Bethune, South Carolina

The National Weather Service in Columbia has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
southern Lancaster County in central South Carolina
northern Kershaw County in central South Carolina

* until 645 PM EDT

* at 544 PM EDT... National Weather Service Doppler radar indicated a
severe thunderstorm capable of producing nickel size hail... and
damaging winds in excess of 60 mph. This storm was located 10
miles south of Lancaster... and moving southeast at 10 mph.

* The severe thunderstorm will otherwise remain over mainly rural
areas of the indicated counties.

Precautionary/preparedness actions...

In addition to large hail and damaging winds... continuous cloud to
ground lightning is occurring with this storm. Move indoors
immediately! Lightning is one of natures number one killers.
Remember... if you can hear thunder... you are close enough to be
struck by lightning.

Report large hail... damaging winds or flooding to your County
sheriff... or call the National Weather Service in Columbia... toll
free 1 800 7 7 5... 7 1 9 9.


Lat... Lon 3429 8080 3438 8077 3441 8080 3442 8084
      3448 8089 3450 8089 3451 8087 3454 8088
      3458 8088 3458 8055 3436 8036
time... Mot... loc 2144z 321deg 9kt 3457 8075

public information statement
National Weather Service Columbia SC
1255 PM EDT Mon July 6 2009

... Microburst in the town of Lexington South Carolina...

A thunderstorm moved across the town of Lexington during the evening
of July 1st between 1005 PM and 1012 PM. A microburst associated
with the storm produced winds between 80 and 90 mph. The main area
of damaged occurred about 1 1/2 miles west northwest of Lexington in
the Westbrook and Martins Grove subdivisions. There were a few trees
that were snapped off near the ground and uprooted. There were also
numerous large limbs that fell. Several homes received minor damage
to roofs along with areas of vinyl siding that were removed. Large
limbs also fell on a car.

A microburst is a strong downdraft which produces an outburst of
damaging winds on or near the ground in a small area. The damaging
winds can be either straight or curved and are divergent in nature.
Often these events can produce tornado-like damage.


Vaughan