm is impacting South Carolina from Friday afternoon through Saturday night, bringing heavy snowfall, very cold temperatures, and strong winds. The National Weather Service has upgraded the winter storm watch to a warning for Upstate South Carolina, with snowfall expected to range from 4 to 7 inches across the region, and locally higher totals of 8 to 12 inches where the heaviest snow band occurs. The storm's path may shift southwest toward the I-26 corridor, affecting Greenville, Spartanburg, and Anderson counties. Power companies, including Duke Energy, are preparing for potential outages caused by high winds and heavy snow. Wind gusts could bring down trees, especially those weakened by recent ice storms, and cause whiteout conditions, making travel hazardous. Residents are advised to charge electronic devices, prepare emergency kits, and avoid travel during the storm. Snow is forecast to start around 5 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 31, with the heaviest snowfall occurring between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Gusty winds and extremely cold temperatures, with lows in the single digits and wind chills from -10 to -20 degrees, are expected to persist into early February. The cold weather will cause snow to stick to roads, creating significant travel disruptions. The South Carolina Department of Transportation has begun pretreating roads and monitoring snowfall probabilities, with a statewide winter storm plan in effect. The storm could also impact local events, including Clemson basketball, which may face postponement. Meteorologists forecast that most areas will receive 4 to 8 inches of snow, with some spots experiencing higher amounts, and emphasize that this will be a high-impact snowstorm rather than an ice event. Residents are encouraged to stay informed through weather alerts and live coverage, and to prepare for extended cold and snow conditions into early next week.