Alert archive / South Carolina / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 77, NWS Columbia, SC

July 12, 2026Fairfield County, Newberry County, South Carolina

NWS Columbia, SC issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 12, 2026, 2:11 PM EDT for Fairfield County, Newberry County, South Carolina. It was in force for 64 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
Jul 12, 2026, 2:11 PM EDT (18:11 UTC)
Expired
Jul 12, 2026, 3:15 PM EDT
In force
64 min
Issued by
NWS Columbia, SC
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
1.0 in
Wind
60.0 mph

Counties Fairfield County, SC, Newberry County, SC

The radar

The Columbia radar (KCAE), 70 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 18:12 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 12, 2:29 PM EDTTSTM WND DMGWhitmire, SCNewberry County Dispatch reported multiple trees down in the town of Whitmire. Time estimated by radar.

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 severe thunderstorm warning; the first came 18 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, 6.2 hours before the alert went out and 225 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 2026-07-12Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1008 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 2026-07-12The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 50 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
1008 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-68 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1165 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
12 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
50 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
49 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

957 
WUUS52 KCAE 121811
SVRCAE
SCC039-071-121915-
/O.NEW.KCAE.SV.W.0077.260712T1811Z-260712T1915Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Columbia SC
211 PM EDT Sun Jul 12 2026

The National Weather Service in Columbia has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
  Northwestern Fairfield County in central South Carolina...
  Northeastern Newberry County in central South Carolina...

* Until 315 PM EDT.

* At 210 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Whitmire, or
  14 miles south of Union, moving east at 20 mph.

  HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated.

  IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage 
           to trees and powerlines.

* Locations impacted include...
  Whitmire, Blair, Henderson Island, Enoree Ranger District Office,
  and Maybington Fire Station.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

&&

LAT...LON 3455 8134 3433 8144 3445 8171 3453 8164
      3453 8162 3449 8157 3445 8154 3449 8149
      3449 8146 3450 8142 3456 8142
TIME...MOT...LOC 1810Z 290DEG 17KT 3453 8171 

HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH

$$

CRL
2 follow-up statements
626 
WWUS52 KCAE 121901
SVSCAE

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Columbia SC
301 PM EDT Sun Jul 12 2026

SCC039-071-121915-
/O.CON.KCAE.SV.W.0077.000000T0000Z-260712T1915Z/
Fairfield SC-Newberry SC-
301 PM EDT Sun Jul 12 2026

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 315 PM EDT
FOR WEST CENTRAL FAIRFIELD AND NORTHEASTERN NEWBERRY COUNTIES...

At 301 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Blair, or 12
miles northwest of VC Summer Nuclear Station, moving east at 20 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Expect damage to trees and powerlines.

Locations impacted include...
Blair, Maybington Fire Station, and Henderson Island.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

&&

LAT...LON 3440 8159 3449 8149 3449 8146 3450 8142
      3452 8142 3450 8136 3433 8144
TIME...MOT...LOC 1901Z 290DEG 17KT 3445 8143 

HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH

$$

CRL
633 
WWUS52 KCAE 121912
SVSCAE

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Columbia SC
312 PM EDT Sun Jul 12 2026

SCC039-071-121922-
/O.EXP.KCAE.SV.W.0077.000000T0000Z-260712T1915Z/
Fairfield SC-Newberry SC-
312 PM EDT Sun Jul 12 2026

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR WEST CENTRAL FAIRFIELD AND
NORTHEASTERN NEWBERRY COUNTIES WILL EXPIRE AT 315 PM EDT...

The storm which prompted the warning has weakened below severe
limits, and no longer poses an immediate threat to life or property.
Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 900 PM EDT for
central South Carolina.

LAT...LON 3440 8159 3449 8149 3449 8146 3450 8142
      3452 8142 3450 8136 3433 8144
TIME...MOT...LOC 1912Z 290DEG 17KT 3443 8137 

$$

CRL

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm 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 severe thunderstorm warning went out at Jul 12, 1:10 PM EDT, 1 hour 1 minute earlier. Its key messages:

  • 1. Scattered storms expected again this afternoon and evening with damaging wind gusts and heavy rain expected. Lingering moisture leading to scattered to widespread afternoon storms Monday through Wednesday.
Area forecast discussion, Jul 12, 1:10 PM EDT, 1 hour 1 minute before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Columbia SC
110 PM EDT Sun Jul 12 2026

.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
Updated mesoanalysis for storms expected this afternoon.
Adjusted wording of key messages. Aviation discussion updated
for 18z TAFs.

&&

.KEY MESSAGES...
- 1. Scattered storms expected again this afternoon and evening
  with damaging wind gusts and heavy rain expected. Lingering
  moisture leading to scattered to widespread afternoon storms
  Monday through Wednesday.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Key Message 1: Scattered storms expected again this afternoon
and evening with damaging wind gusts and heavy rain expected.
Lingering moisture leading to scattered to widespread afternoon
storms Monday through Wednesday.

Early this afternoon, convection has taken a bit longer to get
going compared to yesterday, mainly due to the increased
cloudiness and a bit longer time for us to reach convective
temperatures today. As most sites are starting to rise into the
low 90s by 1pm, convective temperatures are becoming reached and
as a result, beginning to see some agitation to the clouds and
some convection developing in the area. This activity is
expected to continue to grow through the afternoon and into this
evening as a robust shortwave is currently moving into the
Tennessee Valley with a surface front moving into southern NC.
This provide additional forcing with RAP forecast soundings
indicating strong destabilization today with sbCAPE around 3000
J/kg for much of the forecast area, similar to the last couple
of days. While PWATs are currently around 2 inches, especially
across the northern area, a layer of mid layer dry air is
visible on water vapor satellite imagery from North Georgia
shifting into the area, which will likely lead to a locally
enhanced area favorable for strong to severe downbursts leading
to damaging wind gusts. Storms may become a bit more organized
this afternoon as well with a bit stronger deep layer shear,
around 20 knots, which support multicell clusters developing and
maintaining through the forecast area. While storms should
exhibit sufficient movement to prevent widespread flooding, will
need to monitor training storms with areas generally north of
I-20 (and Augusta and Columbia metros) more susceptible to
flooding due both to the soil type and rainfall received the
last couple days.

On Monday, the front is expected to move through and the mid
level low should drop into the region as hires guidance
indicates PWAT's approach 2.2 inches. Low level flow becomes
increasingly northerly to northeasterly, keeping temperatures a
bit cooler and increased cloud cover is expected to limit
destabilization. This brings a lower risk for severe weather
with more marginal thermodynamics, but a couple strong to
marginally severe storms cannot be ruled out during the
afternoon/evening as deep layer shear is slightly increased. The
bigger risk Monday may be the heavy rainfall risk as scattered
to widespread showers and storms move through the area during
the day with efficient rain rates, similar to slightly higher
than Sunday in this moist airmass. The highest concern will
continue to be in areas highlighted today along with areas that
received additional significant rainfall today.

Shower and thunderstorms will likely continue Tuesday and
Wednesday and ensemble means have been slower to bring in a
drier air mass with PWATs generally greater than a standard
deviation above normal for at least portions of the area through
Wednesday, although drier air likely starts to sneak into the
northern area on Wednesday. Cooler air mass generally expected
to continue early this week with a recovery expected to normal
or slightly above normal temperatures for the second half of the
week as the upper ridge centered over the central CONUS begins
to shift eastward.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
VFR conditions expected for most of the period, with the
exception of convection this afternoon and potentially ceilings
later on tonight.

A more organized and robust forcing mechanism is working
towards the area today. A trough will force a weak surface low
on the Lee Side of the Appalachians this afternoon, helping to
focus convective development across the Carolinas. The
environment is favorable for numerous, strong downbursts again.
Given the expected coverage of showers/storms, have kept VCTS at
all sites through this evening & bumped up the wind at each
site in the prob30s. Given the environment in place, it would
not be surprising to see 35-45 knot gusts at the sites in
stronger storms this afternoon. Expecting the convection to
persist into the evening as the surface front approaches and
pushes through the forecast area. Northeasterly flow behind
this, combined with very rich low-level moisture, should result
in MVFR ceilings developing and persisting through the end of
the period. The LAMP is delaying the cigs until 11z-13z, with
the NBM a bit more aggressive (~06z). Thinking that the latter
is probably a bit more realistic as the convection today will
likely result in the surface front sinking southward a bit
quicker than models can anticipate. So bring MVFR cigs into the
sites between 08z and 09z - but it could be earlier or a bit
later.

EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK...A good chance for afternoon showers
and thunderstorms with associated restrictions is expected into
early next week.

&&

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

&&

DISCUSSION...96
AVIATION...PL

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jul 12, 9:15 AM EDT, 4 hours 56 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Columbia SC
915 AM EDT Sun Jul 12 2026

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

0319 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     5 NW Jackson            33.37N 81.86W
07/11/2026                   Aiken              SC   Dept of Highways

            SC Highway Patrol reported a tree down in
            the roadway at the intersection of Old
            Jackson Hwy and Musterfield Rd. Time
            estimated by radar.

&&

gpl

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 12, 1:24 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCAEMcCormick36 min
Jul 12, 2:31 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCAESumter44 min
Jul 12, 2:32 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCAELancaster43 min
Jul 12, 2:36 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCAECalhoun, Clarendon39 min
Jul 12, 2:38 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCAELancaster67 min
Jul 12, 2:52 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCAENewberry38 min
Jul 12, 3:17 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCAELancaster26 min
Jul 12, 3:48 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCAESumter57 min
Jul 12, 3:52 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCAELancaster68 min
Jul 12, 4:01 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCAEMcCormick59 min
Jul 12, 4:17 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCAEEdgefield, McCormick43 min
Jul 12, 4:20 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCAEKershaw40 min
Jul 12, 4:26 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCAEChesterfield, Kershaw, Lee40 min
Jul 12, 4:49 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCAEFairfield, Kershaw, Richland41 min
Jul 12, 5:41 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCAESaluda49 min
Jul 12, 5:48 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCAEAiken, Lexington, Saluda42 min
Jul 12, 5:55 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCAELexington50 min
Jul 12, 5:59 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCAECalhoun, Lexington, Orangeburg46 min
Jul 12, 6:12 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCAEBarnwell48 min
Jul 12, 6:16 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCAEAiken, Barnwell44 min
Jul 12, 6:22 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatCAEAiken, Lexington, Richland, Saluda53 min
Jul 12, 7:04 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCAECalhoun, Orangeburg56 min
Jul 12, 7:21 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCAECalhoun39 min
Jul 12, 7:47 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryCAECalhoun, Orangeburg118 min
Jul 12, 7:55 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCAEBamberg, Calhoun, Orangeburg65 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in South Carolina, 2026Every severe thunderstorm 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.