Active Weather Alerts
Special Weather Statement
Issued: 6:53 PM Aug. 6, 2026 – National Weather Service
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of Calhoun, southeastern Lexington, west central Sumter, north central Orangeburg and southeastern Richland Counties through 400 PM EDT... At 253 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near St. Matthews, or 13 miles north of Brookdale, moving north at 15 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... Columbia, Sumter, Orangeburg, McEntire Air Base, Brookdale, Shaw Air Base, St. Matthews, Eastover, Congaree National Park, Hopkins, Oakland, Claflin College, Horrel Hill, Sandy Run, Fort Jackson, Gadsden, Woodfield, Cameron, Fort Motte, and Fort Jackson Wildcat Road. This includes Interstate 26 between mile markers 128 and 152. 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. && MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN; MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Issued: 6:51 PM Aug. 6, 2026 – National Weather Service
...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 315 PM EDT FOR NORTHWESTERN CALHOUN...SOUTHEASTERN LEXINGTON...EAST CENTRAL AIKEN...NORTHWESTERN ORANGEBURG AND SOUTH CENTRAL RICHLAND COUNTIES... At 251 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Gaston, or 10 miles southeast of Red Bank, moving north at 15 mph. HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and penny size hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Expect damage to trees and powerlines. Locations impacted include... Columbia, Lexington, West Columbia, Cayce, Red Bank, Oak Grove, South Congaree, Pine Ridge, Gaston, Hopkins, Riverbanks Zoo, SC State Farmer's Market, Columbia Metro Airport, SC State Fair Grounds, West Columbia Riverwalk, Sandy Run, Five Points, Swansea, North, and Pelion. This includes the following highways... Interstate 20 in South Carolina between mile markers 50 and 62. Interstate 26 between mile markers 109 and 131. Interstate 77 between mile markers 0 and 9. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building. && HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED; MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN; WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED; MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH
Flash Flood Warning
Issued: 6:47 PM Aug. 6, 2026 – National Weather Service
...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 530 PM EDT THIS AFTERNOON FOR NORTHEASTERN LEXINGTON AND CENTRAL RICHLAND COUNTIES... At 247 PM EDT, trained weather spotters reported thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. Between 2.5 and 3.5 inches of rain have fallen. The expected rainfall rate is 1.5 to 2 inches in 1 hour. Additional rainfall amounts of 2 to 3 inches are possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is already occurring. HAZARD...Life threatening flash flooding. Thunderstorms producing flash flooding. SOURCE...Trained spotters reported. IMPACT...Life threatening flash flooding of creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses. Some locations that will experience flash flooding include... Columbia, West Columbia, Cayce, Forest Acres, St. Andrews, Dentsville, Oak Grove, Arcadia Lakes, Five Points, West Columbia Riverwalk, Riverbanks Zoo, SC State Fair Grounds, Columbia International University, Woodfield, Harbison State Forest, Sesquicentennial State Park, Eau Claire and Guignard Park. This includes the following highways... Interstate 126 between mile markers 0 and 3. Interstate 26 between mile markers 103 and 112. Interstate 20 in South Carolina between mile markers 60 and 77. Interstate 77 between mile markers 1 and 19. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Most flooding deaths occur in vehicles. Never drive through a flooded roadway or around barricades. Turn around, don't drown. && FLASH FLOOD...OBSERVED; FLASH FLOOD DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE; EXPECTED RAINFALL RATE...1.5-2 INCHES IN 1 HOUR
Airport Weather Warning
Issued: 6:39 PM Aug. 6, 2026 – National Weather Service
An Airport Weather Warning has been issued for the Columbia Metropolitan Airport. Expect wind gusts near 35 knots between 250p and 320p.
Flood Advisory
Issued: 6:15 PM Aug. 6, 2026 – National Weather Service
...FLOOD ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 515 PM EDT THIS AFTERNOON... * WHAT...Flooding caused by excessive rainfall is expected. * WHERE...East Central Lexington County in central South Carolina... Central Richland County in central South Carolina... * WHEN...Until 515 PM EDT. * IMPACTS...Minor flooding in low-lying and poor drainage areas. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 215 PM EDT, Doppler radar and automated rain gauges indicated heavy rain due to thunderstorms. Minor flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly in the advisory area. Between 1 and 2 inches of rain have fallen. - Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches are expected over the area. This additional rain will result in minor flooding. - Some locations that will experience flooding include... Columbia, West Columbia, Cayce, Forest Acres, Woodfield, Five Points, Fort Jackson, SC State Fair Grounds, West Columbia Riverwalk, Riverbanks Zoo, Fort Jackson Cantonment Area, Rosewood, Olympia, Cayce Riverwalk, Fort Jackson Wildcat Road and Guignard Park. - This includes the following highways... Interstate 126 near mile marker 3. Interstate 26 near mile marker 110...and near mile marker 113...and near mile marker 115. Interstate 77 between mile markers 0 and 15. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Most flooding deaths occur in vehicles. Never drive through a flooded roadway or around barricades. Turn around, don't drown. &&
Flood Advisory
Issued: 5:56 PM Aug. 6, 2026 – National Weather Service
...FLOOD ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM EDT THIS AFTERNOON... * WHAT...Flooding caused by excessive rainfall is expected. * WHERE...Northeastern Lexington County in central South Carolina... Northwestern Richland County in central South Carolina... * WHEN...Until 500 PM EDT. * IMPACTS...Minor flooding in low-lying and poor drainage areas. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 156 PM EDT, Doppler radar and automated rain gauges indicated heavy rain due to thunderstorms. Minor flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly in the advisory area. Between 1 and 2 inches of rain have fallen. - Additional rainfall amounts up to 1 inch are expected over the area. This additional rain will result in minor flooding. - Some locations that will experience flooding include... Columbia, Lexington, West Columbia, Irmo, Forest Acres, St. Andrews, Dentsville, Oak Grove, Highway 6 at Lake Murray Dam, Arcadia Lakes, Columbia International University, Riverbanks Zoo, Harbison State Forest, Woodfield, Killian, Sesquicentennial State Park, Villages at Sandhill, Lake Carolina, Eau Claire and Seven Oaks. - This includes the following highways... Interstate 126 between mile markers 0 and 3. Interstate 26 between mile markers 101 and 110. Interstate 20 in South Carolina between mile markers 57 and 81. Interstate 77 between mile markers 15 and 24. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Most flooding deaths occur in vehicles. Never drive through a flooded roadway or around barricades. Turn around, don't drown. &&
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