South Carolina DOT Treats Roads Ahead of Winter Storms

State and local agencies worked around the clock to prepare for snow and ice in Charleston and across the state.

Feb. 1, 2026 at 11:55am

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The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) scattered 6 million gallons of salt brine to treat roads across the state ahead of back-to-back winter storms that brought snow and ice to the typically sunny Palmetto State. Crews worked around the clock to clear and de-ice roads, focusing on interstates, primary routes, bridges, and overpasses. While some roads remain snowy and icy, the prevention and treatment efforts appear to have been largely successful so far, though officials warn that refreeze could create dangerous black ice conditions overnight.

Why it matters

South Carolina is not typically known for heavy snowfall, so state and local agencies have to proactively prepare for rare winter weather events to keep roads safe and accessible for residents and first responders. The coordination between the SCDOT, National Guard, and local municipalities highlights the importance of emergency planning and response to mitigate the impacts of severe weather in areas that don't regularly experience these conditions.

The details

The SCDOT scattered 6 million gallons of salt brine to treat roads ahead of the two winter storms that hit the state over back-to-back weekends. While some of the worst predictions seem to have skirted South Carolina, roads are still snowy and icy in places. The department has more than 3,000 employees working around the clock to clear and de-ice the 41,000 miles of roads it maintains across the state. Crews are focusing first on interstates, primary routes, bridges, and overpasses, but warn that it will take time to clear all roads and that drivers should use extreme caution, even on seemingly clear roads. The South Carolina National Guard also deployed more than 350 service members, including 14 recovery teams and 47 vehicles, to assist drivers who got stuck on the roads.

  • The snow started falling in the Charleston area by mid-afternoon on January 31 and moved out of the region overnight into February 1.
  • As of 11:45 a.m. on February 1, only two roads were completely closed due to snow and ice conditions, both in Richland County.

The players

SCDOT

The South Carolina Department of Transportation, the state agency responsible for maintaining roads and highways across the state.

Kelly Moore

A spokesperson for the SCDOT.

William Cogswell

The mayor of Charleston, who commended city staff for their proactive efforts to keep roads clear and open for first responders.

Deja Knight McMillan

A spokesperson for the city of Charleston, who noted that the city saw "very little issues because of the snow" due to the preparedness of city staff and first responders.

South Carolina National Guard

The state's National Guard unit, which deployed more than 350 service members to assist drivers who got stuck on the roads during the winter storms.

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What they’re saying

“We are asking community members, especially in the most impacted areas of the state that saw unusual amounts of snowfall, to be patient as that work will take time.”

— Kelly Moore, SCDOT spokesperson

“I want to commend our staff for working tirelessly the past several days to pre-treat and rapidly respond to hazardous conditions on our roads. Their proactiveness kept all of our thoroughfares open for our first responders.”

— William Cogswell, Mayor of Charleston

“Even if roads appear to be clear or crews are actively working on a throughfare does not mean those streets are safe to drive on.”

— SCDOT

What’s next

The SCDOT and local agencies will continue to monitor road conditions and work to clear any remaining snow and ice, with a particular focus on potential black ice forming overnight into February 2.

The takeaway

The coordinated efforts of the SCDOT, National Guard, and local municipalities in South Carolina demonstrate the importance of proactive emergency planning and response to keep residents safe during rare, severe winter weather events in areas that don't typically experience these conditions. The successful treatment and clearing of roads, despite the challenges, highlights the value of investing in infrastructure and emergency preparedness.