Tornadoes, flooding possible as severe weather is forecast for the Midlands this week

Severe weather is predicted to affect the Midlands this week.

Powerful thunderstorms, damaging winds, tornadoes, and flooding are all possible in the Tuesday morning forecast issued by the National Weather Service office in Columbia.

The most dangerous weather is likely to arrive late Thursday morning and last through the night, the NWS said.

Scattered, severe thunderstorms are expected as a low pressure system moves across South Carolina and the Midlands, according to the forecast. There is 100 percent chance of precipitation Thursday, the NWS reported.

While heavy rain is predicted, the greatest threat will be posed by damaging winds — and isolated tornadoes are possible, the NWS said. The strongest winds are predicted during the afternoon and evening, according to the forecast.

Winds are currently predicted to range from 10-16 mph, with gusts potentially approaching 30 mph, the NWS reported.

Even after the winds pass through, the threat of flooding will remain for days.

During the storms, heavy rains could cause flooding in low lying areas, or places with poor drainage, the NWS said. Swollen rivers could cause flooding over the weekend, according to the forecast.

Up to three inches of rain is possible in Columbia, NWS said on Twitter.

These storms come after more than an inch of rain fell on the Columbia-area on Feb. 1, and a very rainy January. Nearly six inches of rain was recorded at Columbia Metropolitan Airport in the first month of 2020, which was more than two inches above the January average, NWS meteorologist Doug Anderson told The State.

A weather station on the University of South Carolina campus reported 6.12 inches of rain in January, which saw several “significant rain events,” Anderson said.

All of that precipitation, along with a rainy December, has increased the chances of flooding this week.

“We have higher than normal flows and discharges in the rivers with all of that rainfall,” Anderson said. “The water tables are up higher than normal this time of year.”

In addition to being wet, the weather will continue to be warm as the storms roll through. Highs of 71 degrees are possible, according to the forecast for Wednesday and Thursday.

Temperatures will drop significantly as the cold front moves through the Midlands Thursday night, with highs in the 50s Friday and Saturday, and lows in the 30s, the NWS reported.

As of Tuesday morning, no warnings, watches or advisories had been issued by the NWS, but a lake wind advisory was likely in the coming days, according to the forecast.

This story was originally published February 4, 2020 at 7:50 AM.

Noah Feit

The State

803-771-8435

Noah Feit is a Real Time reporter with The State focused on breaking news, public safety and trending news. The award-winning journalist has worked for multiple newspapers since starting his career in 1999. Support my work with a digital subscription