Alert archive / South Carolina / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 77, NWS Columbia, SC
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
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 12, 2:29 PM EDT | TSTM WND DMG | Whitmire, SC | Newberry 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.
- 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
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
$$
CRL2 follow-up statements
626
WWUS52 KCAE 121901
SVSCAE
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Columbia SC
301 PM EDT Sun Jul 12 2026
SCC039-071-121915-
/O.CON.KCAE.SV.W.0077.000000T0000Z-260712T1915Z/
Fairfield SC-Newberry SC-
301 PM EDT Sun Jul 12 2026
...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 315 PM EDT
FOR WEST CENTRAL FAIRFIELD AND NORTHEASTERN NEWBERRY COUNTIES...
At 301 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Blair, or 12
miles northwest of VC Summer Nuclear Station, moving east at 20 mph.
HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Expect damage to trees and powerlines.
Locations impacted include...
Blair, Maybington Fire Station, and Henderson Island.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.
&&
LAT...LON 3440 8159 3449 8149 3449 8146 3450 8142
3452 8142 3450 8136 3433 8144
TIME...MOT...LOC 1901Z 290DEG 17KT 3445 8143
HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH
$$
CRL633
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
$$
CRLWhat 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.
&&
gplThe office that day
Everything else NWS Columbia, SC issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 12, 1:24 AM EDT | Special Weather Statement | CAE | McCormick | 36 min |
| Jul 12, 2:31 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | CAE | Sumter | 44 min |
| Jul 12, 2:32 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | CAE | Lancaster | 43 min |
| Jul 12, 2:36 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | CAE | Calhoun, Clarendon | 39 min |
| Jul 12, 2:38 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CAE | Lancaster | 67 min |
| Jul 12, 2:52 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | CAE | Newberry | 38 min |
| Jul 12, 3:17 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CAE | Lancaster | 26 min |
| Jul 12, 3:48 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | CAE | Sumter | 57 min |
| Jul 12, 3:52 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | CAE | Lancaster | 68 min |
| Jul 12, 4:01 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | CAE | McCormick | 59 min |
| Jul 12, 4:17 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CAE | Edgefield, McCormick | 43 min |
| Jul 12, 4:20 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | CAE | Kershaw | 40 min |
| Jul 12, 4:26 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CAE | Chesterfield, Kershaw, Lee | 40 min |
| Jul 12, 4:49 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CAE | Fairfield, Kershaw, Richland | 41 min |
| Jul 12, 5:41 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | CAE | Saluda | 49 min |
| Jul 12, 5:48 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CAE | Aiken, Lexington, Saluda | 42 min |
| Jul 12, 5:55 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | CAE | Lexington | 50 min |
| Jul 12, 5:59 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CAE | Calhoun, Lexington, Orangeburg | 46 min |
| Jul 12, 6:12 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | CAE | Barnwell | 48 min |
| Jul 12, 6:16 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CAE | Aiken, Barnwell | 44 min |
| Jul 12, 6:22 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CAE | Aiken, Lexington, Richland, Saluda | 53 min |
| Jul 12, 7:04 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CAE | Calhoun, Orangeburg | 56 min |
| Jul 12, 7:21 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | CAE | Calhoun | 39 min |
| Jul 12, 7:47 PM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | CAE | Calhoun, Orangeburg | 118 min |
| Jul 12, 7:55 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | CAE | Bamberg, Calhoun, Orangeburg | 65 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.