Upstate SC placed under a tornado watch until 2 a.m. Thursday

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At 6:47 p.m. on Wednesday, the NWS Greenville-Spartanburg SC issued a tornado watch in effect until Thursday at 2 a.m. The watch is for Abbeville, Anderson, Oconee and Pickens counties.

This watch is in effect until Thursday at 2 a.m.

Ways to protect yourself during a tornado

According to the NWS, acting quickly is key to staying safe during a tornado. Stay tuned to local news or a NOAA Weather Radio for continuous updates on tornado watches and warnings.

• If you are indoors: When a tornado warning is issued, go to your basement, safe room, or an interior room that lacks windows. Take your pets with you if time permits.
• If you are at your workplace or school: Follow your tornado drill and proceed to your tornado shelter location quickly and calmly. Stay away from windows and do not go to large open rooms such as cafeterias, gymnasiums, or auditoriums.
• If you are outside: In the event of an approaching tornado, seek immediate refuge inside a secure building. Remember that sheds, storage facilities, mobile homes, and tents are not safe options.
• If you are in a vehicle: It is not safe to be in a vehicle during a tornado. The recommended action is to drive to the nearest shelter. If reaching a safe shelter is not possible, either crouch down in your car and cover your head, or leave your vehicle and seek refuge in a low-lying area like a ditch or ravine.

Is your emergency kit prepared in case of a tornado?

The Federal Emergency Management Agency recommends keeping the following items in a basic disaster supplies kit:

• Water, one gallon per person for at least three days
• Food, at least a three-day supply
• Cell phone with chargers and a backup battery
• Battery-powered or hand-crank radio
• Flashlight
• First-aid kit
• Whistle
• Dust mask to filter contaminated air
• Plastic sheeting and duct tape, for shelter purposes
• Moist towelettes, garbage bags, and plastic ties
• Manual can opener for food
• Local maps

Source: The National Weather Service

United Robots South Carolina

This story was originally published May 6, 2026 at 6:49 PM.