Emergency officials are urging residents to stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary and to exercise caution if traveling on secondary roads.

MANNING, S.C. — Residents in Clarendon County woke up to a rare sight Wednesday morning: a blanket of snow covering the area, with some parts receiving up to four inches. While the snow brought excitement to the community, the focus now turns to the dangers posed by icy roads as temperatures drop.

While there was a lot of melting throughout the day, some areas, especially those in the shade, still had a couple of inches of snow by late Wednesday afternoon.

For many, the snowfall was a magical experience.

"Well, Manning's already a magical city, so to see it in a blanket of snow is pretty cool," said Megan Anderson, a Manning resident.

Her husband, Warren Anderson, added that their young daughter got an exciting experience. "It's her first snow, so we're just happy for her to experience it."

However, as the snow quickly melted, county officials warned of the increasing risk of black ice.

"Right now, we are seeing some thawing on our major roads, but secondary roads that are less traveled and shaded may not thaw out as quickly," Clarendon County Emergency Management Director Allen Lee. "There’s a lot of potential for black ice on those roads, so be very cautious."

Lee added that the county had seen fewer than 15 accidents during the snowfall, but one significant crash on Interstate 95 caused a closure, redirecting traffic through downtown Manning.

Despite the challenges, local businesses stepped up to serve the community. Shane Moody, owner of Orchard Café, kept his doors open to provide meals for those braving the roads.

"Well, you know, people got to eat, and we're here. All I’d be doing is sitting around the house," Moody said.

Families across Manning took the opportunity to enjoy the winter weather before it melted away.

"I wish we had more of this," said resident Gracie Couch. Her brother, Benji, as less impressed. "We can’t do any snowboarding or sledding because the snow isn’t good enough for it," he lamented.

As temperatures are expected to dip into the teens overnight, the risk of icy conditions is set to increase. In response, Clarendon County Schools announced they will switch to e-learning on Thursday to keep students and staff safe.

Emergency officials are urging residents to stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary and to exercise caution if traveling on secondary roads where black ice is likely.