A combination of rain and heavy post-Christmas traffic could lead to slower-than-normal freeway travel over the next few days.
The National Weather Service is predicting rain across the upstate from Friday night into Sunday night. Parts of the region could see more than three inches of rain, according to Doug Outlaw, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Greenville-Spartanburg office.
Outlaw expects the heaviest precipitation to fall overnight Saturday and Sunday until around noon.
No worries about ice — in fact, temperatures Saturday and Sunday will likely reach the 50s and 60s, Outlaw said.
Monday should be warm, with a high in the 60s, and no rain.
But during a rainy weekend, drivers need to take precautions, according to the AAA auto club.
On its website, AAA urges drivers to ensure they can “see and be seen.” Tips include replacing old windshield wipers to avoid streaks and uneven cleaning, monitoring tire tread and inflation levels, and checking all exterior lights.
Deceleration and braking can be especially important in rainy conditions, so special care should be taken. AAA discourages the use of cruise control in the rain because it can cause drivers to become less engaged and lose reaction time. Meanwhile, drivers should drive more slowly and leave more space between themselves and other vehicles than in dry conditions.
Although the rain is not expected to affect flights departing from Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport, officials are encouraging travelers to consider how long it will take to drive to the airport.
It will be a busy weekend at GSP, especially on Sunday, said Tom Taira, who serves as the airport’s director of marketing and communications. He expects nearly 9,000 passengers to enter and exit GSP on Sunday and again on Monday.
Tyra said it’s important for passengers to arrive two hours before departure. He encourages visitors to reserve parking in advance at gspairport.com and to download their airline’s mobile app.
“The best advice is to always leave enough time and enjoy the trip,” said Tyra.
This article originally appeared in the Herald-Journal: Rain-soaked weekend set for post-holiday travelers in Greenville
