June 9, 2025

Severe Weather Causes Widespread Power Outages in South Carolina

News Summary

Columbia, South Carolina has been hit by severe weather resulting in significant power outages across the Midlands. Wind gusts reached 60-70 mph, leaving approximately 140,000 residents without power. Communities in several counties, including Lexington and Newberry, experienced outages and damage from possible tornadoes, complicating recovery efforts. Authorities continue to work on power restoration while advising residents to remain cautious as additional storms are expected.

Columbia, South Carolina – Severe weather, including wind gusts reaching between 60-70 mph, has caused widespread power outages across the Midlands of South Carolina. As of Saturday evening, approximately 140,000 outages were reported statewide due to the storms, significantly impacting residents in multiple counties.

As of 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, specific areas reported the following numbers of residents affected by power outages:

Lexington County: 34,989 residents without power
Saluda County: 8,567 residents affected
Richland County: 17,490 customers impacted
Fairfield County: 1,978 customers without power
Newberry County: 6,700 residents affected

The total impact across the state saw over 145,000 customers without power, with the two most affected energy providers being Dominion Energy, which reported 47,678 outages, and Duke Energy with 45,339 customers affected.

Initial reports out of Newberry County suggested that damage was possibly caused by a tornado or a downburst. Communities in the area experienced considerable destruction, including downed trees and power lines, complicating recovery efforts and causing numerous blockages on local roads.

In response to the adverse weather conditions, Sheriff Lee Foster of Newberry County advised residents to reserve calling 911 for emergencies only, as crews worked diligently to restore power in challenging and dangerous conditions. Authorities were mobilized, including emergency services, the South Carolina Department of Transportation, and utility companies, which faced hazardous weather conditions while attempting to restore services.

Progress was made into Sunday, with power outage numbers reflecting a decreased impact as of noon. The following areas reported fewer outages:

Richland County: 3,682 residents without power
Lexington County: 4,040 residents affected
Newberry County: 843 residents without power
Saluda County: 783 residents without power
Fairfield County: 461 outages remaining

Recovery efforts are ongoing, with local teams working around the clock to ensure safety and restore services to those affected. Weather forecasts indicate that conditions are expected to improve overnight; however, another round of storms is likely to hit the area on Sunday, raising concerns for residents who are still without power.

This severe weather event highlights the vulnerability of the Midlands of South Carolina to damaging storms and the ongoing challenges faced by both utility providers and emergency responders during and after such incidents. Residents are advised to remain cautious and stay updated on weather developments and power restoration efforts as communities continue to recover from the powerful storms.