Alert archive / South Carolina / Tornado Warnings in 2025

Tornado Warning 2, NWS Columbia, SC

March 5, 2025Calhoun County, Lexington County, Richland County, South Carolina

NWS Columbia, SC issued this tornado warning at Mar 5, 2025, 7:35 AM EST for Calhoun County, Lexington County, Richland County, South Carolina. It was in force for 25 min. 4 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
Mar 5, 2025, 7:35 AM EST (12:35 UTC)
Expired
Mar 5, 2025, 8:00 AM EST
In force
25 min
Issued by
NWS Columbia, SC
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
0.75 in

Counties Calhoun County, SC, Lexington County, SC, Richland County, SC

The radar

The Columbia radar (KCAE), 18 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 12:37 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
Mar 5, 7:38 AM ESTNON-TSTM WND DMG3 Se Owens Field, SCSCDPS website reported a tree in roadway near the intersection of Shop Rd. and Pineview Rd.
Mar 5, 8:00 AM ESTTSTM WND DMGOwens Field, SCSeveral rail cars pushed off their track near Owens field airport. Time estimated.
Mar 5, 8:06 AM ESTTSTM WND DMG1 Sw Columbia, SCTrained spotter reported a large tree branch that was large enough to drive around on Axtell Dr. near Riverwalk. Time estimated by radar.
Mar 5, 8:10 AM ESTTSTM WND DMG2 Sw Forest Acres, SCPublic reported thunderstorm wind damage associated with the passage of the squall line at this location.

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

The nearest sounding before it

Charleston AFB, SC (KCHS), launched 12:00Z, 0.6 hours before the alert went out and 156 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 2025-03-05Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 56 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 2025-03-05The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 303 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 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
56 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-23 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
753 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
62 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
303 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
353 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

753 
WFUS52 KCAE 051235
TORCAE
SCC017-063-079-051300-
/O.NEW.KCAE.TO.W.0002.250305T1235Z-250305T1300Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Columbia SC
735 AM EST Wed Mar 5 2025

The National Weather Service in Columbia has issued a

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

* Until 800 AM EST.

* At 734 AM EST, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located 9 miles southwest of Red Bank, moving northeast at 45
  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...
  South Congaree, Springdale, Lexington, Red Bank, and Cayce around 
  740 AM EST.
  West Columbia, Gaston, Pine Ridge, Oak Grove, Columbia Metro 
  Airport, and SC State Farmer's Market around 745 AM EST.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include New
Zion, Lexington County Airport At Pelion, Olympia, Rosewood,
Lexington Acres Pond, Peachtree Rock, Cayce Riverwalk, Edmund, Camp
Kinard, and Silver Lake.

This includes the following highways...
 Interstate 126 between mile markers 0 and 3.
 Interstate 20 in South Carolina between mile markers 39 and 73.
 Interstate 26 between mile markers 106 and 123.
 Interstate 77 between mile markers 0 and 13.

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 cluster of thunderstorms is capable of producing tornadoes and
widespread significant wind damage. Do not wait to see or hear the
tornado. For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest
floor of a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3372 8140 3373 8142 3386 8147 3412 8099
      3388 8085
TIME...MOT...LOC 1234Z 240DEG 38KT 3383 8134 

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

$$

PL
2 follow-up statements
629 
WWUS52 KCAE 051246 RRA
SVSCAE

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Columbia SC
746 AM EST Wed Mar 5 2025

SCC017-063-079-051300-
/O.CON.KCAE.TO.W.0002.000000T0000Z-250305T1300Z/
Calhoun SC-Lexington SC-Richland SC-
746 AM EST Wed Mar 5 2025

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 AM EST FOR
NORTHWESTERN CALHOUN...CENTRAL LEXINGTON AND CENTRAL RICHLAND
COUNTIES...

At 746 AM EST, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located over Red Bank, moving northeast at 45 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...
  South Congaree, West Columbia, Gaston, Pine Ridge, St. Andrews, 
  Springdale, Lexington, Oak Grove, Columbia, and Red Bank around 
  750 AM EST.
  Five Points and Forest Acres around 755 AM EST.
  Dentsville, Arcadia Lakes, and Columbia International University 
  around 800 AM EST.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include New
Zion, Lexington County Airport At Pelion, Olympia, Rosewood,
Lexington Acres Pond, Peachtree Rock, Cayce Riverwalk, Edmund, Silver
Lake, and Pelion.

This includes the following highways...
 Interstate 126 between mile markers 0 and 3.
 Interstate 20 in South Carolina between mile markers 48 and 73.
 Interstate 26 between mile markers 106 and 123.
 Interstate 77 between mile markers 0 and 13.

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 cluster of thunderstorms is capable of producing tornadoes and
widespread significant wind damage. Do not wait to see or hear the
tornado. For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest
floor of a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3375 8129 3393 8135 3412 8099 3388 8085
TIME...MOT...LOC 1246Z 240DEG 38KT 3389 8120 

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

$$

PL
964 
WWUS52 KCAE 051258
SVSCAE

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Columbia SC
758 AM EST Wed Mar 5 2025

SCC017-063-079-051307-
/O.EXP.KCAE.TO.W.0002.000000T0000Z-250305T1300Z/
Calhoun SC-Lexington SC-Richland SC-
758 AM EST Wed Mar 5 2025

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHWESTERN CALHOUN...CENTRAL LEXINGTON
AND CENTRAL RICHLAND COUNTIES WILL EXPIRE AT 800 AM EST...

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 100 PM EST for central South
Carolina.

Remember, a Severe Thunderstorm Warning still remains in effect for
830 AM!

LAT...LON 3375 8129 3393 8135 3412 8099 3388 8085
TIME...MOT...LOC 1257Z 240DEG 38KT 3393 8111 

$$

PL

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 5, 5:09 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementCAEMcCormick66 min
Mar 5, 6:08 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementCAEAiken, Edgefield, Saluda52 min
Mar 5, 6:21 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementCAENewberry39 min
Mar 5, 6:58 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementCAEAiken, Barnwell, Fairfield, Lexington, Newberry, Saluda32 min
Mar 5, 7:05 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCAEAiken, Lexington, Newberry, Richland, Saluda40 min
Mar 5, 7:17 AM ESTTornado WarningCAEFairfield, Lexington, Newberry, Richland, Saluda28 min
Mar 5, 7:25 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCAEAiken, Bamberg, Barnwell, Calhoun, Lexington, Orangeburg50 min
Mar 5, 7:43 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCAEFairfield, Kershaw, Lancaster, Lexington, Richland47 min
Mar 5, 7:58 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCAEChesterfield, Lancaster47 min
Mar 5, 8:44 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementCAEChesterfield, Kershaw76 min
Mar 5, 11:12 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementCAEClarendon, Orangeburg, Sumter63 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in South Carolina, 2025Every tornado warning in 2025Tornadoes 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.