Alert archive / Georgia / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 98, NWS Columbia, SC
NWS Columbia, SC issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Aug 2, 2026, 3:20 PM EDT for Burke County, Richmond County, Georgia; Aiken County, Barnwell County, South Carolina. It was in force for 40 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
- Aug 2, 2026, 3:20 PM EDT (19:20 UTC)
- Expired
- Aug 2, 2026, 4:00 PM EDT
- In force
- 40 min
- Issued by
- NWS Columbia, SC
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Hail
- 0.75 in
- Wind
- 60.0 mph
Counties Burke County, GA, Richmond County, GA, Aiken County, SC, Barnwell County, SC
The radar
The Charleston,SC radar (KCLX), 83 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.
What was reported inside it
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 2, 3:38 PM EDT | TSTM WND DMG | 1 W Waynesboro, GA | Burke EM reported trees down throughout the county. |
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, 7.3 hours before the alert went out and 168 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
- 246 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -22 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 708 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 18 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- -2 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 32 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- -0.1
The text
As transmitted.
825
WUUS52 KCAE 021920
SVRCAE
GAC033-245-SCC003-011-022000-
/O.NEW.KCAE.SV.W.0098.260802T1920Z-260802T2000Z/
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Columbia SC
320 PM EDT Sun Aug 2 2026
The National Weather Service in Columbia has issued a
* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
Burke County in east central Georgia...
Eastern Richmond County in east central Georgia...
Southwestern Barnwell County in central South Carolina...
Southwestern Aiken County in central South Carolina...
* Until 400 PM EDT.
* At 319 PM EDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line
extending from 7 miles southwest of Hephzibah to near Sylvania,
moving northeast at 20 mph.
HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Expect damage to trees and powerlines.
* Locations impacted include...
North Augusta, Waynesboro, Savannah River Site, Augusta, Plant
Vogtle, Clearwater, Belvedere, Hephzibah, Jackson, Sardis,
Alexander, Burke County Airport, Glendale, South Augusta, Midtown,
Summerville, McBean, Augusta Regional Airport, Girard, and West End
Augusta.
This includes the following highways...
Interstate 520 in Georgia between mile markers 6 and 15.
Interstate 520 in South Carolina between mile markers 16 and 19.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.
&&
LAT...LON 3295 8182 3295 8186 3292 8196 3292 8200
3316 8227 3355 8196 3316 8154 3310 8162
3307 8159 3306 8156 3304 8156 3291 8176
TIME...MOT...LOC 1919Z 214DEG 19KT 3320 8219 3276 8170
HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH
$$
SL1 follow-up statement
887
WWUS52 KCAE 021941
SVSCAE
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Columbia SC
341 PM EDT Sun Aug 2 2026
GAC033-245-SCC003-011-022000-
/O.CON.KCAE.SV.W.0098.000000T0000Z-260802T2000Z/
Burke GA-Richmond GA-Barnwell SC-Aiken SC-
341 PM EDT Sun Aug 2 2026
...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 400 PM EDT
FOR CENTRAL BURKE...SOUTHEASTERN RICHMOND...SOUTHWESTERN BARNWELL AND
SOUTHWESTERN AIKEN COUNTIES...
At 340 PM EDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line
extending from Hephzibah to near Hilltonia, moving northeast at 25
mph.
HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Expect damage to trees and powerlines.
Locations impacted include...
North Augusta, Waynesboro, Savannah River Site, Plant Vogtle,
Clearwater, Hephzibah, Jackson, Sardis, Alexander, McBean, Augusta
Regional Airport, Girard, Audubon's Silver Bluff Sanctuary, New
Savannah Bluff Lock & Dam Park, Savannah River Site Badge Office,
Westover, Bennock Mill, Savannah River Site K Complex, Shell Bluff,
and Shell Bluff Landing.
This includes the following highways...
Interstate 520 in Georgia between mile markers 10 and 15.
Interstate 520 in South Carolina near mile marker 16.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Report any hail, damaging winds or flooding directly to the Columbia
National Weather Service when it is safe to do so. You can send
reports by Facebook or X to NWSColumbia or by e-mail at
NWS.Columbia@noaa.gov.
For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.
Torrential rainfall is occurring with these storms, and may lead to
flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.
&&
LAT...LON 3295 8182 3323 8215 3350 8191 3316 8154
3310 8162 3307 8159 3306 8156 3304 8156
3291 8176
TIME...MOT...LOC 1940Z 216DEG 23KT 3331 8208 3287 8159
HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH
$$
SLWhat 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 Aug 2, 1:11 PM EDT, 2 hours 9 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- 1. Rain and thunderstorm chances continue to end the weekend and are likely to continue through the upcoming week.
Area forecast discussion, Aug 2, 1:11 PM EDT, 2 hours 9 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Columbia SC 111 PM EDT Sun Aug 2 2026 .WHAT HAS CHANGED... A line of showers and thunderstorms will move across the forecast area this afternoon into the early evening hours bringing the threat of heavy rainfall and localized flash flooding. Aviation discussion updated for 18z TAFs. && .KEY MESSAGES... - 1. Rain and thunderstorm chances continue to end the weekend and are likely to continue through the upcoming week. && .DISCUSSION... - 1. Rain and thunderstorm chances continue to end the weekend and are likely to continue through the upcoming week. Midday satellite imagery shows the stubborn low clouds from this morning starting to break up across much of the forecast area, especially across the southern half of the region. Meanwhile, a line of showers and thunderstorms are moving into the FA from the west. The clearing skies should help to destabilize the atmosphere, promoting convective development. Another active afternoon is likely on the horizon as this line slowly moves east across the CWA. PWATs remain in excess of 2 inches, therefore the main threat this afternoon will once again be from heavy rainfall and localized flash flooding, especially the areas that saw between 2 and 5 inches of rain yesterday. Any robust thunderstorm that develops could also produce damaging wind gusts but with lower CAPE and DCAPE values in place, this threat is lower today and may be limited to locations that have already broken out of the overcast. After today, a closed low is forecast to break off of the main upper trough meandering over the Tennessee Valley for several days. As such, daily chances (30 to 70 percent) for showers and thunderstorms continue through much of the week ahead. Temperatures during the next seven days are forecast to be near to slightly below seasonal values. && .AVIATION /18Z SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... VFR conditions with another round of showers and storms bringing periodic restrictions through this evening. VFR to begin the TAF period. SCT-NUM SHRA/TSRA will develop this afternoon and persist into the evening. Little airmass change has occurred, so expect heavy rain and therefore VSBY restrictions along with periods of lower CIGS. Winds should be a bit stronger today and from the south around 10 knots. A few stronger gusts potentially up to 25 kts are possible in the strongest TSRA. Another night of stratus redevelopment should occur, with CIGS falling to MVFR/IFR into Monday morning. Most precip should shift toward the east for Monday with less coverage at the terminals. EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK...Periodic rain and restrictions continue early this week. && .CAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SC...None. GA...None. && DISCUSSION...7 AVIATION...EC
In the hours before
Local storm report, Aug 2, 9:32 AM EDT, 5 hours 48 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Columbia SC
932 AM EDT Sun Aug 2 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0305 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 3 NE Swansea 33.77N 81.06W
08/01/2026 Calhoun SC Amateur Radio
HAM Radio operator relayed a report via
SLACK of a downed tree blocking the roadway
near the 2000 block of Pineplain Road. Time
estimated by radar.
0524 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 3 NNW Healing Springs 33.43N 81.29W
08/01/2026 Barnwell SC Emergency Mngr
SCEMD Situation Report contained a road
closure in Barnwell County. Barnwell County
Emergency Management reported a road closure
near the intersection of Highway 3 and
Whaley Road due to downed trees and power
lines. Time estimated by radar.
&&Special weather statement, Aug 2, 2:24 PM EDT, 56 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Columbia SC
224 PM EDT Sun Aug 2 2026
GAZ077-SCZ035-021930-
Burke GA-Barnwell SC-
224 PM EDT Sun Aug 2 2026
...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of Burke and western
Barnwell Counties through 330 PM EDT...
At 223 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Louisville to 6 miles northwest of
Swainsboro. Movement was east at 40 mph.
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...
Waynesboro, Plant Vogtle, Sardis, Midville, Alexander, Gough, Burke
County Airport, Vidette, Shell Bluff, Di-
Lane Wildlife Management Area, Magruder, and Rosier.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
&&
LAT...LON 3282 8226 3283 8231 3293 8227 3303 8229
3310 8228 3321 8176 3291 8176 3295 8182
3295 8186 3292 8196 3292 8208 3288 8213
3281 8215 3280 8221
TIME...MOT...LOC 1823Z 267DEG 33KT 3304 8242 3265 8242
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
SLThe office that day
Everything else NWS Columbia, SC issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 1, 8:09 PM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | CAE | Columbia, Richmond | 3 hr |
| Aug 2, 2:24 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | CAE | Burke | 66 min |
| Aug 2, 2:40 PM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | CAE | Columbia, Richmond | 3 hr |
| Aug 2, 2:56 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CAE | Burke | 35 min |
| Aug 2, 3:33 PM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | CAE | Burke | 110 min |
| Aug 1, 10:49 PM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | CAE | Lee, Sumter | 56 min |
| Aug 2, 3:24 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | CAE | Aiken, Edgefield | 51 min |
| Aug 2, 4:01 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | CAE | Aiken, Barnwell | 29 min |
| Aug 2, 4:17 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | CAE | Bamberg | 28 min |
| Aug 2, 4:35 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CAE | Bamberg, Orangeburg | 40 min |
| Aug 2, 4:47 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | CAE | Newberry | 28 min |
| Aug 2, 4:47 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | CAE | Aiken | 28 min |
| Aug 2, 5:13 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | CAE | Calhoun, Orangeburg | 47 min |
| Aug 2, 5:56 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | CAE | Richland | 49 min |
| Aug 2, 6:12 PM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | CAE | Lexington, Richland | 93 min |
| Aug 2, 6:41 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | CAE | Kershaw, Lancaster, Lee | 49 min |
| Aug 2, 7:44 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | CAE | Chesterfield | 46 min |
Nearby
Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Georgia, 2026Severe 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.