Alert archive / Georgia / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026

Flash Flood Warning 5, NWS Columbia, SC

May 25, 2026Columbia County, Richmond County, Georgia

NWS Columbia, SC issued this flash flood warning at May 25, 2026, 9:52 PM EDT for Columbia County, Richmond County, Georgia. It was in force for 3 hr. 2 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
May 25, 2026, 9:52 PM EDT (01:52 UTC)
Expired
May 26, 2026, 12:45 AM EDT
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Columbia, SC
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

Counties Columbia County, GA, Richmond County, GA

The radar

The Columbia radar (KCAE), 106 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 01:52 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
May 25, 10:30 PM EDTFLASH FLOOD5 Se Fort Gordon, GARichmond County Dispatch reports flooding on the 2500 block of Tobacco Road leading to a road closure.
May 25, 10:30 PM EDTFLASH FLOOD5 Ssw Augusta Daniel Fi, GARichmond County Dispatch reports flooding on the 2400 block of Windsor Spring Road leading to a road closure.

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

Did it verify

Verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow matched 2 storm reports to this flash flood warning; the first came 38 minutes after it went out.

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, 1.9 hours before the alert went out and 202 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 00:00Z on 2026-05-26Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 409 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Charleston AFB, SC at 00:00Z on 2026-05-26The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 36 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 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
409 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-7 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
920 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
11 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
36 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
41 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

788 
WGUS52 KCAE 260152
FFWCAE
GAC073-245-260445-
/O.NEW.KCAE.FF.W.0005.260526T0152Z-260526T0445Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Columbia SC
952 PM EDT Mon May 25 2026

The National Weather Service in Columbia has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  East Central Columbia County in east central Georgia...
  Central Richmond County in east central Georgia...

* Until 1245 AM EDT.

* At 952 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing 
  heavy rain across the warned area. Up to 3 inches of rain have 
  fallen. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly.

  HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.

  SOURCE...Radar.

  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...
  Augusta Metro Area, Fort Gordon, Martinez

This includes the following highways...
	Interstate 20 in Georgia between mile markers 193 and 199.
	Interstate 520 in Georgia between mile markers 1 and 10.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Most flooding deaths occur in vehicles. Never drive through a 
flooded roadway or around barricades. Turn around, don't drown.

Flooded roadways are nearly impossible to see at night. Avoid 
traveling in this area. Turn around, don't drown.

&&

LAT...LON 3351 8214 3354 8210 3350 8202 3348 8197
      3346 8195 3344 8196 3341 8197 3335 8205
      3334 8207 3333 8209 3334 8214 3335 8215
      3339 8218 3341 8219 3344 8218

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED

$$

BC
2 follow-up statements
846 
WGUS72 KCAE 260315
FFSCAE

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Columbia SC
1115 PM EDT Mon May 25 2026

GAC073-245-260445-
/O.CON.KCAE.FF.W.0005.000000T0000Z-260526T0445Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Columbia GA-Richmond GA-
1115 PM EDT Mon May 25 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1245 AM EDT TUESDAY 
FOR EAST CENTRAL COLUMBIA AND CENTRAL RICHMOND COUNTIES...

At 1115 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing 
heavy rain across the warned area. Up to 3 inches of rain have 
fallen. Additional light to moderate rainfall is moving through the 
warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly.

HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.

SOURCE...Radar.

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...
  Augusta Metro Area, Fort Gordon, Martinez

This includes the following highways...
	Interstate 20 in Georgia between mile markers 193 and 199.
	Interstate 520 in Georgia between mile markers 1 and 11.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Most flooding deaths occur in vehicles. Never drive through a 
flooded roadway or around barricades. Turn around, don't drown.

Flooded roadways are nearly impossible to see at night. Avoid 
traveling in this area. Turn around, don't drown.

&&

LAT...LON 3351 8214 3354 8210 3350 8202 3348 8197
      3346 8195 3344 8196 3341 8197 3335 8205
      3334 8207 3333 8209 3334 8214 3335 8215
      3339 8218 3341 8219 3344 8218

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED

$$

BC
100 
WGUS72 KCAE 260440
FFSCAE

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Columbia SC
1240 AM EDT Tue May 26 2026

GAC073-245-260450-
/O.EXP.KCAE.FF.W.0005.000000T0000Z-260526T0445Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Columbia GA-Richmond GA-
1240 AM EDT Tue May 26 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 1245 AM EDT THIS MORNING FOR 
EAST CENTRAL COLUMBIA AND CENTRAL RICHMOND COUNTIES...

Flood waters have receded. The heavy rain has ended. Flooding is no 
longer expected to pose a threat. Please continue to heed remaining 
road closures.

&&

LAT...LON 3351 8214 3354 8210 3350 8202 3348 8197
      3346 8195 3344 8196 3341 8197 3335 8205
      3334 8207 3333 8209 3334 8214 3335 8215
      3339 8218 3341 8219 3344 8218

$$

BC

What 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 May 25, 9:23 PM EDT, 29 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • 1. Daily shower and thunderstorm chances continue into the upcoming week, with localized flash flooding possible through Tuesday.
Area forecast discussion, May 25, 9:23 PM EDT, 29 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Columbia SC
923 PM EDT Mon May 25 2026

.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
Updated current conditions. Aviation discussion updated for 00Z
TAF issuance.

&&

.KEY MESSAGES...
- 1. Daily shower and thunderstorm chances continue into the
  upcoming week, with localized flash flooding possible through
  Tuesday.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Key Message 1: Daily shower and thunderstorm chances continue
into the upcoming week, with localized flash flooding possible
through Tuesday.

Tonight: Additional showers and a few thunderstorms remain
possible through midnight. There then looks to be a bit of a
break in the action through the remainder of the overnight
period. The main hazard with these evening storms remains the
potential for bouts of heavy rainfall that may lead to isolated
flash flooding.

The overall forecast hasn't changed too much. Southwest flow is
expected to persist at least through the first half of the week
with the synoptic pattern favoring ridging offshore and an
upper low over the lower Mississippi Valley. NAEFS mean
indicates PWATs remain around or above the 99th percentile
through Tuesday, generally around 2". Heavy rain and isolated
flash flooding will be possible with afternoon convection today
and Tuesday. However, a strong trough digging south from the
Pacific Northwest strengthens the ridging over our area which
would limit forcing, particularly on Tuesday, limiting the flash
flood threat for that day compared to previous forecasts. With
moisture so high and moderate destabilization each afternoon,
scattered storms are anticipated to develop. Storm coverage
Wednesday through the end of the week may be a bit more limited
as southwest flow weakens but isolated diurnal showers and
storms remain possible. A front will approach the area next
weekend with EC EFI signaling below average temperatures for the
weekend with precipitation chances increasing.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
Isolated showers and thunderstorms continue through this evening with
restrictions developing tonight.

Storm coverage should continue to diminish this evening and through
the overnight period. However, any showers or storms at the
terminals over the next several hours may produce heavy rainfall
leading to reduced VSBYs and lower CIGs. Outside of periodic
restrictions in precipitation, low level moisture will support
lowering ceilings tonight with highest confidence in MVFR but
possible IFR conditions as well. Scattered showers and storms
likely once again tomorrow, although the most likely timing will
be after 18z, though some earlier convection may occur near
AGS/DNL. Outside of some gusty thunderstorm winds, surface
windspeeds will remain less than 10 kts our of the south and
southeast.

EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK...Abundant low level moisture will
bring morning restrictions from fog and/or low clouds.
Scattered afternoon/evening showers and thunderstorms are
possible each day.

&&

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

&&

DISCUSSION...EC/96
AVIATION...EC

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 25, 5:04 PM EDT, 4 hours 48 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Columbia SC
504 PM EDT Mon May 25 2026

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

0305 PM     Flash Flood      4 ENE Heath Springs     34.61N 80.61W
05/25/2026                   Lancaster          SC   911 Call Center

            Lancaster County Dispatch reported flash
            flooding at Fork Hill Rd and Jons Road. Time
            estimated by radar.

&&

gpl
Local storm report, May 25, 5:06 PM EDT, 4 hours 46 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Columbia SC
506 PM EDT Mon May 25 2026

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

0250 PM     Flash Flood      6 W Heath Springs       34.59N 80.78W
05/25/2026                   Lancaster          SC   911 Call Center

            Lancaster County Dispatch reported flash
            flooding along Mount Carmel Rd. Time
            estimated by radar.

&&

gpl

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 25, 9:23 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryCAEColumbia, Richmond3 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Georgia, 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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.