Alert archive / South Carolina / Tornado Warnings in 2026
Tornado Warning 3, NWS Columbia, SC
NWS Columbia, SC issued this tornado warning at Mar 12, 2026, 9:38 AM EDT for 4 counties in South Carolina. It was in force for 37 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
- Mar 12, 2026, 9:38 AM EDT (13:38 UTC)
- Expired
- Mar 12, 2026, 10:15 AM EDT
- In force
- 37 min
- Issued by
- NWS Columbia, SC
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Tornado
- Radar indicated
- Hail
- 0.75 in
Counties Fairfield County, SC, Lexington County, SC, Newberry County, SC, Richland County, SC
The radar
The Columbia radar (KCAE), 25 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 13:40 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 12, 9:51 AM EDT | TSTM WND DMG | 2 Sse Ballentine, SC | Reports of trees snapped at the intersection of Dreher Shoals Road and Garden Brook Drive. Additional trees snapped further down on Leamington Way. |
| Mar 12, 9:52 AM EDT | TORNADO | 2 Sse Ballentine, SC | A NWS Survey Team confirmed a brief EF-0 tornado northwest of Irmo in Richland County, SC from March 12th 2026. The tornado formed near Dreher Shoals Road and continued east across Lemington Way and Lemington Circle causing minor tree damage along with siding |
| Mar 12, 9:55 AM EDT | TSTM WND DMG | 1 Nne Irmo, SC | Retired NWS employee reported multiple trees down with minor structural damage to homes in the Waterford Subdivision, Royal Tower Road and Broad River Road. |
Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.
The watch it was issued in
The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.
| Issued | Product | Office | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 12, 7:14 AM EDT | Tornado Watch | SPC | 5 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Charleston AFB, SC (KCHS), launched 12:00Z, 1.6 hours before the alert went out and 181 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
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- No buoyant parcel
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1447 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 52 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 202 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 186 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted.
648
WFUS52 KCAE 121338
TORCAE
SCC039-063-071-079-121415-
/O.NEW.KCAE.TO.W.0003.260312T1338Z-260312T1415Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Columbia SC
938 AM EDT Thu Mar 12 2026
The National Weather Service in Columbia has issued a
* Tornado Warning for...
Southern Fairfield County in central South Carolina...
Southeastern Newberry County in central South Carolina...
North central Lexington County in central South Carolina...
Northwestern Richland County in central South Carolina...
* Until 1015 AM EDT.
* At 938 AM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located over Dreher Island State Park, or 10 miles northwest of
Highway 6 at Lake Murray Dam, moving east at 35 mph.
HAZARD...Tornado.
SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.
IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without
shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed.
Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree
damage is likely.
* This dangerous storm will be near...
Columbia, Irmo, and Ballentine around 945 AM EDT.
Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include
Lighthouse Marina, Chapin, Lake Murray Marina, Putnam's Landing,
White Rock, Melvin Park, Rocky Point Recreation Area, and Upper
Richland Fire Station.
This includes Interstate 26 between mile markers 90 and 102.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TAKE COVER NOW! If you are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in a
vehicle, move to an interior room or closet on the lowest floor of a
sturdy building immediately.
&&
LAT...LON 3405 8141 3415 8146 3426 8111 3411 8105
TIME...MOT...LOC 1338Z 259DEG 29KT 3411 8138
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN
$$
MG3 follow-up statements
816
WWUS52 KCAE 121356
SVSCAE
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Columbia SC
956 AM EDT Thu Mar 12 2026
SCC071-121405-
/O.CAN.KCAE.TO.W.0003.000000T0000Z-260312T1415Z/
Newberry SC-
956 AM EDT Thu Mar 12 2026
...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN NEWBERRY COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...
The tornadic thunderstorm which prompted the warning has moved out
of the warned area. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 100 PM EDT for central South
Carolina.
LAT...LON 3407 8131 3419 8132 3426 8111 3411 8105
TIME...MOT...LOC 1355Z 259DEG 29KT 3414 8121
$$
SCC039-063-079-121415-
/O.CON.KCAE.TO.W.0003.000000T0000Z-260312T1415Z/
Fairfield SC-Lexington SC-Richland SC-
956 AM EDT Thu Mar 12 2026
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1015 AM EDT FOR SOUTHERN
FAIRFIELD...NORTH CENTRAL LEXINGTON AND NORTHWESTERN RICHLAND
COUNTIES...
At 955 AM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located over Ballentine, or near Irmo, moving east at 35 mph.
HAZARD...Tornado.
SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.
IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without
shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage
to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is
likely.
This dangerous storm will be near...
Columbia and Irmo around 1000 AM EDT.
Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include White
Rock, Lighthouse Marina, Lake Murray Marina, and Upper Richland Fire
Station.
This includes Interstate 26 between mile markers 92 and 101.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TAKE COVER NOW! If you are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in a
vehicle, move to an interior room or closet on the lowest floor of a
sturdy building immediately.
&&
LAT...LON 3407 8131 3419 8132 3426 8111 3411 8105
TIME...MOT...LOC 1355Z 259DEG 29KT 3414 8121
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN
$$
MG845
WWUS52 KCAE 121406
SVSCAE
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Columbia SC
1006 AM EDT Thu Mar 12 2026
SCC063-121416-
/O.CAN.KCAE.TO.W.0003.000000T0000Z-260312T1415Z/
Lexington SC-
1006 AM EDT Thu Mar 12 2026
...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTH CENTRAL LEXINGTON COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...
The tornadic thunderstorm which prompted the warning has moved out
of the warned area. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 100 PM EDT for central South
Carolina.
LAT...LON 3426 8111 3411 8105 3409 8119 3410 8122
3422 8123
TIME...MOT...LOC 1406Z 259DEG 29KT 3416 8110
$$
SCC039-079-121415-
/O.CON.KCAE.TO.W.0003.000000T0000Z-260312T1415Z/
Fairfield SC-Richland SC-
1006 AM EDT Thu Mar 12 2026
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1015 AM EDT FOR SOUTHERN
FAIRFIELD AND NORTHWESTERN RICHLAND COUNTIES...
At 1006 AM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Harbison State Forest, or near Irmo, moving east at
35 mph.
HAZARD...Tornado.
SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.
IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without
shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage
to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is
likely.
This tornadic thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of
southern Fairfield and northwestern Richland Counties, including the
following locations... Upper Richland Fire Station.
This includes Interstate 26 between mile markers 98 and 101.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TAKE COVER NOW! If you are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in a
vehicle, move to an interior room or closet on the lowest floor of a
sturdy building immediately.
&&
LAT...LON 3426 8111 3411 8105 3409 8119 3410 8122
3422 8123
TIME...MOT...LOC 1406Z 259DEG 29KT 3416 8110
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN
$$
MG302
WWUS52 KCAE 121409
SVSCAE
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Columbia SC
1009 AM EDT Thu Mar 12 2026
SCC039-079-121419-
/O.EXP.KCAE.TO.W.0003.000000T0000Z-260312T1415Z/
Fairfield SC-Richland SC-
1009 AM EDT Thu Mar 12 2026
...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHERN FAIRFIELD AND NORTHWESTERN
RICHLAND COUNTIES WILL EXPIRE AT 1015 AM EDT...
The tornado threat has diminished and the Tornado Warning has been
cancelled. However, damaging winds remain likely and a Severe
Thunderstorm Warning remains in effect for the area.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 100 PM EDT for central South
Carolina.
LAT...LON 3426 8111 3411 8105 3409 8119 3410 8122
3422 8123
TIME...MOT...LOC 1409Z 259DEG 29KT 3416 8108
$$
MGThe office that day
Everything else NWS Columbia, SC issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 12, 8:09 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CAE | Edgefield, McCormick | 51 min |
| Mar 12, 8:58 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CAE | Aiken, Edgefield, Fairfield, Lexington, Newberry, Richland and 1 more | 47 min |
| Mar 12, 9:21 AM EDT | Tornado Warning | CAE | Aiken, Lexington, Saluda | 29 min |
| Mar 12, 9:27 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CAE | Aiken, Bamberg, Barnwell | 48 min |
| Mar 12, 9:41 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CAE | Aiken, Bamberg, Barnwell, Calhoun, Fairfield, Kershaw and 4 more | 49 min |
| Mar 12, 9:52 AM EDT | Tornado Warning | CAE | Lexington, Richland | 23 min |
| Mar 12, 10:07 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CAE | Bamberg, Calhoun, Clarendon, Orangeburg | 38 min |
| Mar 12, 10:13 AM EDT | Tornado Warning | CAE | Bamberg | 32 min |
| Mar 12, 10:31 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CAE | Calhoun, Chesterfield, Clarendon, Fairfield, Kershaw, Lancaster and 4 more | 44 min |
| Mar 12, 10:46 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CAE | Calhoun, Clarendon, Orangeburg | 44 min |
| Mar 12, 11:11 AM EDT | Special Weather Statement | CAE | Chesterfield, Lee | 34 min |
| Mar 12, 11:15 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CAE | Clarendon, Sumter | 45 min |
Nearby
Tornado Warnings in South Carolina, 2026Every tornado warning in 2026Tornadoes 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.