Rain, a tornado warning for Chapin continue rough weather week
A tornado warning was issued earlier today for northwestern Richland County spanning the Winnsboro, Blythewood, Chapin, Ridgeway, Peak, Winnsboro Mills and Lake Murray areas.
The warning was issued by the National Weather Service just after 2 p.m. and expired at 2:45 p.m.
A doppler radar indicated a severe squall line capable of producing a tornado as well as damaging straight line winds, according to the NWS. The storms were moving east at 30 mph.
The air was calm outside the Chapin Town Hall, with rain and winds having subsided a little before 2:30 p.m., Chapin Clerk of Court Inga Whelchel said.
The NWS urges people in the area to take cover, move to a basement or interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building and avoid windows.
The same areas are under a severe thunderstorm warning until 2:30 p.m.
Rain, moderate to heavy at times, is moving back into the region from the south. Dense fog advisory also in effect. pic.twitter.com/iJ7Dsa0jiO
— NWS Columbia (@NWSColumbia) December 23, 2015
NWS again on Wednesday issued a flash flood watch for several South Carolina counties, including Richland and Lexington. The watch will continue through Thursday afternoon. NWS also has issued a flood advisory for the Congaree River and a flood warning for the Congaree River at the Carolina Eastman plant south of downtown Columbia. The advisory will continue through Thursday morning, and the warning until further notice or cancellation.
NWS also announced a hazardous weather outlook for Richland and Lexington counties, among others.
Fifteen roads and two bridges were closed throughout South Carolina as of Tuesday afternoon, according to the S.C. Department of Transportation.
In Richland County, Shady Grove Road is closed from St. Johns Road to West Shady Grove Road due to flooding. West Shady Grove Road is closed from Ash Court to Julius Richardson Road due to road washout.
In Lexington County, Murray Lindler Road is closed from Lakeshore Drive to Old Bush River Road due to flooding.
Also Tuesday, state and county officials were monitoring a dam near the Crane Creek waterway in northeast Richland County as it began to crest after heavy rainfall early in the day.
This story was originally published December 23, 2015 at 8:44 AM.