Roofing Contractor in Columbia, SC

Chances are increasing that winter weather will affect the Columbia area this week, but snow is not the greatest threat to residents, according to the National Weather Service.

A wintry mix is likely, according to the forecast.

It’s possible that snow, sleet and most significantly freezing rain will be included in the precipitation expected to fall on the Midlands overnight Friday, National Weather Service Meteorologist Chris Rohrbach told The State on Tuesday.

The area north of Interstate 20 is the part of the Midlands most likely to experience the wintry mix, according to Rohrbach.

“Freezing rain is always a concern here in this part of the country,” Rohrbach said. “It’s the most concerning because out of those types of frozen precipitation it has the most impact.”

Downed power lines and outages as well as challenging driving conditions are among the threats posed by freezing rain. Rohrbach said Midlands residents should begin to prepare for the possibility of power outages.

There is a 100% chance of precipitation, according to weather.com.

The precipitation will likely begin as rain showers before 11 p.m. Friday, according to the forecast. As temperatures drop, the rain could turn into the frozen elements, including snow, and continue through Saturday morning, Rohrbach said.

The precipitation is expected to wane by 1 p.m. Saturday, the forecast shows.

It’s too early in the current forecast cycle to say how much — if any — snow will accumulate. But should there be snowfall, its remnants likely won’t be around for long.

If it snows, the precipitation is predicted to transition back into rain, which could wipe out any signs of accumulation, according to Rohrbach.

“It’s hard to say what any accumulation would look like,” Rohrbach said. “Rain is most likely.”

It could be the first time since January 2022 that there is snow on the ground in the Columbia area, according to Rohrbach. Between 1 and 3 inches of snow was recorded across the Midlands during that winter storm.

That storm was the first time any measurable amount had fallen on Columbia since 2017, and prior to that Columbia hadn’t had more than an inch of snow since 2014, the National Weather Service said.

Once the showers end Saturday, there’s no further chance of snow, sleet or freezing rain in the near future, according to the forecast. The rest of the upcoming forecast time frame is expected to be dry and cold, Rohrbach said.

Temperatures leading up to Friday’s storm and through the beginning of next week are predicted to reach highs in the 40s with lows in the 20s, the forecast shows. That’s 10 to 15 degrees below the normal temperatures (high of 57 and low of 35) for this time of year in South Carolina, according to Rohrbach.

“In this area of the country it’s very rare to get any frozen precipitation of any type,” Rohrbach said.

In a breaking news situation, facts can be unclear and the situation may still be developing. The State is trying to get important information to the public as quickly and accurately as possible. This story will be updated as more information becomes available, and some information in this story may change as the facts become clearer. Refresh this page later for more updated information.

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Noah Feit is a Real Time reporter with The State focused on breaking news, public safety and trending news. The award-winning journalist has worked for multiple newspapers since starting his career in 1999. Support my work with a digital subscription

There’s a possibility snow will fall in South Carolina at the end of the week, and people in the Columbia area could see some of the white stuff.

There’s a good chance for precipitation in the Midlands on Friday night and into Saturday morning, National Weather Service meteorologist Chris Rohrbach told The State on Sunday. While the forecast is uncertain six days out, it’s possible temperatures could drop low enough that the precipitation could be snow, according to the National Weather Service.

If snow forms overnight Friday, it’s expected to be more than flurries of snowflakes whipping around in the air, Rohrbach said.

It could be the first time since January 2022 that there is snow on the ground in the Columbia area, according to Rohrbach. Between 1 and 3 inches of snow was recorded across the Midlands during that winter storm.

That storm was the first time any measurable amount had fallen on Columbia since 2017, and prior to that Columbia hadn’t had more than an inch of snow since 2014, the National Weather Service said.

Again, it’s too early in the current forecast cycle to say how much — if any — snow will accumulate overnight Friday. But should there be snowfall, its remnants likely won’t be around for long.

If it snows, the precipitation is predicted to transition back into rain, which could wipe out any signs of accumulation, Rohrbach said.

It’s also too early to tell whether there’s a chance of black ice forming on Columbia-area roads, Rohrbach said.

In the Columbia area, rain is expected to begin Friday night, the forecast shows. Multiple forecasts predict that temperatures will drop into the low 30s overnight, creating the possibility of snow.

“Evening rain (will be) followed by a mix of rain and snow late,” according to weather.com.

Temperatures are forecast to rise into the 40s by Saturday afternoon. A low of 27 degrees is possible overnight Saturday, but there’s currently a very limited chance of more precipitation at that point.

The current forecast shows temperatures are expected to be well below the freezing point leading up to Friday. Lows in the mid-20s are predicted Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights, and highs will only rise into the 40s during the day.

A wind advisory was issued for Richland and Lexington counties as well as all of the Midlands, according to the National Weather Service. It will go into effect at 6 a.m. and is scheduled to run through 7 p.m.

Gusty winds are expected beginning Monday morning with some wind gusts over 40 mph, the National Weather Service said. Sustained winds are expected to be as fast as 10-20 mph, according to the National Weather Service.

Powerful winds could blow around unsecured objects and cause considerable damage to trees and branches, which creates the possibility of downed power lines and outages.

Some rain is expected Monday, when temperatures could reach a high of 61 degrees, according to the forecast. Following those showers, conditions are predicted to be cold and dry until Friday.

In a breaking news situation, facts can be unclear and the situation may still be developing. The State is trying to get important information to the public as quickly and accurately as possible. This story will be updated as more information becomes available, and some information in this story may change as the facts become clearer. Refresh this page later for more updated information.

This story was originally published January 5, 2025, 1:56 PM.

A popular restaurant chain known for its elevated Southern fare is nearing the opening of it first Columbia restaurant, and it’s looking to staff up.

Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen & Bar, which has locations across the U.S., particularly in the South, will open in February at Columbia’s BullStreet District, according to a release from the company. The restaurant will be located on the ground floor of the Bennet at BullStreet apartment development that is just west of the Segra Park baseball stadium. Tupelo Honey didn’t list an exact date in February when the doors would open, but said more information is forthcoming as the debut draws near.

Tupelo Honey has a strong presence in the Southeast, and currently has South Carolina locations in Greenville and Myrtle Beach. The restaurant is known for its brunch and dinner offerings, as well as cocktails and more. It’s menu features everything from fluffy biscuits with blueberry jam and whipped butter to avocado toast and eggs to chicken and waffles to burgers and beyond.

The Columbia restaurant is looking to fill more than 100 positions, including servers, hosts, bartenders, line cooks, prep cooks, dishwashers and other posts. Tupelo Honey is hosting open interviews from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily from Jan. 2 through Jan. 19 at the Hilton Garden Inn at 1200 Pickens St. in Columbia, according to the company. Management from Tupelo Honey will be at the hotel to conduct interviews and applications will be accepted. Applicants are asked to bring two forms of ID and a resume, if available.

Applicants can also apply online ahead of the event at harri.com/thcolumbia.

The coming Tupelo Honey restaurant is the latest development at the BullStreet District, where Hughes Development and the city of Columbia are working to overhaul the sprawling, 181-acre campus of the former State Mental Hospital.

The site is home to hundreds of apartments and residences, with more under construction, as well as the Columbia Fireflies baseball team, a Starbucks, an REI outdoor store, a Publico restaurant, the Iron Hill Brewery, and a host of professional offices, among other uses. The University of South Carolina also is planning a $300 million medical school campus on the northeast side of the BullStreet property.

And recently, storefront business and retail announcements have been picking up at BullStreet. Fitness studio Pvolve has opened a location there and growing seafood restaurant chain Shuckin’ Shack is developing a location in the district. Popular Greenville coffee company Methodical also has announced a location in BullStreet. Additionally, high-end salon Image Studios recently opened its doors in the district. And Coastal Crust Wood-fired Pizza has announced it will open a restaurant there in 2025, as part of a community lawn project near the WestLawn building.

This story was originally published January 2, 2025, 11:24 AM.

The State

Chris Trainor is a retail reporter for The State and has been working for newspapers in South Carolina for more than 20 years, including previous stops at the (Greenwood) Index-Journal and the (Columbia) Free Times. He is the winner of numerous South Carolina Press Association awards, including honors in column writing, government beat reporting, profile writing, food writing, business beat reporting, election coverage, social media and more.

Columbia apartment fire caused by fireworks leaves families without homes

COLUMBIA, S.C. — A Columbia apartment building was severely damaged by a fire caused by fireworks, displacing 11 families on New Year's Day. The fire broke out just hours after midnight at the Spring Lake Apartments off Garners Ferry Road.

The blaze left 32 adults and 17 children without homes, many of whom were left with nothing but the clothes on their backs. One resident, Jamie Clarke, described the devastation, noting that her family had experienced a similar loss in 2015 due to flooding. "We literally have lost everything, like everyone else in the building, so we are starting fresh with absolutely nothing," Clarke said.

RELATED: 49 people out of their homes after fire at Columbia apartment complex

Clarke, who lived in the apartment with six family members and two dogs, spent Monday morning trying to salvage what remained of their belongings. "They are trying to salvage literally anything," she said. "The grandbaby, he doesn’t have any clothes on—he’s five, so we are literally trying to save anything we can, but everything is water-damaged and smoked. It’s just gone."

The Columbia Fire Department responded to the scene around 4 a.m. The fire caused extensive damage to the building, destroying the roof and affecting 12 units, all of which were occupied.

Chief Aubrey Jenkins of the Columbia Fire Department confirmed that the fire was caused by fireworks. “It seems like anytime we have firework displays, particularly on New Year’s Eve or the Fourth of July, we see these types of issues,” Jenkins said. “The big thing is for people to be careful when they use these devices.”

RELATED: Fireworks sparked fire near White Knoll High School, officials say

Jenkins stressed the importance of safety when handling fireworks, urging the public to avoid shooting them near structures, dry ground, or flammable materials. “You can’t be too careful with fireworks. Make sure that you’re not shooting them near structures, not shooting them at dry ground, not shooting them at straw,” he said. “This just shows what happens when you don’t do it right.”

The American Red Cross is assisting the displaced families, providing support in their time of need.

One firefighter sustained a minor burn during the firefighting efforts, according to Chief Jenkins. Damage to the apartment complex is estimated at $500,000.

Published: Jan. 1, 2025 at 11:54 AM PST|

SUMTER, S.C. (WIS) - A Sumter woman believes human remains found Tuesday morning belong to her brother who’s been missing for seven years.

Human remains were found inside a silver BMW submerged 10 feet deep in swamp water off Highway 401 near Crestwood High School.

Sheila Brailey said her brother, Tommy Brailey, was last seen in 2017 leaving a Sumter bar in a car that was the same make and model.

“If the remains are in fact Tommy, then we can move forward,” she said.

Shelia Brailey has held out hope for seven years that one day her brother would be found.

“So, we are hurting. However, we have closure to look forward to if it is Tommy,” she said.

Brailey got a call Tuesday morning from Sumter County Coroner Robbie Baker saying they may have found her brother. That’s after a recovery scuba diver found a silver BMW submerged in swamp water earlier that morning.

“It was like, bittersweet, I was happy but I was emotional at the same time,” she said.

Brailey disappeared on Aug. 25, 2017. Sumter investigators said surveillance video captured Brailey leaving the bar Brewers Bar and Grill, which has since closed, around 2:30 a.m.

He was seen leaving in a silver BMW — identical to the car pulled from the swamp on Tuesday morning.

“We have sonar on our boats and a few other devices that we use to scan ponds,” said Adam Brown, the diver who discovered the car.

He said he’s been working on Brailey’s case for almost three years through a local nonprofit that specializes in finding missing people.

“I sent my under-water drone down and I could actually get a picture an image of the vehicle,” he said. “First thing I saw went I sent my drone down, it was a silver vehicle and I automatically knew it was Tommy’s car.”

While the the Sumter County Coroner’s Office has not officially identified the remains, Baker is sure that it’s Tommy Brailey.

“Some things that were found inside of the vehicle that I can’t allude to, were pretty much confirmed to us of who this body was, but like I told the family, until we get positive identification, we’re going to wait to put the name out till then,” he said.

Baker said an autopsy will be performed on the body at MUSC on Monday.

The coroner’s office is also working to identify another body that was found in a burning car just hours before this body was found. Those remains were discovered behind the Park Homes apartment complex just off Boulevard Road.

Baker said it will take about two weeks to identify those remains because of how badly the body was burned. Baker said his office does not believe these two cases are connected.

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