Alert archive / South Carolina / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026

Flash Flood Warning 9, NWS Columbia, SC

July 13, 2026Richland County, Sumter County, South Carolina

NWS Columbia, SC issued this flash flood warning at Jul 13, 2026, 2:55 PM EDT for Richland County, Sumter County, South Carolina. It was in force for 113 min. 3 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
Jul 13, 2026, 2:55 PM EDT (18:55 UTC)
Expired
Jul 13, 2026, 4:48 PM EDT
In force
113 min
Issued by
NWS Columbia, SC
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

Counties Richland County, SC, Sumter County, SC

The radar

The Columbia radar (KCAE), 40 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 18:56 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
Jul 13, 3:30 PM EDTRAIN 3.71 Ne Mcentire Jngb, SCRC Winds Site RCCON recorded 3.7 inches of rain between 230p and 330p, with 3.15 inches of that falling in 30 minutes time.
Jul 13, 3:30 PM EDTRAIN 4.454 Nnw Eastover, SCPersonal Weather Station recorded 4.45 inches of rain in 90 minutes.
Jul 13, 3:57 PM EDTFLASH FLOOD6 Ne Eastover, SCSC Department of Public Safety reported flooding in the roadway along Garners Ferry Rd.

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 one storm report to this flash flood warning; the first came 62 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 12:00Z, 6.9 hours before the alert went out and 132 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 2026-07-13Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 395 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 12:00Z on 2026-07-13The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -27 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
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

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

196 
WGUS52 KCAE 131855
FFWCAE
SCC079-085-132100-
/O.NEW.KCAE.FF.W.0009.260713T1855Z-260713T2100Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Columbia SC
255 PM EDT Mon Jul 13 2026

The National Weather Service in Columbia has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Southeastern Richland County in central South Carolina...
  West Central Sumter County in central South Carolina...

* Until 500 PM EDT.

* At 255 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
  heavy rain across the warned area. Between 2 and 3 inches of rain
  have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 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...
  Columbia, McEntire Air Base, Eastover, Horrel Hill, Fort Jackson
  McCrady Training Center and Stateburg.

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 3390 8063 3385 8084 3400 8090 3406 8061
      3393 8049

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED

$$

CRL
1 follow-up statement
090 
WGUS72 KCAE 132048
FFSCAE

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Columbia SC
448 PM EDT Mon Jul 13 2026

SCC079-085-132058-
/O.CAN.KCAE.FF.W.0009.000000T0000Z-260713T2100Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Richland SC-Sumter SC-
448 PM EDT Mon Jul 13 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR SOUTHEASTERN RICHLAND AND
WEST CENTRAL 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 3390 8063 3385 8084 3400 8090 3406 8061
      3393 8049

$$

PL

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 Jul 13, 1:19 PM EDT, 1 hour 36 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 36 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 29 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.

&&

CRL
Special weather statement, Jul 13, 2:49 PM EDT, 6 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

CRL

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 12, 8:38 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryCAEBamberg, Orangeburg2 hr
Jul 13, 2:09 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryCAECalhoun, Clarendon, Kershaw, Richland, Sumter2 hr
Jul 13, 2:49 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCAERichland41 min
Jul 13, 2:57 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCAEClarendon33 min
Jul 13, 3:18 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningCAEClarendon, Sumter2 hr
Jul 13, 3:21 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCAEClarendon, Sumter39 min
Jul 13, 4:16 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryCAEAiken, Edgefield, Lexington, Saluda119 min
Jul 13, 4:46 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCAEAiken, Edgefield, Lexington, Saluda59 min
Jul 13, 5:19 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryCAEEdgefield, Lexington, Newberry, Saluda116 min
Jul 13, 5:32 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryCAEAiken, Barnwell, Edgefield, McCormick, Orangeburg3 hr
Jul 13, 6:00 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningCAEAiken, Edgefield, McCormick4 hr
Jul 13, 6:10 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCAEBarnwell35 min
Jul 13, 6:42 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningCAEAiken, Bamberg, Barnwell, Orangeburg3 hr
Jul 13, 7:54 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryCAEChesterfield, Kershaw, Lancaster2 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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.