Weak instability coupled with strong shear and a strong low level jet allowed scattered heavy showers to develop along and ahead of a cold front, some of which produced severe damaging wind gusts.
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.
Weak instability coupled with strong shear and a strong low level jet allowed scattered heavy showers to develop along and ahead of a cold front, some of which produced severe damaging wind gusts.
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 Mar 1, 2:13 PM EST, 1 hour 19 minutes earlier.
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National Weather Service Columbia SC
222 PM EST THU MAR 1 2018
SCZ018-025-011945-
McCormick SC-Edgefield SC-
222 PM EST THU MAR 1 2018
...Strong Winds Will Impact Portions of northwestern Edgefield and
northeastern McCormick Counties Through 245 PM EST...
At 219 PM EST...National Weather Service doppler radar indicated
showers and thunderstorms in McCormick County moving eastward
near 45 mph and toward Edgefield County. Wind gusts around 50 mph
may occur with these storms.
HAZARD...strong winds 45 to 55 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, Troy and Plum Branch.
LAT...LON 3404 8232 3397 8230 3402 8224 3398 8221
3397 8218 3399 8215 3399 8210 3398 8205
3395 8204 3397 8197 3385 8193 3385 8233
3403 8235
TIME...MOT...LOC 1919Z 265DEG 44KT 3397 8220Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Columbia SC
234 PM EST THU MAR 1 2018
SCZ026-012000-
Saluda SC-
234 PM EST THU MAR 1 2018
...Strong Winds Will Impact Portions of Saluda County Through 400
pm...
At 232 PM EST...National Weather Service doppler radar indicated
showers and thunderstorms moving into Saluda County from the west.
Movement of the storms was eastward near 50 mph. Wind gusts of 40 to
50 mph along with brief heavy downpours may occur with these
showers.
HAZARD...strong winds 45 to 55 mph.
IMPACT...Expect minor damage to tree limbs and blowing around of
light, unsecured objects.
Some locations in the path of this storm include...
Batesburg-Leesville and Saluda.
LAT...LON 3404 8195 3409 8192 3413 8187 3417 8188
3418 8185 3417 8177 3419 8173 3414 8163
3396 8153 3388 8157 3389 8187 3398 8190
3396 8201
TIME...MOT...LOC 1932Z 267DEG 46KT 3400 8197Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Columbia SC
306 PM EST THU MAR 1 2018
SCZ020-021-025>028-030-012030-
Fairfield SC-Lexington SC-Aiken SC-Newberry SC-Richland SC-Saluda SC-
Edgefield SC-
306 PM EST THU MAR 1 2018
...Showers with Strong Wind Approaching the Lake Murray and
Columbia Area...
...Mariners on Lake Murray Should Seek Safe Harbor...
At 304 PM EST...National Weather Service doppler radar indicated
showers just west of the Lake Murray and Columbia area moving
eastward at 45 mph. Expect wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph and brief
heavy downpours with these storms.
HAZARD...strong winds 45 to 55 mph.
IMPACT...Expect minor damage to tree limbs and blowing around of
light, unsecured objects.
Some locations in the path of these storms include...
Columbia, Lexington, West Columbia, Cayce, Irmo, Forest Acres,
Winnsboro, Springdale, St. Andrews, Batesburg, Red Bank, Dentsville,
Oak Grove, Woodfields, Batesburg-Leesville, South Congaree, Pine
Ridge, Gaston, Arcadia Lakes and Ridge Spring.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Boaters on Lake Murray should seek safe harbor immediately. If caught
on the open water, stay as low as possible and wear a personal
flotation device. Remember, if you can hear thunder you are at risk
for being struck by lightning.
&&
LAT...LON 3441 8080 3432 8080 3418 8087 3413 8080
3394 8080 3382 8091 3385 8099 3388 8100
3387 8103 3375 8106 3378 8101 3378 8096
3372 8101 3365 8118 3368 8183 3443 8134
TIME...MOT...LOC 2004Z 260DEG 41KT 3440 8139 3375 8175<!doctype html>
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</html>The Columbia radar (KCAE), 88 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:32 UTC.
19 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Lancaster Co dispatch reported trees and power lines down in the Elgin community.
ASOS unit measured a peak wind gust of 53 MPH at Columbia Metropolitan Airport at 336 pm EST.
SCHP reported tree in roadway at Abelia Rd and Devine St in Columbia. Time estimated based on radar.
SCHP reported tree in roadway at the intersection of Muddy Springs Rd and Two Notch Rd.
ASOS unit at Hamilton Owens Airport in Columbia measured a peak wind gust of 49 MPH at 343 pm EST.
A mobile home lost part of its roof on Minnie Fallaw Rd near Pelion. No injuries. Time estimated based on radar.
SCHP reported tree in roadway on Wrights Mill Rd.
Kershaw Co dispatch reported trees down along Lachicotte Rd. Time estimated based on radar.
SCHP reported trees down Rushton Rd at Old Wagener Rd. Time estimated based on radar.
Kershaw Co dispatch reported power lines down on Mill St at Hampton St. Time estimated based on radar.
ASOS unit at McEntire JNG Base near Eastover measured a peak wind gusts of 49 MPH at 358 pm EST.
SCHP reported tree in roadway on Old Eastover Rd at Garners Ferry Rd. Time estimated based on radar.
SCHP reported tree in roadway on Charles Miller Rd and Sumters Landing Rd.
Social media report of a tree down on Sargent Rd at Estella Rd near Dalzell.
ASOS unit at Shaw AFB near Sumter measured a peak wind gust of 55 MPH at 416 pm EST.
Military meteorologist/trained spotter estimated wind gusts at 60 MPH. Power outage in the area occurred at 1625 EST shortly after the peak winds.
SCHP reported tree in roadway on Interstate 95 at mile marker 136 southbound.
SC DOT reported trees down on Francis Marion Blvd at Benton Rd.
SC DOT reported a tree on the roadway on Raccoon 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, March 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: 732918, 740613, 732919, 732920, 740616, 732923, 732924, 732925, 732926, 732927, 740615, 732928, 732929, 732930, 740612, 732934, 732931, 732932, 732933.