Alert archive / South Carolina / Red Flag Warnings in 2025
Red Flag Warning 2, NWS Columbia, SC
NWS Columbia, SC issued this red flag warning at Mar 21, 2025, 2:28 PM EDT for 18 counties in South Carolina; 5 counties in Georgia. It took effect at Mar 22, 2025, 11:00 AM EDT. It was in force for 9 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The counties it named.
The facts
- Issued
- Mar 21, 2025, 2:28 PM EDT (18:28 UTC)
- In effect from
- Mar 22, 2025, 11:00 AM EDT
- Expired
- Mar 22, 2025, 8:00 PM EDT
- In force
- 9 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Columbia, SC
All 23 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, Orangeburg County, SC, Richland County, SC, Saluda County, SC, Sumter County, SC
The radar
The Columbia radar (KCAE), 22 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 18:28 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, 6.5 hours before the alert went out and 160 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
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- No buoyant parcel
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1463 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 50 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 6 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 101 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted.
087 WWUS82 KCAE 211828 RFWCAE URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Columbia SC 228 PM EDT Fri Mar 21 2025 ...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT ON SATURDAY FROM 11 AM UNTIL 8 PM... GAZ040-063>065-077-SCZ016-018-020>022-025>031-035-037-038-041-115- 116-135>137-220230- /O.NEW.KCAE.FW.W.0002.250322T1500Z-250323T0000Z/ Lincoln-McDuffie-Columbia-Richmond-Burke-Chesterfield-McCormick- Newberry-Fairfield-Kershaw-Edgefield-Saluda-Lexington-Richland- Lee-Aiken-Sumter-Barnwell-Calhoun-Clarendon-Bamberg- Northern Lancaster-Southern Lancaster-Northwestern Orangeburg- Central Orangeburg-Southeastern Orangeburg- 228 PM EDT Fri Mar 21 2025 ...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 8 PM EDT SATURDAY FOR ALL OF THE MIDLANDS AND CSRA... The National Weather Service in Columbia has issued a Red Flag Warning which is in effect from 11 AM to 8 PM EDT Saturday. * AFFECTED AREA...Chesterfield, McCormick, Newberry, Fairfield, Kershaw, Edgefield, Saluda, Lexington, Richland, Lee, Aiken, Sumter, Barnwell, Calhoun, Clarendon, Lincoln, Bamberg, McDuffie, Columbia, Richmond, Burke, Northern Lancaster, Southern Lancaster, Northwestern Orangeburg, Central Orangeburg and Southeastern Orangeburg. * TIMING...From 11 AM to 8 PM EDT Saturday. * WINDS...West 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 30 mph. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 20 percent. * TEMPERATURES...Up to 74. * IMPACTS...With dry fuels and strong gusty winds, any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is strongly discouraged. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior. && $$ pl
4 follow-up statements
977 WWUS82 KCAE 220035 RFWCAE URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Columbia SC 835 PM EDT Fri Mar 21 2025 ...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT ON SATURDAY FROM 11 AM UNTIL 8 PM... GAZ040-063>065-077-SCZ016-018-020>022-025>031-035-037-038-041-115- 116-135>137-221700- /O.CON.KCAE.FW.W.0002.250322T1500Z-250323T0000Z/ Lincoln-McDuffie-Columbia-Richmond-Burke-Chesterfield-McCormick- Newberry-Fairfield-Kershaw-Edgefield-Saluda-Lexington-Richland- Lee-Aiken-Sumter-Barnwell-Calhoun-Clarendon-Bamberg- Northern Lancaster-Southern Lancaster-Northwestern Orangeburg- Central Orangeburg-Southeastern Orangeburg- 835 PM EDT Fri Mar 21 2025 ...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 8 PM EDT SATURDAY FOR ALL OF THE MIDLANDS AND CSRA... * AFFECTED AREA...Chesterfield, McCormick, Newberry, Fairfield, Kershaw, Edgefield, Saluda, Lexington, Richland, Lee, Aiken, Sumter, Barnwell, Calhoun, Clarendon, Lincoln, Bamberg, McDuffie, Columbia, Richmond, Burke, Northern Lancaster, Southern Lancaster, Northwestern Orangeburg, Central Orangeburg and Southeastern Orangeburg. * TIMING...From 11 AM to 8 PM EDT Saturday. * WINDS...West 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 30 mph. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 20 percent. * TEMPERATURES...Up to 74. * IMPACTS...With dry fuels and strong gusty winds, any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is strongly discouraged. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior. && $$
945 WWUS82 KCAE 220716 RFWCAE URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Columbia SC 316 AM EDT Sat Mar 22 2025 ...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT ON SATURDAY FROM 11 AM UNTIL 8 PM... GAZ040-063>065-077-SCZ016-018-020>022-025>031-035-037-038-041-115- 116-135>137-230000- /O.CON.KCAE.FW.W.0002.250322T1500Z-250323T0000Z/ Lincoln-McDuffie-Columbia-Richmond-Burke-Chesterfield-McCormick- Newberry-Fairfield-Kershaw-Edgefield-Saluda-Lexington-Richland- Lee-Aiken-Sumter-Barnwell-Calhoun-Clarendon-Bamberg- Northern Lancaster-Southern Lancaster-Northwestern Orangeburg- Central Orangeburg-Southeastern Orangeburg- 316 AM EDT Sat Mar 22 2025 ...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR ALL OF THE MIDLANDS AND CSRA... * AFFECTED AREA...Chesterfield, McCormick, Newberry, Fairfield, Kershaw, Edgefield, Saluda, Lexington, Richland, Lee, Aiken, Sumter, Barnwell, Calhoun, Clarendon, Lincoln, Bamberg, McDuffie, Columbia, Richmond, Burke, Northern Lancaster, Southern Lancaster, Northwestern Orangeburg, Central Orangeburg and Southeastern Orangeburg. * TIMING...From 11 AM this morning to 8 PM EDT this evening. * WINDS...West 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 30 mph. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 20 percent. * TEMPERATURES...Up to 74. * IMPACTS...With dry fuels and strong gusty winds, any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is strongly discouraged. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior. && $$
335 WWUS82 KCAE 221710 RFWCAE URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Columbia SC 110 PM EDT Sat Mar 22 2025 ...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT ON SATURDAY FROM 11 AM UNTIL 8 PM... GAZ040-063>065-077-SCZ016-018-020>022-025>031-035-037-038-041-115- 116-135>137-230000- /O.CON.KCAE.FW.W.0002.000000T0000Z-250323T0000Z/ Lincoln-McDuffie-Columbia-Richmond-Burke-Chesterfield-McCormick- Newberry-Fairfield-Kershaw-Edgefield-Saluda-Lexington-Richland- Lee-Aiken-Sumter-Barnwell-Calhoun-Clarendon-Bamberg- Northern Lancaster-Southern Lancaster-Northwestern Orangeburg- Central Orangeburg-Southeastern Orangeburg- 110 PM EDT Sat Mar 22 2025 ...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR ALL OF THE MIDLANDS AND CSRA... * AFFECTED AREA...Chesterfield, McCormick, Newberry, Fairfield, Kershaw, Edgefield, Saluda, Lexington, Richland, Lee, Aiken, Sumter, Barnwell, Calhoun, Clarendon, Lincoln, Bamberg, McDuffie, Columbia, Richmond, Burke, Northern Lancaster, Southern Lancaster, Northwestern Orangeburg, Central Orangeburg and Southeastern Orangeburg. * TIMING...Until 8 PM EDT this evening. * WINDS...West 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 15 to 20 percent. * TEMPERATURES...Up to 75. * IMPACTS...With dry fuels and strong gusty winds, any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is strongly discouraged. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior. && $$
444 WWUS82 KCAE 222358 RFWCAE URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Columbia SC 758 PM EDT Sat Mar 22 2025 GAZ040-063>065-077-SCZ016-018-020>022-025>031-035-037-038-041-115- 116-135>137-230100- /O.EXP.KCAE.FW.W.0002.000000T0000Z-250323T0000Z/ Lincoln-McDuffie-Columbia-Richmond-Burke-Chesterfield-McCormick- Newberry-Fairfield-Kershaw-Edgefield-Saluda-Lexington-Richland- Lee-Aiken-Sumter-Barnwell-Calhoun-Clarendon-Bamberg- Northern Lancaster-Southern Lancaster-Northwestern Orangeburg- Central Orangeburg-Southeastern Orangeburg- 758 PM EDT Sat Mar 22 2025 ...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR ALL OF THE MIDLANDS AND CSRA... The Red Flag Warning will be allowed to expire at 8 pm as winds diminish. Lowering temperatures will also cause relative humidities to slowly start increasing over the next several hours. $$
Nearby
Red Flag Warnings in South Carolina, 2025Red Flag Warnings in Georgia, 2025Every red flag warning in 2025
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.