Severe thunderstorm warning issued for the Midlands, National Weather Service says
Strong thunderstorms are forecast to affect the Midlands Thursday, according to the National Weather Service.
A severe thunderstorm warning was issued for the Midlands until 1:15 p.m., the NWS said. Gusts as strong as 60 mph are possible and residents should expect damage to “roofs, siding, and trees,” according to the NWS.
Radar in the morning showed a line of thunderstorms moving east toward the Columbia area at 50 mph, the NWS reported.
Portions of Richland and Lexington counties are expected to be impacted by the storms, along with Fairfield, Newberry, McCormick, Saluda and Edgefield counties, according to the NWS.
In addition to scattered showers, powerful winds from 45-55 mph are possible, the NWS warned.
Columbia is expected to be feel the strongest effects of the storms between noon and 3 p.m., the NWS office in Columbia said on Twitter.
A lake wind advisory has been issued for Richland and Lexington counties until 3 p.m., according to the NWS.
The NWS said the storms could cause damage to tree limbs, which could affect power lines and cause outages, and blow around “light, unsecured objects.”
“A few trees might come down...be careful out there!” the NWS office in Columbia tweeted.
There is a possibility the storms could intensify, according to the NWS.
Flooding also remains a possibility, because river levels are higher during the wettest winter ever recorded in Columbia.
This winter’s rainfall total is a record amount of 17.67 inches of precipitation, the Southeast Regional Climate Center said on Twitter.
The storms are the result of a cold front moving from the mountains, the NWS office in Columbia said.
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This story was originally published February 13, 2020 at 11:06 AM with the headline "Severe thunderstorm warning issued for the Midlands, National Weather Service says."
