Alert archive / South Carolina / Tornado Warnings in 2021

Tornado Warning 16, NWS Columbia, SC

August 17, 20214 counties in South Carolina

NWS Columbia, SC issued this tornado warning at Aug 17, 2021, 3:48 PM EDT for 4 counties in South Carolina. It was in force for 42 min. 9 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
Aug 17, 2021, 3:48 PM EDT (19:48 UTC)
Expired
Aug 17, 2021, 4:30 PM EDT
In force
42 min
Issued by
NWS Columbia, SC
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
0.0 in

Counties Fairfield County, SC, Lexington County, SC, Newberry County, SC, Richland County, SC

The radar

The Columbia radar (KCAE), 34 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:49 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.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Aug 17, 3:49 PM EDTTORNADO5 Ssw Little Mountain, SCCALLER REPORTS A TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN NEAR LAKE MURRAY WITH A LINE OF DEBRIS AT THE CORNER OF STATE PARK ROAD AND DREHER ISLAND ROAD. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.
Aug 17, 3:49 PM EDTTORNADO6 Ssw Little Mountain, SCCALLER REPORTS AN LINE AROUND 20FT IN DIAMETER OF DOWNED WHEAT. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.
Aug 17, 3:49 PM EDTTORNADO7 Sw Chapin, SCA NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STORM SURVEY TEAM CONFIRMED AN EF1 TORNADO, WITH PEAK WINDS OF 95 MPH, IN THE AREA OF DREHER ISLAND STATE PARK AND IN OTHER AREAS SOUTHWEST OF CHAPIN, SC NEAR THE SHORES OF LAKE MURRAY IN NEWBERRY AND LEXINGTON COUNTIES. VIDEO PROVID
Aug 17, 3:50 PM EDTTORNADO6 Sw Chapin, SCSOCIAL MEDIA VIDEO OF A TORNADO MOVING ACROSS LAKE MURRAY NEAR DREHER ISLAND STATE PARK. THE VIDEO WAS SHOW FROM THE AUTUMN CAY NEIGHBORHOOD OFF OF STATE PARK ROAD.
Aug 17, 3:50 PM EDTTORNADO7 Sw Chapin, SCCORRECTS PREVIOUS TORNADO REPORT FROM 6 SW CHAPIN. SOCIAL MEDIA VIDEO OF A TORNADO MOVING ACROSS LAKE MURRAY NEAR DREHER ISLAND STATE PARK. THE VIDEO WAS SHOW FROM THE AUTUMN CAY NEIGHBORHOOD OFF OF STATE PARK ROAD.
Aug 17, 3:55 PM EDTTORNADO5 Sw Chapin, SCTREE DOWN ON HOME ON CRYSTAL COVE CT. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.
Aug 17, 4:01 PM EDTTSTM WND DMG5 Sw Chapin, SCPOWERLINES DOWN ALONG CRYSTAL COVE CT. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.
Aug 17, 4:04 PM EDTFUNNEL CLOUD2 Se Little Mountain, SCCALLER REPORTS FUNNEL CLOUD OVER MEADOWLARK RD NEAR CHAPIN. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.
Aug 17, 4:04 PM EDTTORNADO2 S Chapin, SCVIDEO FROM HOME SECURITY CAMERA OF POSSIBLE TORNADO. LOCATED NEAR MURRAY LINDLER RD & VENTNOR AVE FACING WEST NORTHWEST.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Aug 17, 10:42 AM EDTTornado WatchSPC8 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Charleston AFB, SC (KCHS), launched 12:00Z, 7.8 hours before the alert went out and 190 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 2021-08-17Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1066 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 2021-08-17The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 84 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 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
1066 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-24 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
639 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
25 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
84 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
92 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
1.5

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

808 
WFUS52 KCAE 171948
TORCAE
SCC039-063-071-079-172030-
/O.NEW.KCAE.TO.W.0016.210817T1948Z-210817T2030Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Columbia SC
348 PM EDT Tue Aug 17 2021

The National Weather Service in Columbia has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Southwestern Fairfield County in central South Carolina...
  Southeastern Newberry County in central South Carolina...
  Northwestern Lexington County in central South Carolina...
  Northwestern Richland County in central South Carolina...

* Until 430 PM EDT.
    
* At 348 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located over Dreher Island State Park, or 11 miles west of
  Highway 6 at Lake Murray Dam, moving north at 20 mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

  IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
           shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. 
           Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree 
           damage is likely.

* This dangerous storm will be near...
  Jenkinsville around 430 PM EDT.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include Little
Mountain, Chapin, Fairview Fire Station, Peak, Melvin Park, Rocky
Point Recreation Area and Pomaria.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

&&

LAT...LON 3426 8121 3406 8137 3406 8148 3407 8148
      3407 8147 3408 8149 3432 8145
TIME...MOT...LOC 1948Z 200DEG 17KT 3408 8142 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN

$$

CJR
3 follow-up statements
020 
WWUS52 KCAE 172001
SVSCAE

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Columbia SC
401 PM EDT Tue Aug 17 2021

SCC039-063-071-079-172030-
/O.CON.KCAE.TO.W.0016.000000T0000Z-210817T2030Z/
Fairfield SC-Newberry SC-Lexington SC-Richland SC-
401 PM EDT Tue Aug 17 2021

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 430 PM EDT FOR
SOUTHWESTERN FAIRFIELD...SOUTHEASTERN NEWBERRY...NORTH CENTRAL
LEXINGTON AND NORTHWESTERN RICHLAND COUNTIES...
        
At 400 PM EDT, a confirmed tornado was located near Dreher Island
State Park, or 10 miles southwest of VC Summer Nuclear Station,
moving north at 30 mph.

HAZARD...Damaging tornado.

SOURCE...Radar confirmed tornado.

IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
         shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage 
         to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree damage is 
         likely.

This tornado will be near...
  Jenkinsville around 420 PM EDT.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include Peak,
Little Mountain, Chapin and Pomaria.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

To repeat, a tornado is on the ground. TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a
basement or an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy
building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in
a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect
yourself from flying debris.

Heavy rainfall may hide this tornado. Do not wait to see or hear the
tornado. TAKE COVER NOW!

&&

LAT...LON 3410 8137 3412 8147 3432 8144 3427 8123
TIME...MOT...LOC 2000Z 199DEG 26KT 3416 8140 

TORNADO...OBSERVED
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN

$$

CJR
803 
WWUS52 KCAE 172016
SVSCAE

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Columbia SC
416 PM EDT Tue Aug 17 2021

SCC063-079-172025-
/O.CAN.KCAE.TO.W.0016.000000T0000Z-210817T2030Z/
Lexington SC-Richland SC-
416 PM EDT Tue Aug 17 2021

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTH CENTRAL LEXINGTON AND NORTHWESTERN
RICHLAND COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...
    
The tornadic thunderstorm which prompted the warning has moved out 
of the warned area. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 700 PM EDT for central South
Carolina.

LAT...LON 3419 8137 3421 8146 3432 8144 3428 8129
TIME...MOT...LOC 2015Z 197DEG 17KT 3423 8137 

$$

SCC039-071-172030-
/O.CON.KCAE.TO.W.0016.000000T0000Z-210817T2030Z/
Fairfield SC-Newberry SC-
416 PM EDT Tue Aug 17 2021

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 430 PM EDT FOR
SOUTHWESTERN FAIRFIELD AND EAST CENTRAL NEWBERRY COUNTIES...
    
At 415 PM EDT, a confirmed tornado was located near Jenkinsville, or
near VC Summer Nuclear Station, moving north at 20 mph.

HAZARD...Damaging tornado.

SOURCE...Public confirmed tornado and previously radar confirmed.

IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
         shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage 
         to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree damage is 
         likely.

This tornadic thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of
southwestern Fairfield and east central Newberry Counties, including
the following locations... Pomaria, Peak and Little Mountain.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

To repeat, a tornado is on the ground. TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a
basement or an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy
building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in
a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect
yourself from flying debris.

Heavy rainfall may hide this tornado. Do not wait to see or hear the
tornado. TAKE COVER NOW!

&&

LAT...LON 3419 8137 3421 8146 3432 8144 3428 8129
TIME...MOT...LOC 2015Z 197DEG 17KT 3423 8137 

TORNADO...OBSERVED
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN

$$

CJR
063 
WWUS52 KCAE 172027
SVSCAE

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Columbia SC
427 PM EDT Tue Aug 17 2021

SCC039-071-172036-
/O.EXP.KCAE.TO.W.0016.000000T0000Z-210817T2030Z/
Fairfield SC-Newberry SC-
427 PM EDT Tue Aug 17 2021

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHWESTERN FAIRFIELD AND EAST CENTRAL
NEWBERRY COUNTIES WILL EXPIRE AT 430 PM EDT...
        
The storm which prompted the warning has weakened, and has exited the 
warned area. Therefore, the tornado warning will be allowed to 
expire. However gusty winds are still possible with this 
thunderstorm and a severe thunderstorm warning is now in effect for 
Newberry and Fairfield Counties.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 700 PM EDT for central South
Carolina.

LAT...LON 3419 8137 3421 8146 3432 8144 3428 8129
TIME...MOT...LOC 2026Z 200DEG 17KT 3427 8135 

$$

CJR

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 17, 12:31 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryCAEAiken, Edgefield, McCormick, Saluda59 min
Aug 17, 12:59 PM EDTTornado WarningCAEEdgefield46 min
Aug 17, 1:34 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryCAEAiken, Edgefield, Saluda56 min
Aug 17, 1:44 PM EDTTornado WarningCAEEdgefield, McCormick, Saluda17 min
Aug 17, 1:55 PM EDTTornado WarningCAEAiken, Edgefield, Lexington, Saluda50 min
Aug 17, 2:08 PM EDTTornado WarningCAEAiken37 min
Aug 17, 2:31 PM EDTTornado WarningCAEBarnwell44 min
Aug 17, 3:12 PM EDTTornado WarningCAELexington, Saluda48 min
Aug 17, 3:17 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryCAEAiken, Edgefield, Lexington, Newberry, Saluda58 min
Aug 17, 4:25 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCAEFairfield, Newberry50 min
Aug 17, 4:31 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryCAEFairfield, Lexington, Newberry, Richland, Saluda59 min
Aug 17, 4:48 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCAEBamberg, Orangeburg42 min
Aug 17, 4:56 PM EDTTornado WarningCAEOrangeburg34 min
Aug 17, 5:29 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryCAECalhoun, Kershaw, Lexington, Richland3 hr
Aug 17, 5:29 PM EDTTornado WarningCAECalhoun, Orangeburg46 min
Aug 17, 7:43 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCAEAiken32 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in South Carolina, 2021Every tornado warning in 2021Tornadoes 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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.