Upper energy combined with daytime heating and a front to the north to produce a band of thunderstorms that moved SE through the Midlands of SC during the late afternoon and evening.
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.
Upper energy combined with daytime heating and a front to the north to produce a band of thunderstorms that moved SE through the Midlands of SC during the late afternoon and evening.
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 Jun 26, 1:28 PM EST, 4 hours earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Columbia SC 228 PM EDT Tue Jun 26 2018 .SYNOPSIS... Thunderstorms will develop along a front stalled to the north today and are expected to propagate south or southwest through the rest of the area. Damaging winds will be possible late this afternoon and evening. The front will become more diffuse Wednesday. There will be lingering surface troughing during the rest of the week. Hotter conditions will occur with diminished cloudiness and upper ridging over the weekend. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... This afternoon: Weak frontal boundary is expected to be situated close to the NC/SC state line. Isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms may begin forming by early afternoon close to the front as a short wave moves through the central Appalachians and into the NC piedmont. A capping inversion across the area should help keep much of the main activity just outside the cwa through 20z, then beginning to push into the northern counties later this afternoon as the inversion weakens. With the cloud cover across much of the cwa, temperatures expected to be cooler than the past few days. Highs only in the upper 80s to around 90. Tonight: Short range models continue to show additional thunderstorm development across the SC mountains through late afternoon, with that activity then pushing southward towards the western Midlands and CSRA this evening. Situation may be similar to yesterdays activity, although coverage may not be quite as widespread due to the atmosphere being worked over with yesterdays storms. There remains a marginal risk for severe weather mainly from the late afternoon into the evening, with damaging winds being the primary threat. Can not rule out some small hail and localized flash flooding. Activity should be diminishing by midnight, with only isolated showers possible through the remainder of the night. Lows will be in the low 70s. && .SHORT TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT/... High pressure will extend from the Atlantic westward into the Gulf of Mexico. North of the ridge, low pressure troughing will be over the Great Lakes on Wednesday, moving into the Mid Atlantic states and New England on Thursday. The CWA will be sandwiched between these two features. Given moderate to strong instability both days, and precipitable water around 2 inches, there is a good chance for scattered afternoon and evening thunderstorms. The best chance should be on Wednesday as all models show the base of the trough axis moving across the area during the evening. Additionally, SPC has the Piedmont and a portion of the northern Midlands in a marginal risk for severe weather, and damaging winds will again be possible with any stronger storms that develop. As the trough lifts north on Thursday, the pressure ridge will have more of an influence, and convection will be more limited. It will be most likely across the southern and eastern Midlands, closer to the trough axis and influenced by the sea breeze. Temperatures will be near normal on Wednesday with highs in the low to mid 90s. It will be a little warmer Thursday due to the building ridge, and highs will be in the mid to upper 90s. && .LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... Large scale high pressure will dominate the region through the long term period. Yet a surface thermal trough will also persist. Convergence associated with this trough and onshore flow will result in daily diurnal convection, but it should be limited due to the ridge. Have therefore kept a slight chance to a chance of precipitation in the forecast throughout the period. Temperatures will be slightly above normal with highs in the mid to upper 90s and lows in the low 70s. && .AVIATION /18Z TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... Scattered lower level clouds will prevail at all sites into this evening. Light winds expected at all TAF sites through the day. A weak front near the SC/NC state line will serve as the focus for convection early this afternoon. Storms are likely to develop along the front and in the higher terrain of the Appalachians, then propagate S/SW towards the TAF sites. Additional convective development into the evening will be possible with the front still in the area and a shortwave passing over the region. Activity will remain possible through midnight, then only isolated showers the remainder of the night. EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK...Restrictions possible each day in early morning fog plus mainly afternoon and evening thunderstorms. && .CAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... GA...None. SC...None. &&
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Columbia SC 411 AM EDT Tue Jun 26 2018 GAZ040-063>065-077-SCZ015-016-018-020>022-025>031-035>038-041-270815- Lincoln-McDuffie-Columbia-Richmond-Burke-Lancaster-Chesterfield- McCormick-Newberry-Fairfield-Kershaw-Edgefield-Saluda-Lexington- Richland-Lee-Aiken-Sumter-Barnwell-Orangeburg-Calhoun-Clarendon- Bamberg- 411 AM EDT Tue Jun 26 2018 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the Midlands of South Carolina and the Central Savannah River area of Georgia. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Thunderstorms with damaging wind gusts will be possible today. The most likely timing is from late this afternoon through the evening. Hail and localized flash flooding will also be possible. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. A few storms Wednesday and Thursday afternoons could contain damaging wind and hail. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBIA SC
101 PM EDT TUE JUN 26 2018
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0856 PM TSTM WND DMG 4 SSW SPRINGFIELD 33.45N 81.30W
06/25/2018 BARNWELL SC DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
SC DEPARTMENT OF HIGHWAYS REPORTED MULTIPLE
TREES DOWN IN BARNWELL COUNTY BETWEEN
BARNWELL AND THE SOUTH FORK OF THE EDISTO
RIVER INCLUDING MAGNOLIA LANE, HWY 3, HWY 39
AND HWY 304.
&&
WRSPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBIA SC
110 PM EDT TUE JUN 26 2018
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0851 PM TSTM WND DMG 4 WSW NORTH 33.60N 81.17W
06/25/2018 ORANGEBURG SC DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
TREES DOWN ALONG SALLEY ROAD NEAR NORTH.
&&
WRSPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBIA SC
133 PM EDT TUE JUN 26 2018
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0700 PM TSTM WND DMG 3 SW TURBEVILLE 33.85N 80.06W
06/25/2018 CLARENDON SC DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
TREE DOWN ALONG SALEM ROAD.
&&
WRSPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBIA SC
207 PM EDT TUE JUN 26 2018
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0927 PM TSTM WND DMG CORDOVA 33.44N 80.92W
06/25/2018 ORANGEBURG SC POST OFFICE
THE CORDOVA POST OFFICE REPORTED TREES DOWN
IN THE TOWN OF CORDOVA.
&&
WRSSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Columbia SC
538 PM EDT TUE JUN 26 2018
SCZ015-020-021-262230-
Fairfield SC-Lancaster SC-Newberry SC-
538 PM EDT TUE JUN 26 2018
...Strong Thunderstorms Will Impact Portions of northwestern
Fairfield...southwestern Lancaster and central Newberry Counties
Until 630 PM EDT....
At 536 PM EDT...National Weather Service doppler radar indicated
strong thunderstorms along a line extending from near Lowrys to near
Clinton, moving southeast at 15 mph. Strong wind gusts could arrive
before rainfall.
HAZARD...gusty winds 40 to 50 mph.
IMPACT...expect minor damage to tree limbs and blowing around of
light, unsecured objects.
Some locations in the path of these storms include...
Newberry, Lancaster, Whitmire, Elgin, Irwin, Blackstock,
Silverstreet, and Lancaster Mill.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
These storms may intensify. Monitor NOAA Weather Radio, local radio
and television stations for additional information and possible
warnings from the National Weather Service.
&&
This includes the following highways...
Interstate 26 between mile markers 62 and 77.
Interstate 77 between mile markers 46 and 51.
LAT...LON 3485 8079 3482 8079 3482 8075 3471 8060
3451 8088 3420 8174 3426 8191 3430 8190
3437 8178 3453 8164 3445 8154 3450 8142
3457 8142 3455 8087 3461 8089 3470 8086
3483 8090 3491 8087
TIME...MOT...LOC 2136Z 299DEG 13KT 3478 8119 3446 8195
HCSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Columbia SC
612 PM EDT TUE JUN 26 2018
GAZ040-SCZ018-262315-
Lincoln GA-McCormick SC-
612 PM EDT TUE JUN 26 2018
...Strong Thunderstorms Will Impact Portions of northwestern Lincoln
and northwestern McCormick Counties Until 715 PM EDT....
...Boaters on Lake Strom Thurmond Should Seek Safe Harbor...
At 611 PM EDT...National Weather Service doppler radar indicated a
strong thunderstorm over Calhoun Falls, or 12 miles southwest of
Abbeville, moving south at 10 mph.
HAZARD...gusty winds 40 to 50 mph.
IMPACT...expect minor damage to tree limbs and blowing around of
light, unsecured objects.
Some locations in the path of this storm include...
McCormick, Lake Strom Thurmond, Bobby Brown State Park, Willington
and Mount Carmel.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Boaters on Lake Strom Thurmond should move to shore and seek shelter.
Strong, erratic wind gusts and lightning are possible. If you can
hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning.
This storm may intensify. Monitor NOAA Weather Radio, local radio and
television stations for additional information and possible warnings
from the National Weather Service.
&&
LAT...LON 3398 8261 3396 8257 3402 8259 3407 8253
3408 8248 3406 8245 3406 8233 3397 8230
3402 8225 3397 8218 3380 8258 3383 8260
3386 8257 3387 8258 3386 8261 3398 8265
TIME...MOT...LOC 2211Z 346DEG 11KT 3410 8258
HCThe Greer radar (KGSP), 101 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:26 UTC.
12 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Several trees reported down in the Mt. Carmel community.
A tree was downed on Columbia Rd in Winnsboro.
SCHP reported a tree in roadway on I-26 at mile marker 89.
SCHP reported tree down on I-26 at mile marker 91.
A tree was downed on Smith Pond Rd.
A tree was downed on Living Inn Rd.
Numerous trees down in the town of McCormick.
A tree was downed at 200 Beekeeper Ct.
A tree was downed, also taking down power lines, on Kingsbridge Rd.
Trees downed in the Parksville area.
Public report and photo, received via social media, of trees and power lines downed on Forest Dr in Aiken.
SCHP reported a tree blocking the roadway at New Bridge Rd and Joyce Branch Rd.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in South Carolina in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyWarnings in South Carolina, June 2018
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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 763143, 763163, 763155, 763156, 763157, 763164, 763147, 763158, 763159, 763152, 763161, 763162.