News Summary
Severe thunderstorms are sweeping through South Carolina, prompting alerts from the National Weather Service. Wind gusts reaching up to 50 mph and potential hazards, including tree limbs being knocked down, are expected. Areas like Northwestern Orangeburg and Lexington are particularly at risk, with the storms moving southwest. Residents are advised to stay vigilant, seek shelter, and exercise caution on the roads as wet conditions may lead to hydroplaning.
Severe Thunderstorm Alerts Sweep Across South Carolina
Columbia, SC – As the sun dipped below the horizon on Friday evening, the sky transformed, prompting strong thunderstorms to roll into multiple counties in South Carolina. A fresh alert from the National Weather Service (NWS), released at 8:11 p.m., has raised concerns for areas like Northwestern Orangeburg, Central Orangeburg, Lexington, Aiken, and Barnwell counties.
Residents should prepare for gusty winds that could reach up to 50 mph. Keep your eyes on the sky because the thunderstorms are moving southwest at about 20 mph, and they were detected just 12 miles east of Aiken State Park at around 8:10 p.m. Earlier activity in southern Lexington County has already brought breezy conditions.
The NWS identified several potential hazards that could arise, including knocked down tree limbs and the risk of unsecured objects being blown around. Those in the affected areas, including places like Williston, Gaston, Swansea, Wagener, and Springfield, should take extra precautions. Travelers on Interstate 20 between mile markers 27 and 44 are also urged to stay alert as these storms are impacting highway conditions.
Travelers and Residents: Safety First!
If you happen to be outdoors, it’s a good idea to find shelter indoors until the storms pass. Just to give you an idea about the intensity of storms like these, lightning strikes the U.S. around 25 million times every year, with summer being the highest risk. It’s also a startling fact that these storms cause approximately 20 fatalities each year due to lightning strikes. The NWS advises that the probability of lightning increases as thunderstorms draw near and peaks when storms are right over you, decreasing as they move away.
With these events occurring, keep in mind that wet roads can lead to hydroplaning – that’s when your vehicle loses traction due to water buildup on the road. The NWS reminds drivers to remain vigilant for those conditions and advises that three main factors contribute to hydroplaning.
Previous Storms and Ongoing Alerts
The radar showed a strong thunderstorm near St. Matthews at 10:46 p.m., advancing south at about 15 mph. Residents in Orangeburg, Cameron, and even around the Prince of Orange Mall experienced the effects of this severe weather. Again, motorists on Interstate 26 between mile markers 137 and 148 were advised to exercise caution.
In recent days, thunderstorms have wreaked havoc across the Lowcountry, with numerous counties experiencing power outages and fallen trees. The severe weather previously impacted a wide range of counties including Charleston, Dorchester, and many more until the alerts were lifted around 5 p.m. on Sunday. The muggy heat is fading, but the thunderstorms haven’t finished yet!
Be Weather-Ready
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Severe Flood Advisory for Calhoun, Lexington, and Orangeburg Counties
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Flash Flood Warning Hits Lexington and Richland Counties
Additional Resources
- Island Packet: Severe Thunderstorm Alerts
- Wikipedia: Thunderstorm
- Live 5 News: Severe Thunderstorm Warning Extended
- Google Search: Thunderstorm Damages
- Myrtle Beach Online: Weather News
- Google Scholar: Thunderstorm Research
- WLTX: Orangeburg Prepares for Severe Storms
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Severe Weather
- The T&D: Local Weather Updates
- Google News: Severe Thunderstorm Warnings
Author: STAFF HERE LEXINGTON WRITER
The LEXINGTON STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERELexington.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Lexington, Fayette 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 Woodland Art Fair, Crave Food and Music Festival, and Railbird Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like Commerce Lexington and Blue Grass Community Foundation, plus leading businesses in education, manufacturing, and technology that power the local economy such as University of Kentucky, Toyota Motor Manufacturing, and Lexmark. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREBowlingGreen.com and HERELouisville.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Kentucky's dynamic landscape.
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