Alert archive / South Carolina / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026

Flash Flood Warning 3, NWS Wilmington, NC

August 1, 2026Williamsburg County, South Carolina

NWS Wilmington, NC issued this flash flood warning at Aug 1, 2026, 5:02 PM EDT for Williamsburg County, South Carolina. It was in force for 118 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued
Aug 1, 2026, 5:02 PM EDT (21:02 UTC)
Expired
Aug 1, 2026, 7:00 PM EDT
In force
118 min
Issued by
NWS Wilmington, NC
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

County Williamsburg County, SC

The radar

The Columbia radar (KCAE), 128 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:05 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.

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this flash flood warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

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, 9.0 hours before the alert went out and 83 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 2026-08-01Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1262 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 2026-08-01The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 35 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
1262 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-23 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
907 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
13 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
35 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
83 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

935 
WGUS52 KILM 012102
FFWILM
SCC089-012300-
/O.NEW.KILM.FF.W.0003.260801T2102Z-260801T2300Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Wilmington NC
502 PM EDT Sat Aug 1 2026

The National Weather Service in Wilmington has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Central Williamsburg County in northeastern South Carolina...

* Until 700 PM EDT.

* At 502 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
  heavy rain across the warned area. Between 3 and 4 inches of rain
  have fallen. The expected rainfall rate is 2 to 3 inches in 1 hour.
  Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 3 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...
  Mainly rural areas of Central Williamsburg County.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Dangerous flooding from heavy rainfall can be expected, especially
near poor drainage areas and other flood prone locations. It is
harder to recognize flood dangers at night, as it will be difficult
to determine the depth of the water. Roads may be damaged or washed
away. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. If flooding is observed,
then turn around, don't drown.

&&

LAT...LON 3365 7976 3363 7986 3358 7984 3361 7975

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
EXPECTED RAINFALL RATE...2-3 INCHES IN 1 HOUR

$$

SHK
2 follow-up statements
287 
WGUS72 KILM 012159
FFSILM

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Wilmington NC
559 PM EDT Sat Aug 1 2026

SCC089-012300-
/O.CON.KILM.FF.W.0003.000000T0000Z-260801T2300Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Williamsburg SC-
559 PM EDT Sat Aug 1 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EDT THIS EVENING
FOR CENTRAL WILLIAMSBURG COUNTY...

At 559 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy
rain across the warned area. Between 5 and 7 inches of rain have
fallen. The expected rainfall rate is 2 to 3 inches in 1 hour.
Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 3 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...
  Mainly rural areas of Central Williamsburg County.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Dangerous flooding from heavy rainfall can be expected, especially
near poor drainage areas and other flood prone locations. It is
harder to recognize flood dangers at night, as it will be difficult
to determine the depth of the water. Roads may be damaged or washed
away. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. If flooding is observed,
then turn around, don't drown.

&&

LAT...LON 3365 7976 3363 7986 3358 7984 3361 7975

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
EXPECTED RAINFALL RATE...2-3 INCHES IN 1 HOUR

$$

SHK
548 
WGUS72 KILM 012255
FFSILM

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Wilmington NC
655 PM EDT Sat Aug 1 2026

SCC089-012305-
/O.EXP.KILM.FF.W.0003.000000T0000Z-260801T2300Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Williamsburg SC-
655 PM EDT Sat Aug 1 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 7 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR
CENTRAL WILLIAMSBURG COUNTY...

The heavy rain has ended. Flooding is no longer expected to pose a
threat. Please continue to heed remaining road closures.

&&

LAT...LON 3365 7976 3363 7986 3358 7984 3361 7975

$$

SHK

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 Wilmington, NC wrote its last area forecast discussion before this flash flood warning went out at Aug 1, 2:43 PM EDT, 2 hours 19 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • 1) Wet and unsettled pattern Sunday through at least mid week.
  • 2) Strong southerly winds and hazardous marine conditions expected to develop Sunday into Monday.
Area forecast discussion, Aug 1, 2:43 PM EDT, 2 hours 19 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Wilmington NC
243 PM EDT Sat Aug 1 2026

.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
No major changes coming down the track as we head towards 3 PM
EDT. Updated the aviation section below for the 18Z TAFs.

&&

.KEY MESSAGES...
- 1) Wet and unsettled pattern Sunday through at least mid week.

- 2) Strong southerly winds and hazardous marine conditions
  expected to develop Sunday into Monday.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
.KEY MESSAGE 1...Wet and unsettled pattern Sunday through at
least mid week.

Latest surface analysis shows an old frontal boundary that
snakes through middle TN to metro Atlanta to the southern
portions of the CSRA to SC Lowcountry and offshore. Aloft, an
upper low is spinning over Illinois and Indiana, while ridging
holds on over the Atlantic. Increased gradient flow has been
noted between these two upper level features, and the coastal
Carolinas are in perfect position to soak up lower level
moisture from the SE to SSE. In the 300-700 mb layer, deep SW
flow is ushering even more rich moisture form the Gulf.
Convection is already starting to stir up along the shortwaves
in the SC Pee Dee region.

Scattered showers and storms expected to continue this afternoon
and evening, mostly in northeast SC. Tonight should have an
overall lull in the activity, besides a few stray showers or
storms trying to push into the Pee Dee region, or offshore
storms attempting to scrape the coast.

Moisture continues to load into the air Sunday, creating a
tropical atmosphere without the tropical system. Precipitable
water (PWAT) values jump up into the 2.00-2.25" range, which is
right around 125-150% of normal for this time of year. The warm
front will lift northward, aiding in the initial lift for
showers and storms to the area. Showers and storms are expected
to become more widespread along the coast at first, translating
to the inland areas by later Sunday afternoon.

Forecast guidance shows that the upper low doesn't appear quite
as stagnant as it did 24 hours ago. Even so, the trough axis
will amplify and dig as far south as the Gulf coast. This
enhances the ribbon of moisture transport across the eastern
Carolinas, allowing for healthy doses of rain to continue
through at least Tuesday. The trough appears to loosen up a bit
by Wednesday, although guidance is shaky on the details. Periods
of rain could easily go into Wednesday if the moisture regime is
maintained.

The system appears to favor coastal areas with the most rainfall
amounts, potentially 1-2 inches. Inland areas look more like
0.50-0.75". Locally higher amounts are possible everywhere.
Training in storms may create isolated flooding in some spots.

Widespread dewpoints in the mid-to-upper 70s will promote
healthy buoyancy, leading to moderate instability each day.
Isolated severe weather possible each day, particularly damaging
winds.

.KEY MESSAGE 2...Strong southerly winds and hazardous marine
conditions expected to develop Sunday into Monday.

Small Craft Advisory in effect. See the Marine section below for
more details.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
VFR to open the 18Z TAF period, with restrictions on the way.
Scattered convection over the SC Midlands and Pee Dee may try to
spill over into KFLO and KLBT through this evening, creating
brief MVFR to IFR conditions in heavy rain or TSRA. Overall lull
in the activity expected tonight, but PROB30 groups were
included after 06Z to account for storms potentially scraping
the coastal terminals. Ceilings come down through the overnight
hours, where many could be battling MVFR after 06Z. Warm front
pushes onshore Sunday, creating more widespread showers and
storms towards the end of the period. MVFR ceilings dominate,
with IFR possible during TSRA.

Extended Forecast...A slow moving upper trough settling over
the region, combined with an anomalously moist airmass, will
support periods of showers and storms from Sunday afternoon through
at least the middle part of next week. Periodic sub-VFR
restrictions will be possible in heavier showers and
thunderstorms. The moist low-level airmass will also support a
greater potential for morning stratus each day.

&&

.MARINE...
Through Thursday...Moderate breeze out of the SE veer to the S
tonight, as a warm front lifts back to the coast. Seas start to
increase modestly at first, going from 2-3 ft to 3-5 ft. Winds
increase considerably on Sunday as the pressure gradient
tightens and the front lifts inland, resulting in a fresh to
strong breeze out of the SW to SSW. Small Craft Advisory goes
into effect at noon EDT Sunday for the coastal waters from Surf
City, NC to South Santee River, SC out 20 nm, expiring at 8 PM
EDT Monday. In response to these gradient winds, seas rapidly
increase to 4-7 ft out 20 nm, up to 7-8 out 60 nm, before
improving gradually towards 3-4 ft Monday night and Tuesday.
Winds back slightly to the S Tuesday, improving to a moderate
breeze, and then towards a gentle breeze by Thursday. Seas
continue to improve to 2-3 ft.

&&

.ILM WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NC...None.
SC...None.
MARINE...Small Craft Advisory from noon Sunday to 8 PM EDT Monday for
     AMZ250-252-254-256.

&&

WHAT HAS CHANGED...IGB
KEY MESSAGES...IGB
DISCUSSION...IGB
AVIATION...IGB
MARINE...IGB

The office that day

Everything else NWS Wilmington, NC issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 1, 4:15 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryILMWilliamsburg90 min
Aug 1, 7:32 PM EDTBeach Hazards StatementILMGeorgetown, Horry24 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.