Hurricane Sally to drench the Midlands in updated forecast. What to expect and when
The effects of Hurricane Sally on the Midlands are expected to be more severe than previously forecast.
Although the storm will no longer be a hurricane when it arrives in the Columbia area on Thursday, Sally is predicted to dump a significant amount of rain as it continues rumbling north.
The predictions of heavy rainfall have caused an elevated chance of flooding, and there is a possibility of tornadoes forming, according to the National Weather Service office in Columbia.
After making landfall along the Gulf Coast, “Hurricane Sally will move inland and weaken then push northeast becoming mostly a rain threat,” meteorologists in Columbia said in a weather briefing Wednesday morning.
In that briefing, a flash flood watch was issued for most of the Midlands, including Richland, Lexington, Kershaw, Sumter, Calhoun, Lee, Aiken, Fairfield, Newberry, and Saluda counties.
The area most prone to flash flooding are along rivers, creeks, and urban areas.
The flash flood watch is in effect from 8 a.m. Thursday through Friday, according to the National Weather Service.
That is when Sally’s greatest impacts are forecast for the Midlands, and the heaviest precipitation is expected to last through early Friday morning.
The forecast shows 4-6 inches of rainfall is possible for most of the Midlands, including Columbia.
It’s possible some areas in the Midlands could see locally higher amounts of rain, according to the National Weather Service.
There’s a 90 percent chance of showers Thursday in Columbia, and possible thunderstorms are in the forecast. More heavy rain is predicted for Friday, when there is a 70 percent chance of precipitation.
While not the main threat associated with Sally, an isolated brief tornado will be possible Thursday afternoon, according to the forecast. Any tornado would be capable of damaging mobile homes, roofs, and vehicles, according to the National Weather Service.
The storm will be far removed from hurricane strength when it rolls through Columbia, and Sally could be a tropical depression, meteorologist Whitney Smith told The State on Sunday.
Sally’s arrival in the Midlands will cause temperatures to drop, with possible highs in the 70s for the rest of the week, according to the forecast. It’s expected to remain cooler over the weekend after the storm has moved north, when temperatures are predicted to be in the 60s and low 70s.
The Atlantic Ocean is busy with storm activity. Following Sally, there are five other storms that range in strength from a disturbance to an active hurricane, according to the National Hurricane Center.
The next closest to the East Coast are Hurricane Teddy and Tropical Storm Vicky.
This is a developing story, check back for updates.
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This story was originally published September 16, 2020 at 8:32 AM.
