News Summary
A series of severe thunderstorm warnings have been issued for multiple counties in South Carolina, including Newberry, Fairfield, Lexington, and Richland. Residents should prepare for wind gusts up to 55 mph and potential tornadoes. The National Weather Service advises seeking shelter due to risks of downed trees and flooding. With significant disruptions expected, over 10,000 customers are already without power. Residents are urged to exercise caution while driving on wet roads and heed safety precautions during the thunderstorms.
Columbia, SC – Severe thunderstorm warnings were issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) for several counties in South Carolina, including Newberry, Fairfield, Lexington, and Richland, as strong storms are expected to affect the region. The updated weather alert, released at 7:07 p.m. on Thursday, warns residents to prepare for wind gusts potentially reaching up to 55 mph.
Doppler radar indicated the presence of a strong thunderstorm just 7 miles north of Dreher Island State Park, moving north at a speed of 15 mph. The storm poses a threat of downing tree limbs and blowing around unsecured objects. Areas likely to be impacted include Newberry, VC Summer Nuclear Station, Prosperity, Monticello, Jenkinsville, and nearby regions. The alert encompasses Interstate 26 between mile markers 67 and 96.
Residents are strongly advised to seek indoor shelter due to the expected torrential rainfall and possible localized flooding. The ongoing storm also features frequent cloud-to-ground lightning, an element of thunderstorms that significantly increases safety risks. Annually, approximately 25 million lightning strikes occur in the United States, resulting in roughly 20 fatalities each year. The probability of lightning strikes peaks when a thunderstorm is overhead and reduces as the storm moves away.
Adding to the chaos, a severe thunderstorm warning was issued at 8:11 p.m. on Friday for Richland, Lee, Sumter, and Clarendon counties, effective until 8:45 p.m. Wind gusts are projected to reach 50 mph with this latest storm system. This storm is currently moving east at 20 mph, tracking near Oakland and Shaw Air Base, and is expected to affect Sumter, Eastover, and Poinsett State Park. Furthermore, Interstate 95 between mile markers 123 and 127 is included in the warning area.
The storms are anticipated to cause significant disruption over the upcoming days. Damaging winds are particularly concerning for Sunday, with projections indicating that gusts may exceed 60 mph and with the possibility of tornadoes occurring on Monday. Over 10,000 customers were reported to be without power as of Sunday morning due to damage inflicted by the storms experienced during the previous night. Cleanup efforts are currently underway to address the aftermath of these storms.
A severe thunderstorm watch was earlier issued on Saturday at 9:25 p.m., expected to remain valid until midnight on Sunday for counties including Clarendon, Kershaw, Lee, and Sumter. Lake Murray boaters are urged to seek safe harbor if they find themselves outdoors during storm conditions. Additional rainfall during thunderstorms may be localized, but significant accumulations are not expected.
Despite the stormy outlook, temperatures are expected to remain high, hovering around 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Rain and thunderstorms are projected to continue throughout the week, with the exception of Wednesday. The NWS is emphasizing safety precautions during thunderstorms, advising all residents to seek shelter indoors whenever possible.
Furthermore, the risk of hydroplaning, which occurs when a vehicle slides uncontrollably on wet roads, is heightened under such stormy conditions. Drivers are encouraged to exercise caution when navigating roadways impacted by heavy rain and to heed recommendations for safe driving during adverse weather conditions.
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Additional Resources
- Island Packet
- Wikipedia: Severe thunderstorm warning
- The State
- Google Search: thunderstorm safety
- Herald Online
- Google Scholar: thunderstorm impacts
- Myrtle Beach Online
- Encyclopedia Britannica: thunderstorm
- WLTX
- Google News: south carolina weather
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CHAPIN STAFF WRITER The CHAPIN STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREchapin.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Chapin, Lexington County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Chapin Christmas Parade, Fourth of July Celebration, and the Chapin Fall Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Chapin Chamber of Commerce and the Lexington School District One, plus leading businesses in retail and recreation that power the local economy such as Lake Murray Tourism and the Chapin Visitor Information. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREaiken.com, HEREbeaufort.com, HEREchapin.com, HEREcharleston.com, HEREclinton.com, HEREcolumbia.com, HEREgeorgetown.com, HEREgreenwood.com, HEREgreenville.com, HEREhiltonhead.com, HEREirmo.com, HEREmyrtlebeach.com, HEREnewberry.com, HERErockhill.com, HEREspartanburg.com, HEREaustin.com, HEREcollegestation.com, HEREdallas.com, HEREhouston.com, and HEREsanantonio.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into South Carolina's dynamic landscape.
