News Summary
On Friday, the National Weather Service issued severe thunderstorm warnings for Newberry and Fairfield counties in the Midlands. Damaging winds and hail were reported, with warnings extended to Aiken, Edgefield, and Saluda counties as storms developed. Residents are advised to seek shelter and stay informed about potential tornado warnings and upcoming severe weather conditions throughout the weekend.
Columbia, SC – On Friday evening, the National Weather Service (NWS) in Columbia issued severe thunderstorm warnings for parts of the Midlands, particularly affecting Newberry and Fairfield counties. The first alert was issued at 5:12 PM and is set to remain in effect until 6 PM, warning residents of the potential for damaging wind gusts up to 50 mph and hail measuring up to half an inch in size.
As of the time of the initial report, Doppler radar detected a strong storm positioned about 7 miles west of Blair, moving northeast at a speed of 25 mph. The NWS cautioned that strong winds could cause tree limbs to fall and blow around unsecured items, resulting in minor damage to outdoor property. Key locations that could be affected by these storms include Blair, Henderson Island, Maybington Fire Station, US-176, SC-34 Crossroads, and Feasterville Fire Station. Motorists on Interstate 26 between mile markers 71 and 75 should also be aware of these conditions.
Residents were advised to seek shelter indoors during the storm to ensure their safety. Subsequently, an updated severe thunderstorm warning was issued at 6:20 PM for Aiken, Edgefield, and Saluda counties, valid until 6:45 PM. This warning reported storm systems producing quarter-sized hail (1 inch), along with wind gusts potentially reaching up to 70 mph. Notably, a severe thunderstorm was tracked over Johnston, approximately 17 miles west of Batesburg-Leesville, and was moving northeast at 15 mph. The combination of hail and strong winds is expected to lead to damage to vehicles and considerable tree loss in areas impacted by this alert.
Locations affected by the updated warning included Edgefield, Saluda, Johnston, Ridge Spring, and several airports along with other local institutions. Residents experiencing severe weather conditions, such as hail or damaging winds, were instructed to report these conditions to the Columbia National Weather Service when it is safe to do so.
In addition to the thunderstorms, a lake wind advisory is in effect for the Midlands until 8 PM due to sustained winds of up to 25 mph and gusts reaching 40 mph. Forecasts for the coming days indicate a high likelihood of rain—estimated at 90%—in Columbia on Sunday, with potential rainfall amounts of up to half an inch.
Severe weather alerts are not expected to abate soon; on Sunday morning, tornado warnings were reported until 8:15 AM, with a broader tornado watch effective until 2 PM covering nearly all of the Midlands, including Richland and Lexington counties. Reports from Newberry County identified a tornado sighting at Dreher Island, which was moving toward Lake Murray. Breezy conditions are anticipated to persist, with additional severe weather threats continuing through Sunday afternoon.
Astrong cold front is forecasted to move through the region, bringing the possibility of further severe thunderstorms on Monday afternoon. The most intense weather from this cold front is expected between 2 PM and 7 PM. Following these weather events, a shift to warmer and drier weather is projected for the following week, with temperatures rising from the 60s potentially up to 78 degrees by Wednesday.
Residents should remain vigilant and keep abreast of local weather updates as conditions evolve in the coming days, especially given the potential for damaging winds and hail.
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Additional Resources
- Island Packet: Severe Weather Update
- Wikipedia: Severe Weather
- The State: Weather News
- Google Search: Severe Weather Alerts
- WLTX: Severe Thunderstorm Threat
- Google Scholar: Thunderstorm Impacts
- ABC Columbia: Storms Forecast
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Thunderstorm
- WACH: Columbia Weather Update
- Google News: Severe Weather South Carolina
