Alert archive / South Carolina / Tornado Warnings in 2024

Tornado Warning 22, NWS Columbia, SC

December 29, 20245 counties in South Carolina

NWS Columbia, SC issued this tornado warning at Dec 29, 2024, 8:21 AM EST for 5 counties in South Carolina. It was in force for 24 min. 5 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
Dec 29, 2024, 8:21 AM EST (13:21 UTC)
Expired
Dec 29, 2024, 8:45 AM EST
In force
24 min
Issued by
NWS Columbia, SC
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
0.75 in

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

The radar

The Columbia radar (KCAE), 36 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 13:21 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
Dec 29, 8:35 AM ESTTORNADO2 Wnw White Rock, SCA National Weather Service storm survey team determined that a weak EF-0 tornado, with peak wind speeds of 75 mph, occurred near the Spring Hill area. A weak but relatively long-lived tornado began near Old Hilton Road east of Chapin and moved northeast causin
Dec 29, 8:37 AM ESTTSTM WND DMG1 Nw White Rock, SCSCDPS website reported tree in roadway on Old Hilton Road near the intersection of Back Acres Road. Time estimated by radar.
Dec 29, 8:37 AM ESTTSTM WND DMGWhite Rock, SCSCDPS website reported a tree in roadway on Three Dog Road near the intersection of Peace Heaven Road. Time estimated by radar.
Dec 29, 8:39 AM ESTTSTM WND DMG1 Nw Peak, SCSCDPS site reported a tree in roadway at the intersection of Parr Road and Broad River Road. Time estimated by radar.
Dec 29, 8:39 AM ESTTSTM WND DMG3 N White Rock, SCPublic reported through social media multiple trees down on Muddy Ford Rd. Time estimated by radar.

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
Dec 29, 6:02 AM ESTTornado WatchSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Charleston AFB, SC (KCHS), launched 12:00Z, 1.4 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 2024-12-29Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 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 2024-12-29The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 149 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
999 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
29 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
149 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
207 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

500 
WFUS52 KCAE 291321
TORCAE
SCC039-063-071-079-081-291345-
/O.NEW.KCAE.TO.W.0022.241229T1321Z-241229T1345Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Columbia SC
821 AM EST Sun Dec 29 2024

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...
  Northeastern Saluda County in central South Carolina...
  Northwestern Richland County in central South Carolina...

* Until 845 AM EST.

* At 821 AM EST, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located 8 miles west of Dreher Island State Park, or 11 miles
  north of Batesburg-Leesville, moving northeast at 55 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...
  Dreher Island State Park around 825 AM EST.
  VC Summer Nuclear Station around 835 AM EST.
  Ballentine around 840 AM EST.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include
Lighthouse Marina, Little Mountain, Cedar Grove Fire Station, Chapin,
Lake Murray Marina, Shull Island, Fairview Fire Station, Putnam's
Landing, White Rock, and Rocky Point Recreation Area.

This includes Interstate 26 between mile markers 84 and 100.
 
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! If you are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in a
vehicle, move to an interior room or closet on the lowest floor of a
sturdy building immediately.

This Tornado Warning includes portions of Lake Murray. Boaters, move
to shore and take shelter on the lowest floor of the closest sturdy
building!

&&

LAT...LON 3398 8159 3410 8165 3431 8132 3411 8118
TIME...MOT...LOC 1321Z 234DEG 46KT 3408 8155 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN

$$

MG
1 follow-up statement
781 
WWUS52 KCAE 291333
SVSCAE

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Columbia SC
833 AM EST Sun Dec 29 2024

SCC081-291343-
/O.CAN.KCAE.TO.W.0022.000000T0000Z-241229T1345Z/
Saluda SC-
833 AM EST Sun Dec 29 2024

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN SALUDA 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 100 PM EST for central South
Carolina.

LAT...LON 3405 8141 3417 8150 3429 8131 3412 8119
TIME...MOT...LOC 1333Z 234DEG 46KT 3417 8139 

$$

SCC039-063-071-079-291345-
/O.CON.KCAE.TO.W.0022.000000T0000Z-241229T1345Z/
Fairfield SC-Newberry SC-Lexington SC-Richland SC-
833 AM EST Sun Dec 29 2024

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 845 AM EST FOR
SOUTHWESTERN FAIRFIELD...SOUTHEASTERN NEWBERRY...NORTHWESTERN
LEXINGTON AND NORTHWESTERN RICHLAND COUNTIES...

At 833 AM EST, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Dreher Island State Park, or 9 miles southwest of VC
Summer Nuclear Station, moving northeast at 55 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...
  Ballentine around 840 AM EST.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include
Lighthouse Marina, Little Mountain, Chapin, Lake Murray Marina,
Fairview Fire Station, Putnam's Landing, White Rock, Peak, Melvin
Park, and Rocky Point Recreation Area.

This includes Interstate 26 between mile markers 85 and 99.
 
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! If you are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in a
vehicle, move to an interior room or closet on the lowest floor of a
sturdy building immediately.

&&

LAT...LON 3405 8141 3417 8150 3429 8131 3412 8119
TIME...MOT...LOC 1333Z 234DEG 46KT 3417 8139 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN

$$

MG

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Dec 29, 6:44 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCAEMcCormick61 min
Dec 29, 7:26 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCAEAiken, Barnwell49 min
Dec 29, 7:29 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCAEAiken, Edgefield, McCormick, Newberry, Saluda61 min
Dec 29, 8:03 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCAEAiken, Fairfield, Lexington, Newberry, Richland, Saluda57 min
Dec 29, 8:08 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCAEAiken, Bamberg, Barnwell, Orangeburg67 min
Dec 29, 8:39 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCAECalhoun, Fairfield, Kershaw, Lancaster, Lee, Lexington and 2 more66 min
Dec 29, 8:45 AM ESTTornado WarningCAEFairfield, Richland19 min
Dec 29, 9:08 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementCAEBamberg, Calhoun, Orangeburg22 min
Dec 29, 9:32 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementCAECalhoun, Clarendon, Orangeburg43 min
Dec 29, 9:41 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCAECalhoun, Chesterfield, Clarendon, Kershaw, Lancaster, Lee and 1 more64 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in South Carolina, 2024Every tornado warning in 2024Tornadoes in 2024

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.