Persistent convection occurred through the day into early evening across the CSRA and western Midlands in a zone of convergence ahead of an approaching shortwave trough. Moderate instability was present with weak wind shear.
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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.
Persistent convection occurred through the day into early evening across the CSRA and western Midlands in a zone of convergence ahead of an approaching shortwave trough. Moderate instability was present with weak wind shear. Only a single damage report occurred with this event.
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 May 26, 2:16 PM EST, 1 hour 48 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Columbia SC 316 PM EDT Thu May 26 2022 .SYNOPSIS... Isolated showers and a few thunderstorms are possible this afternoon and evening. A cold front approaches tonight with an increasing chance of showers and thunderstorms. Unsettled weather continues into Friday morning with improving conditions later in the day. High pressure then builds in for the Memorial Day weekend. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... Showers and a few thunderstorms have developed across the Western Midlands and CSRA with a more localized area mainly south and east of Columbia. The chance for convection will increase through the afternoon and evening, especially in the western forecast area where the SPC has a Marginal risk for severe weather outlooked now through 12Z Friday. Latest hi-res guidance suggests that there could be a few rounds of showers and thunderstorms tonight with breaks in between. With PWATs in the 1.5-1.75 inch range, any thunderstorms that develop could produce locally heavy rainfall. While a few thunderstorms could be strong through 12Z, confidence is on the low side due to the convection moving into the CWA at night. Highs for the day should end up in the lower to mid 80s though locations that see rain could be below that. Lows tonight will range from the mid-60s in the west to the lower 70s in the Southeastern Midlands. && .SHORT TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/... Friday...Closed low moving slowly through the Ohio Valley on Friday with a gradual shift to the ENE through the afternoon. The closed low will begin tracking slightly faster and to the NE Friday night. Based on the current regional radar and model forecast. Looks like there will be a line of convection ahead of the cold front associated with the closed low/sfc low that will move across the Midlands and Central Savannah River Area during the day on Friday. SPC has the area outlooked for a Marginal Risk for all of the CWA on Friday with a Slight Risk of Severe Thunderstorms as well for areas mainly across the eastern Midlands and along/east of the I-95 corridor. The CAMS indicate a line of thunderstorms that will be moving across the state from west to east through the day. Lapse rates are not that impressive, but there will be plenty of available low level moisture as PW values will increase to nearly 2.0 inches along/ahead of the line during the morning and afternoon hours. There will be good moisture transport into the region on Friday with strong SSW/SW H8 winds of 30 to 35 knots. There is some decent shear ahead of the line on Friday, but the best shear is behind the band of convection closer to the actual cold front that will cross the region later in the afternoon/early evening. Looking at the upper level wind field shows some weak speed and direction divergence aloft as the line moves through the area. Although there is some differences in the CAMS in handling the convection Friday morning, they are trending toward a line of showers and thunderstorms that will move from west to east across the Midlands and CSRA Friday morning through about noon/early afternoon. Along with the potential for strong/damaging winds with the stronger storms, there is also the potential for hail. With such high PW values, some of the rain will be locally heavy. Highs in the low to mid 80s. With drier air moving in Saturday night, expect lows in the low to mid 60s. Saturday and Saturday Night...Upper trough moving away from the area and across New England. Some weak surface high pressure/mid/upper level ridging will move into the region behind the system for Saturday and Saturday night. Temperatures will be seasonable with highs in the mid 80s and lows in the low/mid 60s. && .LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... Upper level trough off the east coast Sunday. Expect a drying trend through the holiday weekend with temps at or slightly above normal. High pressure aloft builds over the Southeast U.S. early next week with temperatures climbing to summer time values with highs in the lower 90s and lows in the mid to upper 60s. There may be enough moisture and instability for a few isolated afternoon and evening thunderstorms especially by Tuesday. && .AVIATION /18Z THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... TAFs continue to be tricky this afternoon as low clouds linger across the region. All terminals could periodically see lowered ceilings this afternoon, especially if a shower or thunderstorm passes overhead. Of greater concern is the increasing risk of convection. One area is currently located west of Augusta with more isolated activity near CAE/CUB/OGB. Additional development is possible at all terminals through the daytime hours. Winds could be gusty at times this afternoon outside of thunderstorms, especially at AGS/DNL. A line of showers and thunderstorms is expected to move into the region from the west this evening but should gradually weaken as it moves through the forecast area. This will be followed by a second and possibly third round of convection Friday morning. Timing out these periods of unsettled weather has been difficult and changes to the forecast are likely in future updates. Conditions should improve from west to east during the late morning and early afternoon with all sites returning to VFR near the end of the TAF period. EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK...Expecting showers and thunderstorms to continue into the late morning and early afternoon hours on Friday. Drier air will work its way into the region over the weekend with significant restrictions unlikely. && .CAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... GA...None. SC...None. &&
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Columbia SC 903 AM EDT Thu May 26 2022 GAZ040-063>065-077-SCZ016-018-020>022-025>031-035-037-038-041-115- 116-135>137-271315- 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- 903 AM EDT Thu May 26 2022 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the Midlands of South Carolina and the Central Savannah River area of Georgia. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. A few thunderstorms ahead of an approaching cold front may become strong to severe, especially in the Western Midlands and CSRA which the Storm Prediction Center has outlooked in a Marginal Risk for severe weather. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. A cold front will move through on Friday, bringing a line of strong to severe thunderstorms. The Storm Prediction Center has outlooked the Eastern Midlands in a Slight Risk for severe weather as a result with a Marginal Risk elsewhere. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Columbia SC
421 PM EDT Thu May 26 2022
GAZ063-262045-
McDuffie GA-
421 PM EDT Thu May 26 2022
...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of McDuffie County
through 445 PM EDT...
At 420 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Norwood to near Stapleton. Movement was
northeast at 40 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Thomson, Thomson-McDuffie County Airport, Wrightsboro, Dearing,
Sweetwater Park, Arties Pond Public Fishing Area, McDuffie County
Fire Department, Adamsville, Thomson Fire Department, McDuffie
Regional Medical Center, University Hospital McDuffie, White Oak
Campground, Boneville, Autney and Ansley Mill.
This includes Interstate 20 in Georgia between mile markers 166 and
178.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3364 8261 3363 8261 3363 8258 3365 8258
3364 8256 3366 8251 3364 8247 3365 8243
3363 8244 3359 8241 3355 8244 3353 8239
3346 8238 3336 8230 3331 8236 3336 8255
3341 8255 3346 8259 3360 8265
TIME...MOT...LOC 2020Z 233DEG 35KT 3350 8269 3329 8246
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
SLSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Columbia SC
443 PM EDT Thu May 26 2022
GAZ040-063-064-SCZ018-262115-
McDuffie GA-Lincoln GA-Columbia GA-McCormick SC-
443 PM EDT Thu May 26 2022
...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of McDuffie,
northwestern Columbia, Lincoln and central McCormick Counties through
515 PM EDT...
At 441 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from 6 miles north of Wrightsboro to near Appling.
Movement was northeast at 40 mph.
...Boaters on Lake Strom Thurmond Should Seek Safe Harbor...
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Thomson, Lincolnton, Elijah Clark State Park, Mistletoe State Park,
Thomson-McDuffie County Airport, Wrightsboro, Lake Strom Thurmond,
Dearing, Plum Branch, Broad River Campground, Sweetwater Park,
Winfield, Arties Pond Public Fishing Area, McDuffie County Fire
Department, Adamsville, Thomson Fire Department, McDuffie Regional
Medical Center, Knox Scout Reservation, White Oak Campground and
Boneville.
This includes Interstate 20 in Georgia between mile markers 167 and
181.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3364 8261 3363 8261 3363 8258 3365 8258
3364 8256 3365 8249 3382 8259 3386 8257
3387 8261 3398 8264 3396 8256 3398 8258
3386 8225 3331 8238 3334 8244 3336 8255
3341 8255 3357 8263 3360 8265
TIME...MOT...LOC 2041Z 208DEG 36KT 3365 8259 3357 8235
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
SLThe Greer radar (KGSP), 112 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:05 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
McCormick dispatch reported trees down on Country Club Dr at Hwy 7. Time estimated by radar.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in South Carolina in 2022Every state in 2022This day in weather historyWarnings in South Carolina, May 2022
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: 1016904.