Alert archive / South Carolina / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026
Flash Flood Warning 10, NWS Columbia, SC
NWS Columbia, SC issued this flash flood warning at Jul 13, 2026, 3:18 PM EDT for Clarendon County, Sumter County, South Carolina. It was in force for 2 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The outline as issued.
The facts
- Issued
- Jul 13, 2026, 3:18 PM EDT (19:18 UTC)
- Expired
- Jul 13, 2026, 5:30 PM EDT
- In force
- 2 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Columbia, SC
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Flood severity
- None
Counties Clarendon County, SC, Sumter County, SC
The radar
The Columbia radar (KCAE), 77 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:19 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.
Did it verify
Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this flash flood 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 12:00Z, 7.3 hours before the alert went out and 93 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
- 395 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -103 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 860 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 11 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- -27 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 46 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted.
304
WGUS52 KCAE 131918
FFWCAE
SCC027-085-132145-
/O.NEW.KCAE.FF.W.0010.260713T1918Z-260713T2145Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Columbia SC
318 PM EDT Mon Jul 13 2026
The National Weather Service in Columbia has issued a
* Flash Flood Warning for...
West Central Clarendon County in central South Carolina...
Southern Sumter County in central South Carolina...
* Until 545 PM EDT.
* At 318 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
heavy rain across the warned area. Between 2 and 3 inches of rain
have fallen. The expected rainfall rate is 1.5 to 2 inches in 1
hour. Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches are possible in
the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin
shortly.
HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas,
highways, streets and underpasses as well as other poor
drainage and low-lying areas.
* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
Manning, Summerton, Alcolu, Santee Cooper Regional Airport,
Pinewood, Paxville, Davis Station and St. Paul.
This includes Interstate 95 between mile markers 107 and 127.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Most flooding deaths occur in vehicles. Never drive through a flooded
roadway or around barricades. Turn around, don't drown.
&&
LAT...LON 3375 8050 3380 8016 3369 8011 3358 8018
3358 8047 3363 8049
FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
EXPECTED RAINFALL RATE...1.5-2 INCHES IN 1 HOUR
$$
MEG1 follow-up statement
709
WGUS72 KCAE 132130
FFSCAE
Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Columbia SC
530 PM EDT Mon Jul 13 2026
SCC027-085-132140-
/O.CAN.KCAE.FF.W.0010.000000T0000Z-260713T2145Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Clarendon SC-Sumter SC-
530 PM EDT Mon Jul 13 2026
...FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR WEST CENTRAL CLARENDON AND
SOUTHERN SUMTER COUNTIES...
The heavy rain has ended. Flooding is no longer expected to pose a
threat. Please continue to heed remaining road closures.
&&
LAT...LON 3375 8050 3380 8016 3369 8011 3358 8018
3358 8047 3363 8049
$$
PLWhat forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this flash flood 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 flash flood warning went out at Jul 13, 1:19 PM EDT, 1 hour 59 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- 1. Scattered to widespread showers and storms expected this afternoon, continuing into the early overnight. A couple strong to marginally severe storms will be possible along with isolated spots of flash flooding. Lingering moisture leading to scattered to widespread afternoon storms Tuesday and Wednesday.
Area forecast discussion, Jul 13, 1:19 PM EDT, 1 hour 59 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Columbia SC 119 PM EDT Mon Jul 13 2026 .WHAT HAS CHANGED... Little change in the thinking with a locally heavy rainfall threat this afternoon and evening. Aviation discussion updated for 18z TAF. && .KEY MESSAGES... - 1. Scattered to widespread showers and storms expected this afternoon, continuing into the early overnight. A couple strong to marginally severe storms will be possible along with isolated spots of flash flooding. Lingering moisture leading to scattered to widespread afternoon storms Tuesday and Wednesday. && .DISCUSSION... Key Message 1: Scattered to widespread showers and storms expected this afternoon, continuing into the early overnight. A couple strong to marginally severe storms will be possible along with isolated spots of flash flooding. Lingering moisture leading to scattered to widespread afternoon storms Tuesday and Wednesday. Overall, there has not been much change in the outlook for the rest of the today based on 18z observations and updated hi- res guidance. A slow moving surface front is gradually working south through the FA and will eventually stall across the I-20 corridor and CSRA. Mean sfc-400mb flow out of the southwest should advect PWAT's 1.5-2 standard deviations above normal (~2.20-2.40"), creating very moist profiles. With surface dewpoints remaining in the low to mid 70s, mean HREF soundings indicate SBCAPE values between 1500-2000 J/kg should develop through the day, less than previous days mostly due to cooler surface temperatures ranging from the low 80s north to the mid to upper 80s south. With more moist adiabatic profiles, DCAPE is progged to be less than previous day's as well. An uptick in kinematics from the mid level low should bring increased shear (EBWD ~20-25 kts) though, so a few strong to marginally severe storms remain possible during the afternoon/early evening with the main hazard being damaging wind gusts from precip- loaded downdrafts. Activity likely carries into the overnight, but the severe risk is expected to diminish during this period. The bigger talking point is the heavy rainfall potential through the afternoon and evening. The 12z guidance has followed well with current observations, continuing the threat for locally high rainfall amounts later today. These moist adiabatic profiles, long/skinny CAPE, a nearly stationary front, and the aforementioned PWAT's should act to bring quite efficient rainfall rates and the potential for training convection. The HREF 24hr QPF LPMM product indicates a fairly widespread 0.50-1.0" is a reasonable expectation, but it does indicate spots of 2-5" being possible, which is further supported in deterministic CAMs and the 12z REFS LPMM; even 6hr LPMM indicates over 5" possible in highly localized spots. There is lesser confidence in the exact placement of higher QPF amounts with some spatial variability amongst deterministic CAMs, but with the frontal boundary expected to nearly stall in the southern FA, this could be an area to watch more closely. Areas in the southeastern Midlands near eastern Bamberg County into Orangeburg and southern Calhoun Counties saw 1-3" of rainfall from Sunday's activity so these spots would be the most sensitive to additional higher amounts. Overall, isolated instances of flash flooding will be possible if these higher amounts are realized. Scattered shower and thunderstorm chances will likely continue Tuesday and Wednesday as ensemble meteograms indicate PWAT's near to over 2" remain in place through at least the first half of Wednesday. As the mid level low slowly retrogrades, drier air may begin pushing into the Pee Dee and northern Midlands Wednesday, bringing lower rain chances here. Cooler than normal temperatures are also expected to persist through Wednesday before gradually warming during the second half of the week back to near normal. Typical diurnal rain chances could make an appearance late in the week into next weekend, but there is generous spread in LREF cluster analysis at this point. && .AVIATION /18Z MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... A mix of MVFR and VFR conditions are expected this afternoon and evening, with showers and storms helping that. Widespread MVFR and IFR ceiling restrictions are expected tonight. The slow moving front is currently sagging southward across the area. Cooler low-level air and northeasterly flow north of this feature has led to a morning filled with MVFR restrictions, with these slowly lifting now. Expecting convection to quickly fill in along this front, with heavy rainfall expected in any thunderstorm that passes over a site. The best chances for storms in the next few hours are at the Columbia sites, with the Aiken, Augusta, and Orangeburg sites seeing convection either develop or move in later this afternoon and evening. Restrictions are expected with any storm that does develop. Variable winds are forecast to remain in place this afternoon and into tonight, with potentially more persistent northeasterly flow arriving tonight. Given expectation of rain coverage today & already moisture rich airmass in place, guidance is quite aggressive with cig forecast tonight, showing IFR developing quickly after sunset. This makes sense from a pattern recognition standpoint and have the forecast reflecting such. Expecting that MVFr/IFR cigs will hold on into the midday on Tuesday. EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK...A good chance for afternoon showers and thunderstorms with associated restrictions is expected through at least Tuesday. && .CAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SC...None. GA...None. && DISCUSSION...42 AVIATION...PL
In the hours before
Local storm report, Jul 13, 10:26 AM EDT, 4 hours 52 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Columbia SC
1026 AM EDT Mon Jul 13 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0517 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 2 WSW Lakewood 33.84N 80.38W
07/10/2026 Sumter SC Emergency Mngr
Sumter County EM reported several trees
downed in the Southgate neighborhood in
Sumter. Time estimated by radar.
0518 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 SSW Lakewood 33.83N 80.36W
07/10/2026 Sumter SC Emergency Mngr
Sumter County EM reported several trees down
in the Lakewood Links neighborhood with a
large tree blocking the roadway and tree
downed on a vehicle. Time estimated by
radar.
&&
CRLSpecial weather statement, Jul 13, 2:49 PM EDT, 29 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Columbia SC
249 PM EDT Mon Jul 13 2026
SCZ022-028-031-131930-
Richland SC-Kershaw SC-Sumter SC-
249 PM EDT Mon Jul 13 2026
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of west central Sumter,
southeastern Richland and south central Kershaw Counties through 330
PM EDT...
At 249 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
McEntire Air Base. This storm was nearly stationary.
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...
Columbia, McEntire Air Base, Eastover, Hopkins, Horrel Hill, Fort
Jackson McCrady Training Center, and Wedgewood.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
&&
LAT...LON 3385 8090 3398 8094 3411 8064 3386 8053
TIME...MOT...LOC 1849Z 087DEG 1KT 3393 8080
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
CRLSpecial weather statement, Jul 13, 2:57 PM EDT, 21 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Columbia SC
257 PM EDT Mon Jul 13 2026
SCZ031-038-131930-
Clarendon SC-Sumter SC-
257 PM EDT Mon Jul 13 2026
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of central Clarendon
and south central Sumter Counties through 330 PM EDT...
At 257 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Summerton, or near Manning, moving southeast at 15 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and pea size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Manning, Summerton, Santee Cooper Regional Airport, Alcolu, Paxville,
Davis Station, and Privateer.
This includes Interstate 95 between mile markers 108 and 124.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
&&
LAT...LON 3363 8051 3383 8040 3373 8007 3353 8022
TIME...MOT...LOC 1857Z 297DEG 13KT 3369 8032
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
MGThe office that day
Everything else NWS Columbia, SC issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 12, 8:38 PM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | CAE | Bamberg, Orangeburg | 2 hr |
| Jul 13, 2:09 PM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | CAE | Calhoun, Clarendon, Kershaw, Richland, Sumter | 2 hr |
| Jul 13, 2:49 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | CAE | Richland | 41 min |
| Jul 13, 2:55 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | CAE | Richland, Sumter | 113 min |
| Jul 13, 2:57 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | CAE | Clarendon | 33 min |
| Jul 13, 3:21 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CAE | Clarendon, Sumter | 39 min |
| Jul 13, 4:16 PM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | CAE | Aiken, Edgefield, Lexington, Saluda | 119 min |
| Jul 13, 4:46 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | CAE | Aiken, Edgefield, Lexington, Saluda | 59 min |
| Jul 13, 5:19 PM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | CAE | Edgefield, Lexington, Newberry, Saluda | 116 min |
| Jul 13, 5:32 PM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | CAE | Aiken, Barnwell, Edgefield, McCormick, Orangeburg | 3 hr |
| Jul 13, 6:00 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | CAE | Aiken, Edgefield, McCormick | 4 hr |
| Jul 13, 6:10 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | CAE | Barnwell | 35 min |
| Jul 13, 6:42 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | CAE | Aiken, Bamberg, Barnwell, Orangeburg | 3 hr |
| Jul 13, 7:54 PM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | CAE | Chesterfield, Kershaw, Lancaster | 2 hr |
Nearby
Flash Flood Warnings in South Carolina, 2026Every flash flood warning in 2026
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.