A hot and humid air mass led to strong destabilization with surface based CAPE near 4000 J/kg in the Central Savannah River Area. While shear was weak, dry air aloft and strong low level lapse rates supported a few storms reaching severe limits.
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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.
A hot and humid air mass led to strong destabilization with surface based CAPE near 4000 J/kg in the Central Savannah River Area. While shear was weak, dry air aloft and strong low level lapse rates supported a few storms reaching severe limits.
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 29, 12:09 PM EST, 4 hours 19 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Columbia SC 109 PM EDT Mon Jun 29 2026 .WHAT HAS CHANGED... Isolated strong to severe storms possible this afternoon and evening. Continued to highlight increasing heat late this week into the holiday weekend. Aviation discussion updated for the 18z TAFs. && .KEY MESSAGES... - 1. Increased threat of impactful heat this week and into the Independence Day weekend. - 2. Isolated to scattered convection expected this afternoon into early evening. && .DISCUSSION... Key Message 1: Increased threat of impactful heat this week and into the Independence Day weekend. A strong upper ridge centered over the TN Valley and lower MS Valley today will migrate slowly northeastward into the OH Valley by mid week and then become centered over the Mid- Atlantic by the end of the week. This 500mb high is anomalously strong with heights at or above the 99th percentile relative to climatology. Temperatures today should push into the mid and upper 90s with dewpoints in the lower 70s resulting in heat indices over 100 degrees. Heat indices likely push over 105 degrees in parts of the CSRA where moisture will be pooling along the weak stalled frontal boundary and a Heat Advisory was considered but expected scattered convection led to low confidence. As the upper ridge builds closer to the region temperatures should be warming further with highs in the upper 90s to around 100 degrees for the holiday weekend. Ensembles indicate highly anomalous 850mb temperatures over the 90th percentile and ECMWF EFI also showing anomalous signals in the max temperature field. Ensembles indicate lowering atmospheric moisture through mid to late week with PWATs falling below 50 percent of normal supporting a generally dry forecast when combined with the strong subsidence of the upper ridge. This should also result in better deep mixing and lower dewpoints and therefore lower heat indices mid to late week despite the increasing temperatures. Moisture returns to the region over the weekend and likely will yield heat indices near heat advisory criteria which may result in the need for some heat products. Regardless, throughout the entire week and forecast period anyone spending a significant amount of time outside should take necessary precautions to handle the heat and stay hydrated. Be sure to make heat safety preparations now and have a plan to monitor children, the elderly, pets, and anyone without adequate indoor cooling. Key Message 2: Isolated to scattered convection expected this afternoon into early evening. Isolated to scattered convection is expected to develop in an increasingly unstable environment generally west of I-26 corridor in the vicinity of a stalled frontal boundary over the CSRA. MLCAPE values already pushing at or above 2000 J/kg in the CSRA within an axis of maximum PWATs of 1.8-1.9 inches with 20-25 knots of shear expected later this afternoon which may support a few strong to severe storms. DCAPE values are maximized in the CSRA at around 1200 J/kg so damaging wind gusts would be the primary threat associated with the strongest storms. Hi-res guidance generally shows some development although differing on timing of initiation, but storms expected to develop upstream over western NC and the SC Upstate and shift southward in the northerly flow aloft. && .AVIATION /18Z MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... VFR conditions likely with an outside chance for isolated showers- storms. A weak boundary will continue sagging toward the GA/SC border this afternoon as drier air filters into the region. Winds have shifted out of the north-northeast around 5-7 kt. Some thunderstorms are still possible at AGS-DNL this afternoon as the boundary lingers nearby during peak heating. Confidence remains low in direct impacts to terminals, so a PROB30 has been maintained from 19-23z. This will need to be monitored once we have a better idea where storms have developed. Activity will diminish after sunset, leaving mostly clear skies and light winds. Dry conditions continue Tuesday as high pressure builds into the area. EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK...Afternoon convection is less likely for the remainder of the week as ridging builds overhead. Brief early morning restrictions also possible this week. && .CAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SC...None. GA...None. && DISCUSSION...23 AVIATION...ND
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Columbia SC
302 PM EDT Mon Jun 29 2026
GAZ040-SCZ018-291930-
Lincoln GA-McCormick SC-
302 PM EDT Mon Jun 29 2026
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northwestern Lincoln
and northwestern McCormick Counties through 330 PM EDT...
At 301 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Calhoun Falls, or 9 miles west of Abbeville, moving southwest at 15
mph.
...Boaters on Lake Strom Thurmond Should Seek Safe Harbor...
HAZARD...Wind gusts 40 to 50 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Lake Strom Thurmond, Bobby Brown State Park, Hickory Knob State
Resort Park, Willington, Mount Carmel Park, Gill's Point, Hester's
Ferry Campground, Bordeaux, Chennault, Mount Carmel, and Leroy's
Ferry Recreation Area.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
&&
LAT...LON 3398 8265 3398 8264 3397 8264 3398 8261
3396 8256 3402 8259 3407 8253 3408 8248
3406 8245 3406 8235 3387 8241 3384 8258
3386 8257 3387 8258 3386 8261
TIME...MOT...LOC 1901Z 024DEG 14KT 3414 8253
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
HCSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Columbia SC
419 PM EDT Mon Jun 29 2026
GAZ040-063-064-292100-
McDuffie GA-Lincoln GA-Columbia GA-
419 PM EDT Mon Jun 29 2026
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northwestern
McDuffie, northwestern Columbia and southwestern Lincoln Counties
through 500 PM EDT...
At 418 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Lincolnton, or 14 miles east of Washington, moving south at 10 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...
Lincolnton, Mistletoe State Park, Thomson-McDuffie County Airport,
Wrightsboro, Loce, Winfield, Clay Hill Campground, University
Hospital McDuffie, Woodlawn, Ansley Mill, Amity Recreation Area, New
Hope, and Cherokee Boat Ramp.
This includes Interstate 20 in Georgia between mile markers 170 and
175.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3361 8264 3361 8263 3364 8261 3363 8261
3364 8259 3363 8258 3365 8258 3364 8256
3364 8252 3366 8251 3365 8249 3382 8259
3380 8234 3353 8234 3350 8252 3353 8262
TIME...MOT...LOC 2018Z 004DEG 8KT 3371 8249
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
CJRSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Columbia SC
453 PM EDT Mon Jun 29 2026
GAZ077-292115-
Burke GA-
453 PM EDT Mon Jun 29 2026
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of south central Burke
County through 515 PM EDT...
At 453 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Perkins, or 8 miles north of Millen, moving west at 10 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...
Di-Lane Wildlife Management Area.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3301 8210 3302 8176 3293 8181 3295 8182
3294 8183 3295 8186 3292 8196 3292 8208
3290 8211 3291 8211
TIME...MOT...LOC 2053Z 091DEG 8KT 3293 8195
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
CJRSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Columbia SC
459 PM EDT Mon Jun 29 2026
GAZ065-077-292130-
Burke GA-Richmond GA-
459 PM EDT Mon Jun 29 2026
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northwestern Burke
and southwestern Richmond Counties through 530 PM EDT...
At 459 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Hephzibah, or 11 miles south of Fort Gordon, moving south at 20 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...
Waynesboro, Hephzibah, McBean, Gough, Blythe, Keysville, Vidette,
Ellwood, and Pea Patch Aerodrome.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3305 8229 3308 8229 3312 8228 3323 8223
3327 8226 3327 8229 3329 8231 3332 8197
3312 8192 3302 8207
TIME...MOT...LOC 2059Z 358DEG 19KT 3326 8209
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
CJRThe Columbia radar (KCAE), 119 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:28 UTC.
3 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Public reported quarter sized hail in the Oak Ridge Plantation Neighborhood near Hephzibah, GA.
Richmond County dispatch reported power lines down on State Road 88 near Hopson Mill Road.
Public reported a tree fell along Story Mill Rd near the Richmond-Burke county line.
Planters Electric reported a tree down on power lines causing power outages.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Georgia in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyWarnings in Georgia, June 2026
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: 1354763, 1354764, 1354766, 1354765.