Alert archive / South Carolina / Tornado Warnings in 2025

Tornado Warning 12, NWS Columbia, SC

June 9, 2025Lexington County, Richland County, South Carolina

NWS Columbia, SC issued this tornado warning at Jun 9, 2025, 8:49 PM EDT for Lexington County, Richland County, South Carolina. It was in force for 26 min. 1 report 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: Jun 9, 2025, 8:49 PM EDT (00:49 UTC)
Expired: Jun 9, 2025, 9:15 PM EDT
In force: 26 min
Issued by: NWS Columbia, SC
Area: Storm-based polygon
Tornado: Radar indicated
Hail: 0.75 in

Counties Lexington County, SC, Richland County, SC

The radar

The Columbia radar (KCAE), 27 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:50 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
Jun 9, 8:53 PM EDT	TSTM WND DMG	1 Nne Ballentine, SC	Columbia Fire reports a tree down on a house as well as a powerline down. Time estimated based on radar.

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

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this tornado warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The nearest sounding before it

Charleston AFB, SC (KCHS), launched 00:00Z, 0.8 hours before the alert went out and 182 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 289 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -86 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 989 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 22 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 114 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 170 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.1
Supercell composite: 0.5

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

224 
WFUS52 KCAE 100049
TORCAE
SCC063-079-100115-
/O.NEW.KCAE.TO.W.0012.250610T0049Z-250610T0115Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Columbia SC
849 PM EDT Mon Jun 9 2025

The National Weather Service in Columbia has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  North central Lexington County in central South Carolina...
  Northwestern Richland County in central South Carolina...

* Until 915 PM EDT.

* At 849 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located near Dreher Island State Park, or 9 miles northwest of
  Highway 6 at Lake Murray Dam, moving east at 5 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 tornadic thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of
  north central Lexington and northwestern Richland Counties,
  including the following locations... White Rock, Lighthouse Marina,
  Melvin Park, Chapin, and Lake Murray Marina.

This includes Interstate 26 between mile markers 90 and 102.
 
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 3421 8115 3406 8117 3411 8139 3418 8138
      3420 8134 3421 8123 3418 8118 3419 8117
      3421 8117
TIME...MOT...LOC 0049Z 278DEG 5KT 3414 8134 

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

$$

EC

2 follow-up statements

487 
WWUS52 KCAE 100055
SVSCAE

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Columbia SC
855 PM EDT Mon Jun 9 2025

SCC063-100105-
/O.CAN.KCAE.TO.W.0012.000000T0000Z-250610T0115Z/
Lexington SC-
855 PM EDT Mon Jun 9 2025

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTH CENTRAL LEXINGTON COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...

The tornadic thunderstorm which prompted the warning has moved out 
of the warned area. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.

LAT...LON 3421 8115 3415 8118 3414 8131 3416 8132
      3417 8130 3419 8132 3420 8132 3420 8122
      3418 8118 3419 8117 3421 8117
TIME...MOT...LOC 0055Z 278DEG 5KT 3414 8133 

$$

SCC079-100115-
/O.CON.KCAE.TO.W.0012.000000T0000Z-250610T0115Z/
Richland SC-
855 PM EDT Mon Jun 9 2025

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 915 PM EDT FOR
NORTHWESTERN RICHLAND COUNTY...

At 855 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Ballentine, or 8 miles northwest of Highway 6 at
Lake Murray Dam, moving east at 5 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...
White Rock.

This includes Interstate 26 between mile markers 93 and 96.
 
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 3421 8115 3415 8118 3414 8131 3416 8132
      3417 8130 3419 8132 3420 8132 3420 8122
      3418 8118 3419 8117 3421 8117
TIME...MOT...LOC 0055Z 278DEG 5KT 3414 8133 

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

$$

EC

575 
WWUS52 KCAE 100107
SVSCAE

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Columbia SC
907 PM EDT Mon Jun 9 2025

SCC079-100116-
/O.EXP.KCAE.TO.W.0012.000000T0000Z-250610T0115Z/
Richland SC-
907 PM EDT Mon Jun 9 2025

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHWESTERN RICHLAND COUNTY WILL EXPIRE
AT 915 PM EDT...

The tornado threat has diminished and the Tornado Warning has been 
cancelled. However, damaging winds remain likely and a Severe 
Thunderstorm Warning remains in effect for the area.

LAT...LON 3421 8115 3415 8118 3414 8131 3416 8132
      3417 8130 3419 8132 3420 8132 3420 8122
      3418 8118 3419 8117 3421 8117
TIME...MOT...LOC 0106Z 278DEG 5KT 3414 8131 

$$

EC

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this tornado warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Columbia, SC wrote its last area forecast discussion before this tornado warning went out at Jun 9, 1:52 PM EDT, 6 hours 57 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jun 9, 1:52 PM EDT, 6 hours 57 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Columbia SC
152 PM EDT Mon Jun 9 2025

.SYNOPSIS...
The threat of severe weather returns again with increasing rain
chances this afternoon. Showers and thunderstorms are most
likely later this evening through the early overnight hours. As
an upper trough lifts away from the region, we should
transition to less organized and more typical summertime pulse
convection through the remainder of the week and into next
weekend.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
Key Message(s):

- Shower and thunderstorm chances increase this afternoon, with
  a few strong to severe thunderstorms possible through the
  early overnight hours.

Satellite imagery this afternoon shows scattered cumulus across
much of the forecast area. A singular shower continues to trek
east across our southern counties and we are monitoring
additional development across Georgia, which could clip the
northern CSRA during the next few hours. Latest model guidance
suggests that showers and thunderstorms will be most likely in
our FA later this evening and into the early overnight hours,
from roughly 6pm to 3am. This timing lines up with the passage
of a shortwave, which should aid in convective development even
after the sun sets. The SPC maintains a Slight (2/5) risk for
severe weather across our entire CWA, with damaging wind gusts
as the primary hazard. Latest SPC mesoanalysis shows CAPE values
in excess of 1000 J/kg across much of the region, though the
overall shear is unimpressive. DCAPE values are in excess of
1000 J/kg across the northern half of our CWA where PWATs are
lower indicating the presence of more dry air. While isolated
development cannot be ruled out, the lack of significant large
scale forcing would suggest the threat will be highest when the
aforementioned shortwave arrives towards evening. Temperatures
should peak in the mid to upper 80s southwest and the upper 80s
to lower 90s southeast, falling into the upper 60s to lower 70s
by daybreak Tuesday

&&

.SHORT TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT/...
Key Message(s):

- Additional scattered convection possible on Tuesday.

As an upper-lvl trough pushes eastward across the Ohio River Valley,
an associated cold front will move towards the region and then stall
nearby. This will result in isolated to scattered showers to develop
throughout the day. Despite there being ample amount of instability
(~1250-1500 J/kg) and DCAPE (~750-1000 J/kg) present, the overall
shear looks rather unimpressive. With this, a few storms may become
severe and the main threats would be damaging wind gusts and locally
heavy rainfall. Shifting into the evening hours, rain chances will
begin to diminish across the western counties as drier air mixes
into the region. However, rain chances will remain over the eastern
counties where deep moisture continues to filter in. Highs will
climb into the mid to upper 80s. Lows will range in the mid to upper
60s.

&&

.LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
Key Message(s):

-Typical summertime afternoon thunderstorms continues but the severe
threat remains low.

As weak upper-lvl ridging builds into the region from the south
throughout the week, a series of upper-lvl disturbances will likely
glide through the region. The aforementioned stalled front will
finally shift out of the region as a weak warm front lifts across
sometime on Thursday. Most guidance tends to suggest that showers
and thunderstorms will be primarily diurnally driven and the region
will enter into a more typical summerlike pattern. With a good
amount of moisture still available, any sort of forcing mechanism
will trigger showers and thunderstorms to develop. Temperatures stay
close to normal for this time of year.

&&

.AVIATION /17Z MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
Restrictions Possible Later Today from Showers and Thunderstorms,
FOllowed by Low Ceilings Tonight....

All terminals are VFR this afternoon as scattered cumulus
clouds with ceilings between 4000 and 5000 feet pass through the
region. Surface winds will continue to be gusty at times, with
the highest gusts being observed at CAE/CUB so far. Have pushed
back the timing of restrictions due to showers and thunderstorms
based on the latest guidance. Rain chances increase as the
afternoon goes on with restrictions most likely at AGS/DNL
between 22Z and 02Z, CAE/CUB between 23Z and 03Z, and between
00Z and 04Z at OGB. Having said that, more isolated development
cannot be ruled out outside of these windows and trends will be
monitored as the day goes on. Latest guidance shows ceilings
falling behind the convection, with all sites dropping to at
least low MVFR ceilings towards daybreak. Conditions should
gradually improve late in the TAF period as the low stratus
transitions to scattered cumulus.

EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK...Brief flight restrictions are possible
each day with typical summertime thunderstorms throughout the
week.

&&

.CAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
SC...None.
GA...None.

&&

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jun 9, 7:33 PM EDT, 1 hour 16 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Columbia SC
733 PM EDT Mon Jun 9 2025

SCZ038-092345-
Clarendon SC-
733 PM EDT Mon Jun 9 2025

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of east central
Clarendon County through 745 PM EDT...

At 732 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 10
miles east of Manning, moving east at 35 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects.

Locations impacted include...
Foreston.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3382 7992 3381 7995 3377 7999 3372 7997
      3370 8000 3363 8003 3363 8016 3379 8016
      3385 7990
TIME...MOT...LOC 2332Z 261DEG 32KT 3372 8004

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

EC

Local storm report, Jun 9, 8:12 PM EDT, 37 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Columbia SC
812 PM EDT Mon Jun 9 2025

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0738 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     6 NNE Mccormick         33.99N 82.25W
06/09/2025                   McCormick          SC   Law Enforcement

            McCormick county dispatch reported trees
            down at the intersection of US 221 and Eden
            Hall Rd. Time estimated by radar.

&&

gpl

Local storm report, Jun 9, 8:14 PM EDT, 35 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Columbia SC
814 PM EDT Mon Jun 9 2025

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0725 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     3 NE Willington         34.00N 82.41W
06/09/2025                   McCormick          SC   Law Enforcement

            McCormick County dispatch reported trees
            down along Hwy 28 north. Time estimated
            based on radar.

&&

gpl

Special weather statement, Jun 9, 8:18 PM EDT, 31 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Columbia SC
818 PM EDT Mon Jun 9 2025

SCZ115-100045-
Northern Lancaster SC-
818 PM EDT Mon Jun 9 2025

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northwestern
Lancaster County through 845 PM EDT...

At 818 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Fort Mill, or near Rock Hill, moving east at 35 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects.

Locations impacted include...
Indian Land, Waxhaw, Carolina Commons Shopping Center, and Community
of Almond Glen.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3493 8078 3486 8079 3487 8088 3490 8088
      3493 8086 3496 8087 3497 8088 3499 8089
      3501 8091 3503 8090 3505 8091 3507 8090
TIME...MOT...LOC 0018Z 251DEG 30KT 3501 8099

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

PL

Local storm report, Jun 9, 8:38 PM EDT, 11 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Columbia SC
838 PM EDT Mon Jun 9 2025

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0815 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     2 SW Newberry           34.25N 81.64W
06/09/2025                   Newberry           SC   Trained Spotter

            Trained weather spotter reported tree down
            on a powerline in the 6500-6800 block of SC
            121. Time estimated by radar.

&&

gpl

Special weather statement, Jun 9, 8:48 PM EDT, 1 minute before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Columbia SC
848 PM EDT Mon Jun 9 2025

SCZ018-025>027-030-100115-
Lexington SC-Aiken SC-McCormick SC-Saluda SC-Edgefield SC-
848 PM EDT Mon Jun 9 2025

...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of central Edgefield,
western Lexington, southeastern Saluda, north central Aiken and
southeastern McCormick Counties through 915 PM EDT...

At 848 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from Saluda to near Johnston to 7 miles northeast of
Hamilton Branch State Park. Movement was east at 45 mph.

...Boaters on Lake Murray Should Seek Safe Harbor...

HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects.

Locations impacted include...
Lexington, Batesburg-Leesville, Highway 6 at Lake Murray Dam, Red
Bank, Edgefield, Saluda, Johnston, Ridge Spring, Saluda County
Airport, Gilbert, Summit, Monetta, Trenton, Ward, Cedar Grove Fire
Station, Strom Thurmond High School, South Shore Marina, Oswald Park,
Saluda Co Sheriff's Office, and Bundrick Island.

This includes Interstate 20 in South Carolina between mile markers 34
and 54.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.

These storms may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.

&&

LAT...LON 3409 8120 3379 8127 3374 8173 3377 8224
      3386 8194 3403 8178
TIME...MOT...LOC 0048Z 261DEG 41KT 3398 8178 3387 8188 3381 8210

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH

PL

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Jun 9, 8:14 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	CAE	Edgefield, Fairfield, Lexington, Newberry, Richland, Saluda	46 min
Jun 9, 8:48 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	CAE	Edgefield, Lexington, Saluda	27 min
Jun 9, 8:48 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	CAE	Fairfield, Kershaw, Lexington, Newberry, Richland	42 min
Jun 9, 8:59 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	CAE	Fairfield, Richland	31 min
Jun 9, 9:26 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	CAE	Fairfield, Kershaw, Lee, Lexington, Richland, Sumter	49 min
Jun 9, 10:12 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	CAE	Kershaw, Lee, Sumter	33 min
Jun 10, 12:02 AM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	CAE	Aiken, Barnwell	118 min
Jun 10, 1:25 AM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	CAE	Aiken, Barnwell	3 hr
Jun 10, 1:29 AM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	CAE	Calhoun, Clarendon, Orangeburg, Sumter	2 hr
Jun 10, 1:33 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	CAE	Allendale	42 min
Jun 10, 10:35 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	CAE	Clarendon	25 min
Jun 10, 6:31 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	CAE	McCormick	29 min
Jun 10, 6:45 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	CAE	McCormick	45 min
Jun 10, 7:03 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	CAE	McCormick	27 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in South Carolina, 2025 Every tornado warning in 2025 Tornadoes 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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.