Scattered pulse storms produced several microbursts across the area taking down trees and powerlines. Several power outages were also reported.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS CAE wrote it up.
Scattered pulse storms produced several microbursts across the area taking down trees and powerlines. Several power outages were also reported.
The local office's own words before the first event, 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 the first event at Aug 6, 1:55 PM EST, 1 hour 57 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBIA SC
255 PM EDT WED AUG 6 2008
.SYNOPSIS...
A SLOW MOVING COLD FRONT WILL MOVE INTO THE FORECAST AREA THURSDAY
NIGHT. THE WEAKENING FRONT WILL LINGER NEAR THE REGION THROUGH
FRIDAY.
&&
.NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM THURSDAY MORNING/...
WEAK CONVERGENCE ASSOCIATED WITH THE LEE TROUGH WAS OCCURRING EARLY
THIS AFTERNOON. INSTABILITY WAS MODERATE WITH LI/S AROUND -6.
HOWEVER...THE THUNDERSTORM CHANCE APPEARS VERY LOW BECAUSE OF THE
DRY AIR MASS. EARLY AFTERNOON SATELLITE IMAGERY SHOWED LITTLE
CUMULUS DEVELOPMENT. H7 TEMPERATURES WERE 10 TO 11 C. WATER VAPOR
IMAGERY SUPPORTS THE RUC/S FORECAST OF SHORTWAVE RIDGING OVER THE
REGION.
&&
.SHORT TERM /6 AM THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH FRIDAY/...
MOISTURE WILL INCREASE ASSOCIATED WITH CONVERGENCE IN THE LEE TROUGH
AND APPROACHING COLD FRONT THURSDAY. ALL OF THE GUIDANCE HAS LOW POPS. THE
LOW VALUES APPEAR REASONABLE BECAUSE OF THE H85 NORTHWEST TO WEST
FLOW WITH LIMITED MOISTURE PLUS WEAK LOW-LEVEL CONVERGENCE. A
SIGNIFICANT UPPER-LEVEL FEATURE ALSO APPEARS LACKING. PLAN TO
FORECAST SLIGHT CHANCE POPS WHICH IS SUPPORTED BY THE
MAV...MET...AND FWC MOS. CONTINUED CONVERGENCE ASSOCIATED WITH THE
SLOW MOVING FRONT PLUS THE NAM AND GFS FORECAST OF AN H5
SHORTWAVE TROUGH SUPPORT A BETTER CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS THURSDAY
NIGHT...ESPECIALLY DURING THE EVENING AND CLOSER TO MAXIMUM
HEATING. USED THE GUIDANCE CONSENSUS POP AROUND 50 PERCENT. THE
LIKELY MAV POPS MAY BE TOO HIGH BASED ON THE WEST TO NORTHWEST H85
FLOW. MODERATE INSTABILITY SUPPORTS POSSIBLE SEVERE WIND GUSTS
WITH A FEW OF THE THUNDERSTORMS THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING.
THE SURFACE FRONT MAY LINGER IN THE FORECAST AREA BUT THE MODELS
INDICATE DEEPER MOISTURE SHIFTING EAST AND SOUTH OF THE AREA FOR
THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY. PLAN TO CONTINUE THE SMALL THUNDERSTORM
CHANCE.
USED THE MET MOS FOR THE TEMPERATURE FORECAST BECAUSE IT HAS
VERIFIED BEST LATELY. EXPECT HEAT ADVISORY CRITERIA OF 105 FOR 2 OR
MORE HOURS WILL OCCUR IN THE SOUTHEAST PART OF THE FORECAST AREA
THURSDAY.
&&
.LONG TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY/...
THE GFS SHOWS CONTINUED SURFACE TROUGHING BUT DEEPER MOISTURE
APPEARS TO REMAIN EAST AND SOUTH OF THE FORECAST AREA DURING MOST OF
THE EXTENDED PERIOD. MOST OF THE MOISTURE APPEARS TO STAY EAST AND
SOUTH OF THE REGION THROUGH MOST OF THE EXTENDED PERIOD. THE GFS
ENSEMBLE MEANS SUPPORT TEMPERATURES NEAR CLIMATOLOGY. POPS APPEAR
LOW...ESPECIALLY OVER THE WEEKEND.
&&
.AVIATION /19Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
LATEST ANALYSIS INDICATES MODERATE TO STRONG SURFACE INSTABILITIES
OVER THE REGION...HOWEVER ATMOSPHERIC MOISTURE APPEARS
LIMITED...WITH HIGH CONVECTIVE TEMPS AND LEVELS OF FREE
CONVECTION. THIS SHOULD REDUCE AREAL TSRA COVERAGE OVER OUR FA.
HOWEVER...ANY TSRA THAT DOES DEVELOP COULD BE STRONG GIVEN DRY AIR
ALOFT AND RELATIVELY LOW WET BULB ZERO HEIGHT. AT THIS TIME...IT
APPEARS THAT THUNDER CHANCE IS TOO LOW TO INCLUDE ANY REFERENCE TO
IT IN THE 18Z TAFS. VFR CONDITIONS EXPECTED THROUGH THE 24 HOUR
TAF PERIOD...ALTHOUGH MVFR VSBYS IN HAZE OR FOG POSSIBLE THURSDAY
MORNING.
EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK...ATMOSPHERIC MOISTURE WILL BE ON THE
INCREASE THURSDAY...ALONG WITH A SURFACE FRONT AND DEEPENING UPPER
TROUGH. THIS WILL ALLOW FOR A BETTER CHANCE OF TSRA THU AFTN/EVE...BUT
WILL EXPECT IT AFTER 18Z. A CHANCE OF THUNDER FRIDAY...THEN DRIER
AIR BEHIND THE FRONT IS EXPECTED TO PRECLUDE ANY SIGNIFICANT
CONVECTION SATURDAY AND SUNDAY.
&&
.CAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
SC...HEAT ADVISORY UNTIL 7 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR SCZ029>031-
035>038-041.
HEAT ADVISORY FROM 1 PM TO 7 PM EDT THURSDAY FOR SCZ031-
035>038-041.
GA...HEAT ADVISORY UNTIL 7 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR GAZ063>065-077.
HEAT ADVISORY FROM 1 PM TO 7 PM EDT THURSDAY FOR GAZ077.
&&
SYNOPSIS...JL
NEAR TERM...JL
SHORT TERM...JL
LONG TERM...JL
AVIATION...31HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBIA SC 430 PM EDT WED AUG 6 2008 GAZ040-SCZ015-016-018-020>022-025>028-072030- LINCOLN-LANCASTER-CHESTERFIELD-MCCORMICK-NEWBERRY-FAIRFIELD-KERSHAW- EDGEFIELD-SALUDA-LEXINGTON-RICHLAND- 430 PM EDT WED AUG 6 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EAST CENTRAL GEORGIA AND CENTRAL SOUTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT AIRMASS MODERATELY TO STRONGLY UNSTABLE THIS AFTERNOON. AN ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORM OR TWO IS POSSIBLE WITH DAMAGING WINDS BEING THE MAIN THREAT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY THE AREA IS OUTLOOKED FOR A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ON THURSDAY AS A COLD FRONT MOVES INTO THE REGION. THE THREAT OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL DIMINISH BY THE WEEKEND AND INTO NEXT WEEK. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. GAZ063>065-SCZ029-030-072030- MCDUFFIE-COLUMBIA-RICHMOND-LEE-AIKEN- 430 PM EDT WED AUG 6 2008 ...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EDT THIS EVENING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EAST CENTRAL GEORGIA AND CENTRAL SOUTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. HEAT ADVISORY. ALSO...AIRMASS MODERATELY TO STRONGLY UNSTABLE THIS AFTERNOON. AN ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORM OR TWO IS POSSIBLE WITH DAMAGING WINDS BEING THE MAIN THREAT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY THE AREA IS OUTLOOKED FOR A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ON THURSDAY AS A COLD FRONT MOVES INTO THE REGION. THE THREAT OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL DIMINISH BY THE WEEKEND AND INTO NEXT WEEK. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. GAZ077-SCZ031-035>038-041-072030- BURKE-SUMTER-BARNWELL-ORANGEBURG-CALHOUN-CLARENDON-BAMBERG- 430 PM EDT WED AUG 6 2008 ...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EDT THIS EVENING... ...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM TO 7 PM EDT THURSDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EAST CENTRAL GEORGIA AND CENTRAL SOUTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. HEAT ADVISORY. ALSO...AIRMASS MODERATELY TO STRONGLY UNSTABLE THIS AFTERNOON. AN ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORM OR TWO IS POSSIBLE WITH DAMAGING WINDS BEING THE MAIN THREAT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. HEAT ADVISORY. THE AREA IS OUTLOOKED FOR A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ON THURSDAY AS A COLD FRONT MOVES INTO THE REGION. THE THREAT OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL DIMINISH BY THE WEEKEND AND INTO NEXT WEEK. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBIA SC 334 PM EDT WED AUG 6 2008 SCZ027-062000- LEXINGTON- 334 PM EDT WED AUG 6 2008 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS AFFECTING LEXINGTON COUNTY... AT 332 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 10 MILES SOUTHEAST OF LEESVILLE...OR 10 MILES SOUTHWEST OF RED BANK...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 20 MPH. PEA SIZE HAIL...AND WINDS 40 TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. REPORT LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS OR FLOODING TO YOUR COUNTY SHERIFF...OR CALL THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN COLUMBIA TOLL FREE AT 1 800 7 7 5 7 1 9 9.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBIA SC 404 PM EDT WED AUG 6 2008 SCZ027-062030- LEXINGTON- 404 PM EDT WED AUG 6 2008 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS AFFECTING LEXINGTON COUNTY... AT 358 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 13 MILES SOUTHWEST OF RED BANK...MOVING SOUTH AT 6 MPH. PEA SIZE HAIL...AND WINDS 40 TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. REPORT LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS OR FLOODING TO YOUR COUNTY SHERIFF...OR CALL THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN COLUMBIA TOLL FREE AT 1 800 7 7 5 7 1 9 9. BC
The Columbia radar (KCAE), 41 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:53 UTC.
9 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Aiken Electric reported several trees and a few powerlines down from the Aiken/Orangeburg county line into the town of North. There were a few power outages.
Aiken Electric reported several trees and powerlines down in the northeast portion of the county from Waganer and Perry to the Lexington and Orangeburg county lines. Several power outages occurred.
Aiken Electric reported large branches and a couple of power linds down in the Swansea area which produced some minor power outages.
Sheriff reported large trees down just north of the Gilbert area.
EM reported several trees down on Javelin Court.
EM reported some trees down on East Steel street.
EM reported several trees down, a dock destroyed, and a boat overturned at 622 East Point road on Lake Murray. SCE&G reoprted many poles and power lines down.
WIS TV reported trees and powerlines down in Gaston and the surrounding area.
Sheriff, DOT, and Highway Patrol reported trees down along I-26 from west of St. Matthews heading northwest to the Lexington county line.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in South Carolina in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyWarnings in South Carolina, August 2008
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 111503, 111505, 111504, 111508, 111510, 111506, 111513, 111515, 111516.