Alert archive / South Carolina / Tornado Warnings in 2025
Tornado Warning 7, NWS Columbia, SC
NWS Columbia, SC issued this tornado warning at Mar 16, 2025, 7:39 AM EDT for 4 counties in South Carolina. It was in force for 36 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
- Mar 16, 2025, 7:39 AM EDT (11:39 UTC)
- Expired
- Mar 16, 2025, 8:15 AM EDT
- In force
- 36 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
The radar
The Columbia radar (KCAE), 25 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 11:40 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 16, 7:48 AM EDT | TSTM WND DMG | 3 Sw White Rock, SC | Broadcast media sent multiple pictures of trees down near the intersection of Old Bush River Rd and Wessinger Rd. They also noted a power crew was working on Island Trl. A NWS Survey Team will check for possible damage this afternoon (3/16). |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 16, 6:12 AM EDT | Tornado Watch | SPC | 8 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Charleston AFB, SC (KCHS), launched 00:00Z, 11.7 hours before the alert went out and 181 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
- 5 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -16 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1048 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 30 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 46 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 88 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted.
159
WFUS52 KCAE 161139
TORCAE
SCC039-063-071-079-161215-
/O.NEW.KCAE.TO.W.0007.250316T1139Z-250316T1215Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Columbia SC
739 AM EDT Sun Mar 16 2025
The National Weather Service in Columbia has issued a
* Tornado Warning for...
South central Fairfield County in central South Carolina...
Southeastern Newberry County in central South Carolina...
Northwestern Lexington County in central South Carolina...
Northwestern Richland County in central South Carolina...
* Until 815 AM EDT.
* At 739 AM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located over Dreher Island State Park, or 9 miles west of
Highway 6 at Lake Murray Dam, moving east at 35 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...
Irmo, Columbia, and Ballentine around 745 AM EDT.
Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include
Lighthouse Marina, Chapin, Lake Murray Marina, Shull Island, Putnam's
Landing, Siesta Cove Marina, White Rock, Rocky Point Recreation Area,
Upper Richland Fire Station, and Pine Island.
This includes Interstate 26 between mile markers 89 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 3402 8140 3413 8148 3434 8111 3414 8100
TIME...MOT...LOC 1139Z 248DEG 30KT 3410 8137
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN
$$
CRL2 follow-up statements
375
WWUS52 KCAE 161155
SVSCAE
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Columbia SC
755 AM EDT Sun Mar 16 2025
SCC063-071-161205-
/O.CAN.KCAE.TO.W.0007.000000T0000Z-250316T1215Z/
Newberry SC-Lexington SC-
755 AM EDT Sun Mar 16 2025
...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN NEWBERRY AND NORTHWESTERN
LEXINGTON COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...
The tornadic thunderstorm which prompted the warning has moved out
of the warned area. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 200 PM EDT for central South
Carolina.
LAT...LON 3414 8100 3409 8118 3410 8121 3410 8127
3414 8131 3415 8131 3417 8130 3420 8134
3421 8134 3434 8111
TIME...MOT...LOC 1155Z 233DEG 33KT 3421 8123
$$
SCC039-079-161215-
/O.CON.KCAE.TO.W.0007.000000T0000Z-250316T1215Z/
Fairfield SC-Richland SC-
755 AM EDT Sun Mar 16 2025
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 815 AM EDT FOR SOUTH
CENTRAL FAIRFIELD AND NORTHWESTERN RICHLAND COUNTIES...
At 755 AM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Jenkinsville, or 7 miles southeast of VC Summer
Nuclear Station, moving northeast at 40 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...
Fairfield County Airport around 800 AM EDT.
Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include Rion,
White Rock, Lighthouse Marina, Lake Murray Marina, Upper Richland
Fire Station, and Cedar Creek Fire Station.
This includes Interstate 26 between mile markers 93 and 101.
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 3414 8100 3409 8118 3410 8121 3410 8127
3414 8131 3415 8131 3417 8130 3420 8134
3421 8134 3434 8111
TIME...MOT...LOC 1155Z 233DEG 33KT 3421 8123
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN
$$
CRL669
WWUS52 KCAE 161206
SVSCAE
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Columbia SC
806 AM EDT Sun Mar 16 2025
SCC039-079-161216-
/O.EXP.KCAE.TO.W.0007.000000T0000Z-250316T1215Z/
Fairfield SC-Richland SC-
806 AM EDT Sun Mar 16 2025
...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTH CENTRAL FAIRFIELD AND NORTHWESTERN
RICHLAND COUNTIES WILL EXPIRE AT 815 AM EDT...
The storm which prompted the warning has weakened below severe
limits, and no longer appears capable of producing a tornado.
Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 200 PM EDT for central South
Carolina.
Remember, a Severe Thunderstorm Warning still remains in effect for
Richland and Lexington Counties until 830am.
LAT...LON 3414 8100 3409 8118 3410 8121 3410 8127
3414 8131 3415 8131 3417 8130 3420 8134
3421 8134 3434 8111
TIME...MOT...LOC 1206Z 248DEG 30KT 3424 8114
$$
CRLThe office that day
Everything else NWS Columbia, SC issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 16, 5:01 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CAE | McCormick | 59 min |
| Mar 16, 5:56 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CAE | Aiken, Edgefield | 49 min |
| Mar 16, 6:15 AM EDT | Tornado Warning | CAE | Aiken | 30 min |
| Mar 16, 6:29 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CAE | Aiken, Barnwell | 46 min |
| Mar 16, 6:31 AM EDT | Tornado Warning | CAE | Aiken, Edgefield | 29 min |
| Mar 16, 6:42 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CAE | Aiken, Edgefield, Lexington, Newberry, Saluda | 48 min |
| Mar 16, 6:55 AM EDT | Tornado Warning | CAE | Barnwell | 24 min |
| Mar 16, 7:12 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CAE | Aiken, Bamberg, Barnwell, Orangeburg | 48 min |
| Mar 16, 7:14 AM EDT | Tornado Warning | CAE | Bamberg, Barnwell | 31 min |
| Mar 16, 7:25 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CAE | Aiken, Calhoun, Lexington, Newberry, Orangeburg, Richland and 1 more | 65 min |
| Mar 16, 7:58 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CAE | Bamberg, Calhoun, Orangeburg, Richland | 62 min |
| Mar 16, 8:39 AM EDT | Special Weather Statement | CAE | Chesterfield, Kershaw, Lancaster, Lee, Richland | 66 min |
| Mar 16, 8:45 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CAE | Kershaw, Lee, Richland, Sumter | 60 min |
| Mar 16, 8:51 AM EDT | Special Weather Statement | CAE | Calhoun, Clarendon, Sumter | 54 min |
| Mar 16, 9:46 AM EDT | Special Weather Statement | CAE | Bamberg, Calhoun, Clarendon, Orangeburg | 59 min |
| Mar 16, 5:59 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | CAE | Chesterfield | 31 min |
| Mar 16, 6:22 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | CAE | Lexington, Richland | 38 min |
| Mar 16, 6:34 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | CAE | Lancaster | 41 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.