An upper level shortwave, surface cold front and moderate instability lead to afternoon and evening thunderstorms and isolated wind damage.
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 shortwave, surface cold front and moderate instability lead to afternoon and evening thunderstorms and isolated wind damage.
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 14, 6:12 PM EST, 1 hour 13 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Columbia SC 712 PM EDT Mon Jun 14 2021 .SYNOPSIS... Scattered thunderstorms are possible into early tonight as a cold front sinks south through the region. The front will move slowly through the area Tuesday and a few showers are possible mainly in the east Midlands. Drier air will move over the region for Wednesday through Friday keeping the forecast dry with noticeably lower humidity. Moisture increases again over the weekend as another upper trough approaches and gulf moisture moves into the region. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM TUESDAY MORNING/... Forecast is on good track this afternoon. A weak cold front continues to make its way southeastward from the central Appalachians into the Carolinas. Ahead of this, impressive surface instability has developed within a moisture rich regime. MLCAPE values are between 1500 and 2500 j/kg across the FA ahead of this front. These values are even near 3000 j/kg to our north! This has led to some strong storms across GSP's area this afternoon, and they are beginning to encroach on our CWA as I write this. The major limiting factor is the lack of shear. There is mid-level support in the form of a shortwave digging into the TN River valley, but there isn't much more than that. 0-6km shear values are wholly unimpressive, which has led to the storms generally being pulse in nature. Given the lack of strong forcing, expecting only scattered storms to push in over the next few hours. With present instability pretty high, the strongest storms will be capable of gusty winds and some small hail. The best chance will be across the northern half of the FA. Storms should generally decrease in coverage and intensity as the sun sets and instability wanes. Overnight, the front should gradually push to our south, allowing lower PW air to push into the region. Whatever clouds are around should gradually decrease, and lows should end up in the upper 60s and lower 70s. && .SHORT TERM /6 AM TUESDAY MORNING THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT/... Upper trough axis over the Ohio Valley will swing into the Mid Atlantic region on Tuesday which will push a weak cold front southward through the forecast area. Weak to moderate instability is expected along and ahead of the front as it crosses the forecast area with PWAT values around 1.5-1.6 inches. Hi-res guidance suggests scattered convection will develop along the low level convergence of the boundary, possibly initiating over the eastern part of the forecast area before shifting to the coast by late afternoon and evening. Will continue to carry some low pops across the eastern portion of the forecast area through 00z. Temperatures will be similar to today but maybe a degree or two cooler in the northern Midlands with highs ranging from around 90 north to the mid 90s in the CSRA and southeast Midlands. The upper trough axis will swing over the region Tuesday night with the convection shifting to the coast and drier air filtering in from the north. Expect skies to clear through the overnight hours with some weak cool advection which should support slightly cooler low temperatures in the mid to upper 60s. && .LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... The early part of the extended forecast will feature dry conditions Wednesday through Friday as an upper trough remains over the region in a highly amplified 500mb flow pattern. The upper trough will begin to shift eastward away from the region late Thursday in response to a digging upper trough over the upper Midwest, while a low pressure system in the western Gulf of Mexico becomes more organized and lifts northward. PWATs over the forecast area Wed/Thu will be around 50-75 percent of normal with values at or below 1 inch which will provide a rain free forecast through the end of the week. Persistent northerly surface winds will support cooler temperatures and noticeably lower humidity aided by downsloping northwesterly flow aloft with afternoon dewpoints mixing out into the 50s. High temperatures mid week will be mid to upper 80s Wednesday and slightly warmer on Thursday in the upper 80s to around 90 degrees. Friday through the weekend, we can expect gradually increasing moisture as the upper trough shifts eastward off the coast as the 500mb flow becomes more zonal and less amplified. There is uncertainty in timing and location of the Gulf of Mexico low pressure system that NHC has a 60 percent chance of tropical development on right now. Regardless of how this low evolves, there is reasonable confidence tropical moisture associated with this feature will feed northeastward over the southeastern states in response to the digging upper trough over the Midwest as it moves into the OH Valley region over the weekend. Ensembles continue to shows high probabilities of PWATs greater than 1.5 inches from Saturday into Monday and this should favor an increase in rain chances across the region, at least diurnally. Temperatures are expected to warm back up to near normal over the weekend. && .AVIATION /23Z MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... Isolated thunderstorms will move through the forecast area this evening. The limited coverage should keep the chances for any impacts to the terminals low, although we can't rule out brief cig/vsby restrictions and gusty winds from the storms. Winds will be out of the northwest after the convection moves east of the TAF sites and a cold front pushes through. Predominantly VFR conditions are expected through the remainder of the forecast. It's possible AGS may have some shallow ground fog develop but confidence is low. On Tuesday, winds will become northerly during the afternoon as drier air rushes into the region. Limited convection is expected Tuesday so we have not added any mention to the TAFs. EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK...Moisture will increase later this week and over the weekend. Patchy early morning fog will be possible Friday with rainfall chances returning to the forecast on Saturday. && .CAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... GA...None. SC...None. &&
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Columbia SC 432 AM EDT Mon Jun 14 2021 GAZ040-063>065-077-SCZ016-018-020>022-025>031-035-037-038-041-115- 116-135>137-150845- 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- 432 AM EDT Mon Jun 14 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. Isolated to scattered thunderstorms developing mainly in the northwest forecast area late this afternoon into this evening. Some stronger storms may produce damaging wind gusts. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday. 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
622 PM EDT Mon Jun 14 2021
SCZ115-116-142300-
Northern Lancaster SC-Southern Lancaster SC-
622 PM EDT Mon Jun 14 2021
...Strong Thunderstorms Will Impact Portions of Northern Lancaster
and Southern Lancaster Counties Until 700 PM EDT....
At 620 PM EDT...National Weather Service doppler radar indicated a
strong thunderstorm near USC Lancaster, or near Lancaster, moving
southeast at 10 mph.
HAZARD...gusty winds 40 to 50 mph, pea sized hail, excessive cloud
to ground lightning and localized minor flooding.
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. Localized, minor flooding of low
lying and poor drainage areas is also possible.
Some locations in the path of this storm include...
Lancaster, Elgin, Heath Springs, Andrew Jackson State Park, Irwin,
Buford, Fishing Creek Reservoir, Arrowood Estates, Antioch, Kirk Air
Base, Forty Acre Rock Preserve, Taxahaw, Pleasant Hill, Lancaster
Mill and McWhirter Airfield.
Heavy rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may cause localized
flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.
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.
LAT...LON 3482 8079 3482 8070 3469 8049 3456 8061
3455 8087 3458 8088 3460 8089 3465 8089
3470 8086 3474 8088 3479 8087 3482 8090
3486 8079
TIME...MOT...LOC 2220Z 334DEG 10KT 3477 8085Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Columbia SC
700 PM EDT Mon Jun 14 2021
SCZ021-022-116-142345-
Fairfield SC-Southern Lancaster SC-Kershaw SC-
700 PM EDT Mon Jun 14 2021
...Strong Thunderstorms Will Impact Portions of northeastern
Fairfield...Southern Lancaster and northern Kershaw Counties Until
745 PM EDT....
At 658 PM EDT...National Weather Service doppler radar indicated
strong thunderstorms along a line extending from 6 miles southeast of
Buford to near Great Falls, moving southeast at 10 mph.
HAZARD...gusty winds 40 to 50 mph, pea sized hail, excessive cloud
to ground lightning and localized minor flooding.
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. Localized, minor flooding of low
lying and poor drainage areas is also possible.
Some locations in the path of these storms include... Kershaw,
Elgin, Heath Springs, Westville, Irwin, Liberty Hill, Mt Pisgah,
Lake Wateree State Park, Fishing Creek Reservoir, Mitford,
and Antioch.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Heavy rainfall is occurring with these storms, and may cause
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
Move indoors immediately. Excessive cloud to ground lightning is
occurring with these storms. If you can hear thunder, you are close
enough to be struck by lightning.
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 Interstate 77 between mile markers 47 and 50.
LAT...LON 3474 8053 3448 8035 3436 8090 3455 8104
3454 8088 3455 8087 3458 8088 3460 8089
3467 8089 3470 8086 3475 8088
TIME...MOT...LOC 2258Z 315DEG 11KT 3468 8056 3458 8100Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Columbia SC
801 PM EDT Mon Jun 14 2021
GAZ040-063-064-SCZ018-025-150045-
McDuffie GA-Lincoln GA-Columbia GA-McCormick SC-Edgefield SC-
801 PM EDT Mon Jun 14 2021
...Strong Thunderstorms Will Impact Portions of central McDuffie...
southeastern Lincoln...Columbia...southeastern McCormick and
southwestern Edgefield Counties Until 845 PM EDT....
At 801 PM EDT...National Weather Service doppler radar indicated
strong thunderstorms along a line extending from near Hamilton Branch
State Park to near Thomson-McDuffie County Airport, moving east at 20
mph.
HAZARD...gusty winds 40 to 50 mph, pea sized hail, excessive cloud
to ground lightning and localized minor flooding.
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. Localized, minor flooding of low
lying and poor drainage areas is also possible.
Some locations in the path of these storms include...
Grovetown, Evans, Thomson, Martinez, Harlem, Appling, Clarks Hill
Recreation Area, Riverwood, Mistletoe State Park, Hamilton Branch
State Park, J. Strom Thurmond Dam, Thomson-McDuffie County Airport,
Dearing, Parksville, Plum Branch, Poverty Hill, Adamsville, Thomson
Fire Department, Scott's Landing and McDuffie Regional Medical
Center.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Heavy rainfall is occurring with these storms, and may cause
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
Move indoors immediately. Excessive cloud to ground lightning is
occurring with these storms. If you can hear thunder, you are close
enough to be struck by lightning.
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 Interstate 20 in Georgia between mile markers 168 and
194.
LAT...LON 3389 8235 3366 8187 3335 8231 3347 8260
TIME...MOT...LOC 0001Z 282DEG 18KT 3379 8223 3352 8247Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Columbia SC
813 PM EDT Mon Jun 14 2021
SCZ021-022-116-150100-
Fairfield SC-Southern Lancaster SC-Kershaw SC-
813 PM EDT Mon Jun 14 2021
...Strong Thunderstorms Will Impact Portions of central Fairfield...
Southern Lancaster and west central Kershaw Counties Until 900 PM
EDT....
At 813 PM EDT...National Weather Service doppler radar indicated
strong thunderstorms along a line extending from near Blackstock to
near Lake Wateree State Park to near Lake Wateree Dam, moving south
at 10 mph.
HAZARD...gusty winds 40 to 50 mph, pea sized hail, excessive cloud
to ground lightning and localized minor flooding.
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. Localized, minor flooding of low
lying and poor drainage areas is also possible.
Some locations in the path of these storms include...
Camden, Winnsboro, Lake Wateree Dam, Longtown, Lake Wateree State
Park, Ridgeway, Lebanon Fire Station, Fairfield County Detention
Center, Winnsboro Mills, Fairfield Elementary School, Smallwood,
White Oak, Lake Wateree near Highway 97 and Blackstock.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Heavy rainfall is occurring with these storms, and may cause
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
Move indoors immediately. Excessive cloud to ground lightning is
occurring with these storms. If you can hear thunder, you are close
enough to be struck by lightning.
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 Interstate 77 between mile markers 33 and 47.
LAT...LON 3455 8107 3448 8095 3446 8064 3429 8058
3427 8097 3438 8125 3456 8122
TIME...MOT...LOC 0013Z 356DEG 8KT 3453 8114 3441 8095 3440 8072Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Columbia SC
820 PM EDT Mon Jun 14 2021
SCZ027-028-150045-
Lexington SC-Richland SC-
820 PM EDT Mon Jun 14 2021
...Strong Thunderstorms Will Impact Portions of east central
Lexington and central Richland Counties Until 845 PM EDT....
At 820 PM EDT...National Weather Service doppler radar indicated a
strong thunderstorm over Cayce. This storm was nearly stationary.
HAZARD...gusty winds 40 to 50 mph, pea sized hail, excessive cloud
to ground lightning and localized minor flooding.
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. Localized, minor flooding of low
lying and poor drainage areas is also possible.
Some locations in the path of this storm include...
Columbia, West Columbia, Cayce, Forest Acres, Springdale, Oak Grove,
South Congaree, Pine Ridge, Columbia Metro Airport, SC State Fair
Grounds, West Columbia Riverwalk, Five Points, Olympia, Rosewood,
Cayce Riverwalk, Guignard Park and Dixiana.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Heavy rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may cause localized
flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.
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 storm 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 111 and 117.
Interstate 77 between mile markers 0 and 6.
LAT...LON 3399 8115 3402 8098 3391 8097 3390 8113
TIME...MOT...LOC 0020Z 253DEG 3KT 3395 8107The Columbia radar (KCAE), 47 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:24 UTC.
4 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Spotter reported a wind gust of 55 mph at a home weather station. Time estimated.
Public reported pea sized hail, and also provided a photo via social media. Time estimated.
The Calhoun County Emergency manager reported several trees down near Old Swamp Rd and Hwy 176. Time estimated by radar.
Calhoun County Dispatch reported that multiple trees fell which downed power lines on Old State Rd between Spanish Moss Dr and Branham Branch Rd.
The SC Highway Patrol reported trees down near the intersection of Big Beaver Creek Rd and Old State Rd. Time estimated from radar.
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, June 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: 958084, 958083, 957761, 957758, 957762.