Storm moving out of SC, leaving power outages behind

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A winter storm brought light snow and freezing rain to South Carolina, leaving thousands without power and closing some schools.

The National Weather Service had a winter weather advisory in effect until noon in northeastern South Carolina. An ice storm warning and freezing rain advisory in the midlands expired at 7 a.m. Tuesday.

Schools were closed or delayed across much of the state. U.S. Sen. Tim Scott rescheduled community office hours in various cities.

Duke Energy reported more than 78,000 people without service Tuesday, with the biggest problems in Greenville and Spartanburg counties.

More than 3,500 Laurens Electric Cooperative customers were without service, and South Carolina Electric & Gas said about 2,400 customers were affected. State transportation officials said all interstates were open and had been plowed.

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