Tornado warning expires for Richland, Lexington counties, including Columbia
A tornado warning was in effect until 6:15 p.m. Tuesday for Richland and Lexington counties, including the city of Columbia, the National Weather Service announced.
A tornado watch, however, remains in effect for the area, as well as the entire Midlands, until 9 p.m.
At about 5:30 p.m., radar sources detected rotation in a storm located 8 miles southeast of Ridge Spring or 9 miles south of Batesburg-Leesville, moving northeast at 50 mph, according to the weather service. Radar has detected the tornado moving along the Interstate 20 corridor.
Areas that could be affected include Lexington, Red Bank and South Congaree by 6 p.m.; Cayce, Springdale, Oak Grove, the airport and the state farmer’s market around 6:05 p.m.; downtown Columbia, West Columbia, St. Andrews, the state fairgrounds and Harbison State Forest around 6:10 p.m.
Officials urge people in the area to take shelter indoors in an interior room on the lowest floor of a building. “Do not wait to see or hear the tornado,” the weather service said.
In downtown Columbia, state lawmakers working inside the State House halted their session and moved to the basement for safety.
A number of tornado warnings have been issued around the state as severe storms move through.
This story may be updated with more details.
This story was originally published April 5, 2022 at 5:41 PM.
