Alert archive / South Carolina / Tornado Warnings in 2021
Tornado Warning 18, NWS Columbia, SC
NWS Columbia, SC issued this tornado warning at Aug 17, 2021, 5:29 PM EDT for Calhoun County, Orangeburg County, South Carolina. It was in force for 46 min. 3 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, 5:29 PM EDT (21:29 UTC)
- Expired
- Aug 17, 2021, 6:15 PM EDT
- In force
- 46 min
- Issued by
- NWS Columbia, SC
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Tornado
- Radar indicated
- Hail
- 0.75 in
Counties Calhoun County, SC, Orangeburg County, SC
The radar
The Columbia radar (KCAE), 41 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:31 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
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 17, 5:33 PM EDT | TSTM WND DMG | 6 Nnw Brookdale, SC | PUBLIC REPORTED A FUNNEL CLOUD DROPPED DOWN NEAR CHURCH ALONG NEW HOPE AND COLUMBIA RD. EM FOUND 100 YD OF TREES FALLEN IN MULTIPLE DIRECTIONS. POSSIBLY TORNADO DAMAGE. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR. |
| Aug 17, 5:33 PM EDT | TSTM WND DMG | 6 Nnw Brookdale, SC | SC HIGHWAY PATROL REPORTS TREE ON ROADWAY AT COLUMBIA ROAD AND NEW HOPE ROAD. TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR. |
| Aug 17, 5:40 PM EDT | TORNADO | 6 Nnw Brookdale, SC | THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STORM SURVEY TEAM CONFIRMED A LOW-END EF1 TORNADO JUST NORTH-NORTHWEST OF THE CITY OF ORANGEBURG. THE TORNADO HAD A PATH LENGTH JUST UNDER 1 MILE, A WIDTH THAT RANGED FROM 25 TO 50 YARDS, PEAK WINDS OF 88 MPH, AND WAS ON THE GROUND |
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.
| Issued | Product | Office | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 17, 10:42 AM EDT | Tornado Watch | SPC | 8 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Charleston AFB, SC (KCHS), launched 12:00Z, 9.5 hours before the alert went out and 116 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.
- 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
The text
As transmitted.
843
WFUS52 KCAE 172129
TORCAE
SCC017-075-172215-
/O.NEW.KCAE.TO.W.0018.210817T2129Z-210817T2215Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Columbia SC
529 PM EDT Tue Aug 17 2021
The National Weather Service in Columbia has issued a
* Tornado Warning for...
Central Calhoun County in central South Carolina...
North central Orangeburg County in central South Carolina...
* Until 615 PM EDT.
* At 529 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located over Claflin College, or over Brookdale, moving north
at 25 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...
St. Matthews around 555 PM EDT.
Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include Fort
Motte, Wilkinson Heights, Prince of Orange Mall and Edisto.
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 3351 8097 3381 8091 3381 8087 3377 8082
3378 8081 3376 8078 3378 8075 3376 8074
3377 8071 3376 8070 3376 8068 3377 8066
3376 8066 3374 8062 3372 8062 3346 8082
TIME...MOT...LOC 2129Z 196DEG 21KT 3351 8085
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN
$$
CJR2 follow-up statements
133
WWUS52 KCAE 172147
SVSCAE
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Columbia SC
547 PM EDT Tue Aug 17 2021
SCC075-172156-
/O.CAN.KCAE.TO.W.0018.000000T0000Z-210817T2215Z/
Orangeburg SC-
547 PM EDT Tue Aug 17 2021
...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTH CENTRAL ORANGEBURG COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...
The tornadic thunderstorm which prompted the warning has moved out
of the warned area. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 700 PM EDT for central South
Carolina.
LAT...LON 3358 8078 3361 8081 3362 8094 3381 8091
3381 8087 3377 8082 3378 8080 3376 8078
3377 8076 3376 8074 3377 8071 3376 8070
3376 8068 3377 8066 3375 8065
TIME...MOT...LOC 2146Z 194DEG 23KT 3363 8082
$$
SCC017-172215-
/O.CON.KCAE.TO.W.0018.000000T0000Z-210817T2215Z/
Calhoun SC-
547 PM EDT Tue Aug 17 2021
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 615 PM EDT FOR CENTRAL
CALHOUN COUNTY...
At 546 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near St. Matthews, or 7 miles north of Brookdale, moving
north at 25 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.
Locations impacted include...
St. Matthews and Fort Motte.
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 3358 8078 3361 8081 3362 8094 3381 8091
3381 8087 3377 8082 3378 8080 3376 8078
3377 8076 3376 8074 3377 8071 3376 8070
3376 8068 3377 8066 3375 8065
TIME...MOT...LOC 2146Z 194DEG 23KT 3363 8082
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
$$
CJR849
WWUS52 KCAE 172206
SVSCAE
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Columbia SC
606 PM EDT Tue Aug 17 2021
SCC017-172216-
/O.EXP.KCAE.TO.W.0018.000000T0000Z-210817T2215Z/
Calhoun SC-
606 PM EDT Tue Aug 17 2021
...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR CENTRAL CALHOUN COUNTY WILL EXPIRE AT 615
PM EDT...
The storm which prompted the warning has weakened below severe
limits, and no longer appears capable of producing a tornado.
Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire. However gusty
winds are still possible with this thunderstorm.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 700 PM EDT for central South
Carolina.
LAT...LON 3358 8078 3361 8081 3362 8094 3381 8091
3381 8087 3377 8082 3378 8080 3376 8078
3377 8076 3376 8074 3377 8071 3376 8070
3376 8068 3377 8066 3375 8065
TIME...MOT...LOC 2206Z 196DEG 21KT 3374 8078
$$
CJRThe office that day
Everything else NWS Columbia, SC issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 17, 12:31 PM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | CAE | Aiken, Edgefield, McCormick, Saluda | 59 min |
| Aug 17, 12:59 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | CAE | Edgefield | 46 min |
| Aug 17, 1:34 PM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | CAE | Aiken, Edgefield, Saluda | 56 min |
| Aug 17, 1:44 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | CAE | Edgefield, McCormick, Saluda | 17 min |
| Aug 17, 1:55 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | CAE | Aiken, Edgefield, Lexington, Saluda | 50 min |
| Aug 17, 2:08 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | CAE | Aiken | 37 min |
| Aug 17, 2:31 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | CAE | Barnwell | 44 min |
| Aug 17, 3:12 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | CAE | Lexington, Saluda | 48 min |
| Aug 17, 3:17 PM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | CAE | Aiken, Edgefield, Lexington, Newberry, Saluda | 58 min |
| Aug 17, 3:48 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | CAE | Fairfield, Lexington, Newberry, Richland | 42 min |
| Aug 17, 4:25 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CAE | Fairfield, Newberry | 50 min |
| Aug 17, 4:31 PM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | CAE | Fairfield, Lexington, Newberry, Richland, Saluda | 59 min |
| Aug 17, 4:48 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CAE | Bamberg, Orangeburg | 42 min |
| Aug 17, 4:56 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | CAE | Orangeburg | 34 min |
| Aug 17, 5:29 PM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | CAE | Calhoun, Kershaw, Lexington, Richland | 3 hr |
| Aug 17, 7:43 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | CAE | Aiken | 32 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.