Alert archive / South Carolina / Flash Flood Watches in 2021

Flash Flood Watch 1, NWS Columbia, SC

January 1, 202117 counties in South Carolina; 5 counties in Georgia

NWS Columbia, SC issued this flash flood watch at Jan 1, 2021, 3:35 PM EST for 17 counties in South Carolina; 5 counties in Georgia. It took effect at Jan 2, 2021, 6:00 PM EST. It was in force for 8 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jan 1, 2021, 3:35 PM EST (20:35 UTC)
In effect from
Jan 2, 2021, 6:00 PM EST
Expired
Jan 3, 2021, 1:55 AM EST
In force
8 hr
Issued by
NWS Columbia, SC
Flood severity
None
All 22 counties

Burke County, GA, Columbia County, GA, Lincoln County, GA, McDuffie County, GA, Richmond County, GA, Aiken County, SC, Bamberg County, SC, Barnwell County, SC, Calhoun County, SC, Chesterfield County, SC, Clarendon County, SC, Edgefield County, SC, Fairfield County, SC, Kershaw County, SC, Lancaster County, SC, Lee County, SC, Lexington County, SC, McCormick County, SC, Newberry County, SC, Richland County, SC, Saluda County, SC, Sumter County, SC

The radar

The Columbia radar (KCAE), 23 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:38 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

The nearest sounding before it

Charleston AFB, SC (KCHS), launched 12:00Z, 8.6 hours before the alert went out and 163 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Charleston AFB, SC at 12:00Z on 2021-01-01Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 392 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Charleston AFB, SC at 12:00Z on 2021-01-01The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 106 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
392 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-10 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
594 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
32 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
106 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
116 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.8

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

192 
WGUS62 KCAE 012035
FFACAE

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Flood Watch
National Weather Service Columbia SC
335 PM EST Fri Jan 1 2021


GAZ040-063>065-077-SCZ016-018-020>022-025>031-035>038-041-115-116-
021200-
/O.NEW.KCAE.FF.A.0001.210102T2300Z-210103T1100Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Lincoln-McDuffie-Columbia-Richmond-Burke-Chesterfield-McCormick-
Newberry-Fairfield-Kershaw-Edgefield-Saluda-Lexington-Richland-
Lee-Aiken-Sumter-Barnwell-Orangeburg-Calhoun-Clarendon-Bamberg-
Northern Lancaster-Southern Lancaster-
Including the cities of Lincolnton, Thomson, Martinez, Evans, 
Augusta, Hephzibah, Waynesboro, Cheraw, Pageland, Mccormick, 
Newberry, Winnsboro, Winnsboro Mills, Camden, Lugoff, Edgefield, 
Johnston, Saluda, Ridge Spring, Seven Oaks, West Columbia, Cayce,
Lexington, Red Bank, Oak Grove, Columbia, Bishopville, Aiken, 
North Augusta, Sumter, Barnwell, Williston, Blackville, 
Orangeburg, Brookdale, St. Matthews, Manning, Summerton, Bamberg,
Denmark, Indian Land, Lancaster, Elgin, and Lancaster Mill
335 PM EST Fri Jan 1 2021

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY EVENING THROUGH LATE
SATURDAY NIGHT...

The National Weather Service in Columbia has issued a

* Flash Flood Watch for portions of east central Georgia and 
  central South Carolina, including the following areas, in east 
  central Georgia, Burke, Columbia, Lincoln, McDuffie, and 
  Richmond. In central South Carolina, Aiken, Bamberg, Barnwell, 
  Calhoun, Chesterfield, Clarendon, Edgefield, Fairfield, 
  Kershaw, Lee, Lexington, McCormick, Newberry, Northern 
  Lancaster, Orangeburg, Richland, Saluda, Southern Lancaster, 
  and Sumter. 

* From Saturday evening through late Saturday night 

* Heavy rainfall will impact the region late Saturday afternoon
  through early Sunday morning as a wave of low pressure moves
  across the area. Area soils are already saturated from recent
  rains. Storm total rainfall amounts will range from 1 to 2 
  inches with locally higher amounts up to 3 inches. Rises on 
  streams and creeks may lead to flash flooding. 


PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Flash Flood Watch means that conditions may develop that lead
to flash flooding. Flash flooding is a very dangerous situation. 

You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action 
should Flash Flood Warnings be issued.

&&

$$
4 follow-up statements
666 
WGUS62 KCAE 020808
FFACAE

Flood Watch
National Weather Service Columbia SC
308 AM EST Sat Jan 2 2021

GAZ040-063>065-077-SCZ016-018-020>022-025>031-035>038-041-115-116-
022100-
/O.CON.KCAE.FF.A.0001.210102T2300Z-210103T1100Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Lincoln-McDuffie-Columbia-Richmond-Burke-Chesterfield-McCormick-
Newberry-Fairfield-Kershaw-Edgefield-Saluda-Lexington-Richland-Lee-
Aiken-Sumter-Barnwell-Orangeburg-Calhoun-Clarendon-Bamberg-Northern
Lancaster-Southern Lancaster-
Including the cities of Lancaster, Bishopville, Hephzibah, Sumter, 
Orangeburg, Winnsboro, Columbia, Saluda, Newberry, Waynesboro, St. 
Matthews, Ridge Spring, Lugoff, Blackville, Barnwell, Cayce, 
Winnsboro Mills, West Columbia, Brookdale, Bamberg, Lexington, 
Augusta, Seven Oaks, Lancaster Mill, Red Bank, Johnston, Pageland, 
Oak Grove, North Augusta, Denmark, Aiken, Elgin, Summerton, 
Edgefield, Mccormick, Evans, Indian Land, Thomson, Martinez, 
Manning, Cheraw, Camden, Williston, and Lincolnton
308 AM EST Sat Jan 2 2021

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH 
LATE TONIGHT...

The Flash Flood Watch continues for

* Portions of east central Georgia and central South Carolina, 
  including the following areas, in east central Georgia, Burke, 
  Columbia, Lincoln, McDuffie and Richmond. In central South 
  Carolina, Aiken, Bamberg, Barnwell, Calhoun, Chesterfield, 
  Clarendon, Edgefield, Fairfield, Kershaw, Lee, Lexington, 
  McCormick, Newberry, Northern Lancaster, Orangeburg, Richland, 
  Saluda, Southern Lancaster and Sumter.

* From this evening through late tonight

* Heavy rainfall will impact the region late this afternoon
  through early Sunday morning as a wave of low pressure moves
  across the area. Area soils are already saturated from recent
  rains. Storm total rainfall amounts will range from 1 to 2 
  inches, with locally higher amounts up to 3 inches. Rises on 
  streams and creeks may lead to flash flooding. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Flash Flood Watch means that conditions may develop that lead to 
Flash Flooding. Flash Flooding is a very dangerous situation.

You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action 
should Flash Flood Warnings be issued.

&&

$$

JAQ
189 
WGUS62 KCAE 021936
FFACAE

Flood Watch
National Weather Service Columbia SC
236 PM EST Sat Jan 2 2021

GAZ040-063>065-077-SCZ016-018-020>022-025>031-035>038-041-115-116-
031000-
/O.CON.KCAE.FF.A.0001.210102T2300Z-210103T1100Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Lincoln-McDuffie-Columbia-Richmond-Burke-Chesterfield-McCormick-
Newberry-Fairfield-Kershaw-Edgefield-Saluda-Lexington-Richland-Lee-
Aiken-Sumter-Barnwell-Orangeburg-Calhoun-Clarendon-Bamberg-Northern
Lancaster-Southern Lancaster-
Including the cities of Lancaster, Bishopville, Hephzibah, Sumter, 
Orangeburg, Winnsboro, Columbia, Saluda, Newberry, Waynesboro, St. 
Matthews, Ridge Spring, Lugoff, Blackville, Barnwell, Cayce, 
Winnsboro Mills, West Columbia, Brookdale, Bamberg, Lexington, 
Augusta, Seven Oaks, Lancaster Mill, Red Bank, Johnston, Pageland, 
Oak Grove, North Augusta, Denmark, Aiken, Elgin, Summerton, 
Edgefield, Mccormick, Evans, Indian Land, Thomson, Martinez, 
Manning, Cheraw, Camden, Williston, and Lincolnton
236 PM EST Sat Jan 2 2021

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM EST THIS EVENING 
THROUGH LATE TONIGHT...

The Flash Flood Watch continues for

* Portions of east central Georgia and central South Carolina, 
  including the following areas, in east central Georgia, Burke, 
  Columbia, Lincoln, McDuffie and Richmond. In central South 
  Carolina, Aiken, Bamberg, Barnwell, Calhoun, Chesterfield, 
  Clarendon, Edgefield, Fairfield, Kershaw, Lee, Lexington, 
  McCormick, Newberry, Northern Lancaster, Orangeburg, Richland, 
  Saluda, Southern Lancaster and Sumter.

* From 6 PM EST this evening through late tonight

* Heavy rainfall will impact the region late this afternoon
  through early Sunday morning as a wave of low pressure moves
  across the area. Area soils are already saturated from recent
  rains. Storm total rainfall amounts will range from 1 to 2 
  inches, with locally higher amounts up to 3 inches. Rises on 
  streams and creeks may lead to flash flooding. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Flash Flood Watch means that conditions may develop that lead to 
Flash Flooding. Flash Flooding is a very dangerous situation.

You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action 
should Flash Flood Warnings be issued.

&&

$$

LCV
598 
WGUS62 KCAE 030503
FFACAE

Flood Watch
National Weather Service Columbia SC
1203 AM EST Sun Jan 3 2021

GAZ040-063>065-SCZ018-020-025-026-030615-
/O.CAN.KCAE.FF.A.0001.000000T0000Z-210103T1100Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Lincoln-McDuffie-Columbia-Richmond-McCormick-Newberry-Edgefield-
Saluda-
Including the cities of Edgefield, Mccormick, Evans, Hephzibah, 
Augusta, Martinez, Newberry, Johnston, Thomson, Ridge Spring, 
Saluda, and Lincolnton
1203 AM EST Sun Jan 3 2021

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS CANCELLED...

The Flash Flood Watch for portions of east central Georgia and 
central South Carolina, including the following areas, in east 
central Georgia, Columbia, Lincoln, McDuffie and Richmond. In 
central South Carolina, Edgefield, McCormick, Newberry and Saluda 
has been cancelled.

The heaviest rainfall has moved out of the area and the threat of 
flash flooding has ended, there the Flood Watch has been cancelled.

$$

GAZ077-SCZ016-021-022-027>031-035>038-041-115-116-031100-
/O.CON.KCAE.FF.A.0001.000000T0000Z-210103T1100Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Burke-Chesterfield-Fairfield-Kershaw-Lexington-Richland-Lee-Aiken-
Sumter-Barnwell-Orangeburg-Calhoun-Clarendon-Bamberg-Northern
Lancaster-Southern Lancaster-
Including the cities of Lancaster, Bishopville, Sumter, Orangeburg, 
Winnsboro, Columbia, Waynesboro, St. Matthews, Lugoff, Barnwell, 
Cayce, Winnsboro Mills, West Columbia, Brookdale, Bamberg, 
Lexington, Blackville, Seven Oaks, Lancaster Mill, Red Bank, 
Pageland, Oak Grove, North Augusta, Denmark, Elgin, Summerton, 
Aiken, Indian Land, Manning, Cheraw, Camden, and Williston
1203 AM EST Sun Jan 3 2021

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM EST EARLY THIS 
MORNING...

The Flash Flood Watch continues for

* Portions of east central Georgia and central South Carolina, 
  including the following areas, in east central Georgia, Burke. In 
  central South Carolina, Aiken, Bamberg, Barnwell, Calhoun, 
  Chesterfield, Clarendon, Fairfield, Kershaw, Lee, Lexington, 
  Northern Lancaster, Orangeburg, Richland, Southern Lancaster and 
  Sumter.

* Until 6 AM EST early this morning

* Heavy rainfall will impact the region early this morning as a wave 
  of low pressure moves across the area. Area soils are already 
  saturated from recent rains. Storm total rainfall amounts will 
  range from 1 to 2
  inches, with locally higher amounts up to 3 inches. Rises on 
  streams and creeks may lead to flash flooding. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Flash Flood Watch means that conditions may develop that lead to 
Flash Flooding. Flash Flooding is a very dangerous situation. You 
should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action should 
Flash Flood Warnings be issued.

&&

$$

JAQ
815 
WGUS62 KCAE 030655
FFACAE

Flood Watch
National Weather Service Columbia SC
155 AM EST Sun Jan 3 2021

GAZ077-SCZ016-021-022-027>031-035>038-041-115-116-030800-
/O.CAN.KCAE.FF.A.0001.000000T0000Z-210103T1100Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Burke-Chesterfield-Fairfield-Kershaw-Lexington-Richland-Lee-Aiken-
Sumter-Barnwell-Orangeburg-Calhoun-Clarendon-Bamberg-Northern
Lancaster-Southern Lancaster-
Including the cities of Lancaster, Bishopville, Sumter, Orangeburg, 
Winnsboro, Columbia, Waynesboro, St. Matthews, Lugoff, Barnwell, 
Cayce, Winnsboro Mills, West Columbia, Brookdale, Bamberg, 
Lexington, Blackville, Seven Oaks, Lancaster Mill, Red Bank, 
Pageland, Oak Grove, North Augusta, Denmark, Elgin, Summerton, 
Aiken, Indian Land, Manning, Cheraw, Camden, and Williston
155 AM EST Sun Jan 3 2021

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS CANCELLED...

The Flash Flood Watch for portions of east central Georgia and 
central South Carolina, including the following areas, in east 
central Georgia, Burke. In central South Carolina, Aiken, Bamberg, 
Barnwell, Calhoun, Chesterfield, Clarendon, Fairfield, Kershaw, Lee, 
Lexington, Northern Lancaster, Orangeburg, Richland, Southern 
Lancaster and Sumter has been cancelled.

The Flash Flood Watch is cancelled. Flooding is no longer expected 
to pose a threat.

$$

JAQ

The office that day

Everything else NWS Columbia, SC issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Dec 31, 10:10 PM ESTDense Fog AdvisoryCAEAiken, Bamberg, Barnwell, Calhoun, Chesterfield, Clarendon and 11 more10 hr
Jan 1, 4:24 PM ESTRiver Flood WarningCAECalhoun, Richland9 days
Jan 1, 4:24 PM ESTRiver Flood WarningCAECalhoun, Lexington, Richland5 days
Jan 1, 4:24 PM ESTRiver Flood AdvisoryCAELexington, Richland4 days
Jan 1, 4:38 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementCAENewberry52 min
Jan 1, 5:28 PM ESTTornado WarningCAEEdgefield, McCormick32 min
Jan 1, 6:20 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementCAELexington40 min
Jan 1, 6:34 PM ESTAreal Flood AdvisoryCAEAiken, Edgefield, Fairfield, Lexington, McCormick, Newberry and 2 more3 hr
Jan 1, 6:47 PM ESTAreal Flood AdvisoryCAECalhoun, Kershaw, Lexington, Richland3 hr
Jan 1, 4:50 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementCAELincoln40 min
Jan 1, 4:59 PM ESTTornado WarningCAEColumbia, Lincoln, McDuffie31 min
Jan 1, 6:45 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementCAERichmond60 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Watches in South Carolina, 2021Flash Flood Watches in Georgia, 2021Every flash flood watch in 2021

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.