News Summary
Severe weather warnings have been issued for the Columbia area, including thunderstorms and tornado threats. The National Weather Service warns residents of potential hail, damaging winds, and flash flooding. Several counties are affected, with emergency crews responding to incidents including a rescue from floodwaters. Power outages and storm damage have also been reported. Residents are urged to seek shelter and stay informed of weather updates.
Severe Weather Warnings Issued for Columbia Area and Surrounding Regions
Columbia, SC – Severe weather has prompted multiple warnings and watches across the Columbia area and surrounding regions, including thunderstorms and tornado warnings, effective Sunday afternoon. The National Weather Service (NWS) issued several weather statements to advise residents and mariners of the impending dangers.
An updated special weather statement was released by the NWS Columbia SC on Saturday at 3:15 p.m., effective until 7 p.m. It warned of thunderstorms affecting Southern Lancaster, Chesterfield, McCormick, Newberry, Fairfield, Kershaw, Edgefield, Saluda, Lexington, Richland, Lee, Aiken, Sumter, Barnwell, Clarendon, Bamberg, and Northern Lancaster counties. Although the immediate threat of thunderstorms has diminished due to a passing cool front, gusty winds are expected, potentially reaching speeds of up to 30 mph on area lakes.
After a severe thunderstorm warning was issued for Columbia County at 5:51 p.m., residents in areas such as Lenox, Canaan, Barkerville, and Mahkeenac Heights were alerted until 6:30 p.m. The storm, located near New Lebanon and moving east at 25 mph, was expected to produce wind gusts up to 60 mph and quarter-sized hail (1 inch). The NWS cautioned residents about potential hail damage to vehicles and risks of wind damage to roofs, siding, and trees.
Residents were advised to seek shelter in an interior room on the lowest floor of buildings due to the danger posed by large hail, damaging winds, and lightning. Accompanying torrential rainfall could result in flash flooding; individuals were cautioned against driving through flooded roadways. Each year, lightning strikes the U.S. around 25 million times, with approximately 20 fatalities linked to lightning incidents.
A special weather statement was also released at 6:10 p.m. for the Eastern Columbia River Gorge of Oregon, valid until 11 p.m., predicting locally strong winds of 25-35 mph with gusts reaching 40-55 mph. In Boone County, on Sunday, emergency crews rescued three individuals stranded in floodwaters; they waited for water levels to drop before proceeding with the rescue.
In light of storm damage, the City of Columbia has suspended recycling at the Material Recovery Facility, affecting curbside collections. Reports from New Bloomfield indicate at least one injury linked to a potential tornado, with one person treated for minor lacerations at the scene. Various counties reported downed power lines, fallen trees, and blocked roadways as a direct result of the severe weather.
Power outages were widespread, affecting approximately 4,212 customers in Boone County, 2,112 in Cole County, and 1,158 in Morgan County. Tornado watches and warnings were issued for several counties including Richland, Lexington, Kershaw, and Sumter until 7 p.m. A flood watch was also implemented for multiple counties including Montgomery, Randolph, Monroe, Boone, Audrain, Moniteau, Cole, and Callaway.
Weather conditions are expected to improve after Sunday, with warmer temperatures predicted for the following days. Residents are encouraged to stay updated on the latest weather reports and take necessary precautions to ensure their safety.
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Additional Resources
- SI Live: Columbia County Weather Alert
- Wikipedia: Severe Weather
- Oregon Live: Columbia River Gorge Weather Alert
- Google Search: Severe Weather Columbia
- KOMU: Columbia Recycling Suspension Due to Storm Damage
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Hail
- Herald Online: Weather News Alert
- Google News: Hail and Thunderstorms
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