An upper level disturbance and daytime heating combined to produce isolated thunderstorms. Dry air aloft and considerable instability led to some of the storms producing strong 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.
An upper level disturbance and daytime heating combined to produce isolated thunderstorms. Dry air aloft and considerable instability led to some of the storms producing strong 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 Aug 5, 1:31 PM EST, 3 hours 18 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Columbia SC 231 PM EDT Wed Aug 5 2020 .SYNOPSIS... Increasing moisture along with an upper level trough and higher daytime temperatures today through the weekend will result in chances of showers and thunderstorms each day. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... Showers and thunderstorms continue across the eastern Midlands with some locally heavy rain and will monitor the potential for localized flooding. The upper level trough will remain west of the area through tonight with short waves rotating through the axis of the trough and into the forecast area. Although the eastern Midlands have been mostly cloudy this morning elsewhere plenty of sunshine has pushed the temperatures into the mid 80s with satellite imagery showing cumulus beginning to develop. Low level flow will remain south-southeasterly today pushing pwat values to near 2 inches by late afternoon. WV imagery shows plenty of dry air aloft and concern will become potential for wind gusts from thunderstorms which develop this afternoon. Expect convective coverage to increase slowly over the next couple of hours with additional cells quickly developing during the mid and late afternoon hours as outflow boundaries are produced and collide. With the potential for wind gusts most of the forecast area is included in the SPC Main marginal risk of severe area. With the high pwat values and cells this morning being highly efficient rainfall producers the area is also under a WPC marginal risk of excessive rainfall. Convection will diminish with sunset however with numerous boundaries expected across the area and additional short waves rotating through expect some cells to persist overnight. High temperatures this afternoon will be in the upper 80s to low 90s with overnight lows in the low 70s. && .SHORT TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/... An upper level trough will slowly shift eastward out of the Mississippi Valley Thursday through Friday, keeping the region positioned within a moist southwest flow aloft through the period. At the surface, a weak front/trough will remain in place over the area, with the seabreeze potentially working into eastern portions of the forecast area late each day. Given the high precipitable water values, convergence along the surface boundaries, and the passage of shortwave disturbances aloft embedded within the southwest flow, scattered showers and thunderstorms seem favorable, mainly each afternoon/early evening. Potential is there for isolated to scattered convection to persist into the nighttime hours as well. High temperatures will generally be in the upper 80s to lower 90s on Thursday, and lower to perhaps mid 90s on Friday. Lows at night will range from 70-75 across the area. && .LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... Seasonable conditions are expected through the long term period as Bermuda high pressure develops. Weak troughing at the surface is expected over the area, with the moist southerly flow supporting scattered mainly diurnal convection each day. Near to just slightly above normal temperatures are expected through the period. && .AVIATION /18Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... VFR conditions for much of the period with convection expected this afternoon into tonight. Convection continues east of CAE/CUB/OGB with convection expected to develop at all terminals this afternoon into tonight. Thunderstorms which develop will produce locally heavy rainfall and have the potential for strong and gusty winds. Convection will diminish with sunset however some cells are expected overnight. The potential for fog is low as a 20 knot low level jet however with rainfall there will be potential for stratus during the early morning and sunrise hours. EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK...Restrictions possible each day in mainly diurnally driven convection as well as late night/early morning fog/stratus. && .CAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... GA...None. SC...None. &&
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Columbia SC 351 AM EDT Wed Aug 5 2020 GAZ040-063>065-077-SCZ016-018-020>022-025>031-035>038-041-115-116- 060800- Lincoln-McDuffie-Columbia-Richmond-Burke-Chesterfield-McCormick- Newberry-Fairfield-Kershaw-Edgefield-Saluda-Lexington-Richland-Lee- Aiken-Sumter-Barnwell-Orangeburg-Calhoun-Clarendon-Bamberg- Northern Lancaster-Southern Lancaster- 351 AM EDT Wed Aug 5 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the Midlands of South Carolina and the Central Savannah River area of Georgia. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. Scattered afternoon and evening thunderstorms. Isolated severe thunderstorms with damaging winds main threat. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Columbia SC
351 PM EDT Wed Aug 5 2020
SCZ026-052015-
Saluda SC-
351 PM EDT Wed Aug 5 2020
...Strong Thunderstorms Will Impact Portions of central Saluda County
Until 415 PM EDT....
At 350 PM EDT...National Weather Service doppler radar indicated a
strong thunderstorm near Saluda, or 12 miles northwest of
Batesburg-Leesville, moving north at 20 mph.
HAZARD...gusty winds 40 to 50 mph and up to penny sized hail.
IMPACT...expect minor damage to tree limbs and blowing around of
light, unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to plants,
trees and crops is possible. Damage to windshields is
unlikely.
Some locations in the path of this storm include...
Saluda, Hollywood Elementary School, Emory, Saluda Co Sheriff's
Office, Scurry Airport, Hickory Grove, Wyses Ferry and Saluda High
School.
LAT...LON 3417 8179 3417 8177 3419 8173 3418 8172
3418 8170 3416 8167 3415 8164 3412 8162
3412 8159 3409 8154 3408 8154 3393 8161
3398 8182
TIME...MOT...LOC 1950Z 194DEG 18KT 3403 8170
fwaSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Columbia SC
430 PM EDT Wed Aug 5 2020
GAZ077-052115-
Burke GA-
430 PM EDT Wed Aug 5 2020
...Strong Thunderstorms Will Impact Portions of western Burke County
Until 515 PM EDT....
At 430 PM EDT...National Weather Service doppler radar indicated a
strong thunderstorm near Herndon, or 13 miles west of Millen, moving
north at 25 mph.
HAZARD...strong winds 45 to 55 mph and up to penny sized hail.
IMPACT...expect minor damage to tree limbs and blowing around of
light, unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to plants,
trees and crops is possible. Damage to windshields is
unlikely.
Some locations in the path of this storm include...
Waynesboro, Hephzibah, Midville, Gough, Burke County Airport,
Vidette, Di-Lane Wildlife Management Area, Magruder and Rosier.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
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 3283 8229 3330 8218 3328 8213 3326 8213
3323 8210 3324 8206 3323 8198 3326 8192
3326 8188 3292 8202 3292 8208 3288 8213
3281 8215 3280 8221
TIME...MOT...LOC 2030Z 195DEG 24KT 3285 8217
fwaSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Columbia SC
444 PM EDT Wed Aug 5 2020
SCZ020-052115-
Newberry SC-
444 PM EDT Wed Aug 5 2020
...Strong Thunderstorms Will Impact Portions of central Newberry
County Until 515 PM EDT....
At 444 PM EDT...National Weather Service doppler radar indicated a
strong thunderstorm near Newberry County Airport, or 7 miles west of
Newberry, moving northeast at 30 mph.
HAZARD...gusty winds 40 to 50 mph and pea sized hail.
IMPACT...expect minor damage to tree limbs and blowing around of
light, unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to plants,
trees and crops is possible. Damage to windshields is
unlikely.
Some locations in the path of this storm include...
Newberry, Whitmire, Newberry County Airport, Newberry College,
Silverstreet, Newberry County Detention Center, Belfast Wildlife
Management Area, Chappells Fire Station, Maybington Fire Station,
Bush River Fire Station, Vaughnville, Enoree Ranger District Office
and Kinards.
This includes Interstate 26 between mile markers 62 and 74.
LAT...LON 3453 8164 3449 8157 3445 8154 3449 8147
3446 8142 3444 8142 3419 8170 3420 8194
3426 8191 3430 8190 3437 8178 3444 8173
3446 8169
TIME...MOT...LOC 2044Z 219DEG 24KT 3431 8174
fwaPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBIA SC
508 PM EDT WED AUG 5 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0435 PM TSTM WND DMG 4 NNW SILVERSTREET 34.27N 81.74W
08/05/2020 NEWBERRY SC LAW ENFORCEMENT
SC HIGHWAY PATROL REPORTED A TREE DOWN ON
BELFAST RD AT TRINITY CHURCH RD. TIME
ESTIMATED BY RADAR.
&&
HCSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Columbia SC
509 PM EDT Wed Aug 5 2020
GAZ040-063-064-052200-
McDuffie GA-Lincoln GA-Columbia GA-
509 PM EDT Wed Aug 5 2020
...Strong Thunderstorms Will Impact Portions of McDuffie...south
central Lincoln and western Columbia Counties Until 600 PM EDT....
At 509 PM EDT...National Weather Service doppler radar indicated a
strong thunderstorm over Camak, or near Warrenton, moving east at 20
mph.
HAZARD...gusty winds 40 to 50 mph, up to penny sized hail and
excessive cloud to ground lightning.
IMPACT...expect minor damage to tree limbs and blowing around of
light, unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to plants,
trees and crops is possible. Damage to windshields is
unlikely. All outdoor activities should cease. Move
indoors immediately.
Some locations in the path of this storm include...
Thomson, Harlem, Mistletoe State Park, Thomson-McDuffie County
Airport, Wrightsboro, Dearing, Sweetwater Park, Winfield, McDuffie
County Fire Department, Thomson Fire Department, Clay Hill
Campground, McDuffie Regional Medical Center, University Hospital
McDuffie, White Oak Campground, Woodlawn, Boneville, Carpenter
Airport, Ansley Mill and Amity Recreation Area.
Move indoors immediately. Excessive cloud to ground lightning is
occurring with this storm. If you can hear thunder, you are close
enough to be struck by lightning.
This includes Interstate 20 in Georgia between mile markers 167 and
181.
LAT...LON 3361 8264 3361 8263 3364 8261 3363 8258
3365 8258 3364 8256 3364 8252 3366 8251
3365 8249 3369 8251 3372 8239 3341 8231
3338 8254 3341 8255 3346 8259
TIME...MOT...LOC 2109Z 259DEG 19KT 3348 8263
fwaSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Columbia SC
539 PM EDT Wed Aug 5 2020
GAZ065-077-SCZ030-035-052230-
Burke GA-Richmond GA-Barnwell SC-Aiken SC-
539 PM EDT Wed Aug 5 2020
...Strong Thunderstorms Will Impact Portions of north central
Burke...southeastern Richmond...southwestern Barnwell and
southwestern Aiken Counties Until 630 PM EDT....
At 539 PM EDT...National Weather Service doppler radar indicated a
strong thunderstorm near Plant Vogtle, moving northeast at 20 mph.
HAZARD...gusty winds 40 to 50 mph and up to penny sized hail.
IMPACT...expect minor damage to tree limbs and blowing around of
light, unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to plants,
trees and crops is possible. Damage to windshields is
unlikely.
Some locations in the path of this storm include...
Aiken, Waynesboro, Savannah River Site, Plant Vogtle, Aiken Mall,
Hephzibah, New Ellenton, Jackson, McBean, Audubon's Silver Bluff
Sanctuary, Savannah River Site Badge Office, Savannah River Site H
Canyon, Bennock Mill, Savannah River Site K Complex, Shell Bluff,
Shell Bluff Landing and Boyd Pond Park.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
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 3303 8197 3322 8212 3352 8170 3323 8150
TIME...MOT...LOC 2139Z 225DEG 17KT 3323 8182
fwaThe Robins AFB radar (KJGX), 126 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:48 UTC.
2 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
A tree was downed onto power lines on Ginger Hill Rd. Time estimated.
Broadcast media reported numerous trees down, and an 18-wheel semi-truck blown off the road onto its side.
Pea sized hail reported.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Georgia in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in Georgia, August 2020
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: 906313, 906316, 906315.