Scattered severe thunderstorms developed in a high moisture environment during the afternoon.
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 severe thunderstorms developed in a high moisture environment during the afternoon.
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 Jul 16, 8:00 AM EST, 4 hours 18 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Columbia SC 900 AM EDT Fri Jul 16 2021 .SYNOPSIS... The Bermuda High will ridge into the forecast area through the weekend providing a typical summertime pattern. Expect scattered afternoon and evening thunderstorms each day along with seasonal temperatures. A front will provide increased chances of showers and thunderstorms Sunday into mid next week. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... Little change in the pattern. Surface and upper ridge centered off the SC coast. Weak Piedmont trough. Low level moisture remains high across the area with the deeper moisture in the coastal plain. Precipitable water near 2 inches and air mass will again be moderately unstable. Perhaps a weak short wave rotating over ridge from GA may trigger convection. Sea breeze could also be a trigger. With moisture focused across the region will continue with diurnally driven thunderstorms in the afternoon and early evening with highest pops in the CSRA and southeast Midlands. Models suggest a few showers may linger in the Piedmont late. Max temps again in the low to possibly mid 90s. Min temps in the low 70s. With slow moving storms, and high precipitable water, potential for locally heavy rain. && .SHORT TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/... Ridge will hang on Saturday with PWATs just below 2 inches across the area. Diurnally driven showers and thunderstorms expected once again which may be enhanced by a weak shortwave as the ridge begins to break down late in the day. As a result, kept PoPs into the early overnight period across the area. Heavy rainfall will be the main threat with efficient rainfall rates and weak flow. Seasonable temperatures once again with highs in the low 90s and lows in the low to mid 70s. By Sunday, the upper trough to the west will continue to move towards the area pushing a cold front into the southern Appalachians. A more defined shortwave will move through the area with moderate instability which will lead to more widespread thunderstorms developing during the afternoon. Weak shear and mid-level lapse rates will limit the severe threat. With PWATs still around 2 inches, heavy rainfall will be the main threat. && .LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... The upper trough will push a cold front closer to the area Monday with ensembles continuing to trend more amplified with the trough and thus farther south with the actual front. With increased clouds, lowered 500mb heights and higher convective coverage temperatures both Monday and Tuesday will remain in the mid to upper 80s. The front will likely stall somewhere across the area with widespread showers and thunderstorms focused along it. The upper trough axis will shift to the east by midweek which will allow some drier air aloft to move into the area, although ensembles still support lingering moisture across the area. As a result, convection will return to more diurnally driven Wednesday and Thursday with temperatures rebounding to near normal. && .AVIATION /13Z FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... Predominately VFR conditions. Brief restrictions possible in scattered thunderstorms this afternoon. Pressure ridge centered offshore. High low-level moisture across the region and air mass will become moderately unstable this afternoon. Scattered cumulus developing late morning through afternoon. With a moist and unstable air mass across the region and weak triggers, scattered thunderstorms expected this afternoon so there may be brief restrictions at terminals at times after 18z. Convection should diminish shortly after sunset. Winds will be mainly south or southwest 5 to 10 knots. Mainly VFR late this evening but stratus possible late tonight but confidence low on any restrictions after 06z. EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK...Restrictions possible each day in diurnally driven showers and thunderstorms and early morning stratus/fog. Restrictions may be more widespread Sunday through Tuesday as a cold front moves into the area. && .CAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... GA...None. SC...None. &&
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Columbia SC 405 AM EDT Fri Jul 16 2021 GAZ040-063>065-077-SCZ016-018-020>022-025>031-035-037-038-041-115- 116-135>137-170815- Lincoln-McDuffie-Columbia-Richmond-Burke-Chesterfield-McCormick- Newberry-Fairfield-Kershaw-Edgefield-Saluda-Lexington-Richland-Lee- Aiken-Sumter-Barnwell-Calhoun-Clarendon-Bamberg-Northern Lancaster- Southern Lancaster-Northwestern Orangeburg-Central Orangeburg- Southeastern Orangeburg- 405 AM EDT Fri Jul 16 2021 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the Midlands of South Carolina and the Central Savannah River area of Georgia. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. 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
1236 PM EDT Fri Jul 16 2021
GAZ040-SCZ018-161700-
Lincoln GA-McCormick SC-
1236 PM EDT Fri Jul 16 2021
...Strong Thunderstorms Will Impact Portions of Lincoln and western
McCormick Counties Until 100 PM EDT....
...Boaters on Lake Strom Thurmond Should Seek Safe Harbor...
At 1235 PM EDT...National Weather Service doppler radar indicated a
strong thunderstorm over Lincolnton, or 14 miles east of Washington,
moving northeast at 25 mph.
HAZARD...gusty winds 40 to 50 mph, pea 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...
Lincolnton, Elijah Clark State Park, Double Branches, Curry Hill,
Loce, New Hope, Knox Scout Reservation and Woodlawn.
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.
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.
Persons in campgrounds should seek shelter until this storm passes.
&&
LAT...LON 3389 8248 3383 8234 3373 8227 3367 8250
3370 8252 3381 8259
TIME...MOT...LOC 1635Z 233DEG 20KT 3376 8248
LCVThe Columbia radar (KCAE), 110 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 17:16 UTC.
9 thunderstorm wind, 2 hail, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
WJBF in Augusta reported thunderstorm wind damage near Plum Branch Yacht Club. Trees were downed and a dock off of Split Oak Rd was damaged. Time estimated.
Video sent through social media showed trees down and a bent metal pole along Wheeland Rd near Lake Murray. Time estimated.
Trained spotter measured pea sized hail near the intersection of old Bush River Rd and Murray Lindler Rd.
Video shared on social media of pea sized hail on Pebble Creek Dr in West Columbia. Time estimated.
Columbia Fire Dept. reported a large branch fell on a home on the 1100 block of Sunnyside Dr. Photo shared on social media. No injuries reported. Time estimated from radar.
Richland Co Emergency Manager reported a tree in the roadway at the intersection of Colonial Dr and Lorick Ave in Columbia. Time estimated.
Richland Co Emergency Manager reported a tree in the roadway at the intersection of Rosewood Dr and Gills Creek Pkwy in Columbia. Time estimated.
Richland Co Emergency Manager reported a tree in the roadway at the intersection of Beltline Blvd and Kilbourne Rd in Columbia. Time estimated.
Richland Co Emergency Manager reported a tree in the roadway on the 6000 block of Hampton Leas Lane in Columbia. Time estimated.
RC Winds mesonet recorded a 50 mph wind gust.
Columbia Richland Fire Rescue communications reported several flooded roadways. A flooded roadway and a stalled vehicle due to flooding was reported at the intersection of Key Rd and Market St. A vehicle was reported stalled due to flooding on Bluff Rd. The intersection of Amherst Ave. and Wheat St. was reported flooded with a stalled vehicle. The 3000 Block of Hammond Ave. was reported flooded with a stalled vehicle and water up to the doors. The USGS stream gauge on Rocky Branch Creek at Main St. and Whaley St. crested at 10.73 ft. Flood Stage is 7.3 ft. Storm Total Rainfall was 2.17 inches.
Richland Co Emergency Manager reported a tree in the roadway along Clarkson Rd near Hopkins. Exact location and time estimated.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in South Carolina in 2021Every state in 2021This day in weather historyWarnings in South Carolina, July 2021
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: 960297, 960298, 960289, 960290, 960294, 961859, 961860, 961862, 961857, 960293, 960291, 961861.