Strong, damaging winds & flooding pose threats to Columbia area, forecast shows
Severe weather is forecast to affect the Columbia area of South Carolina Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service.
Strong winds, small hail and heavy rain possible beginning late in the afternoon and through the night into early Wednesday morning, National Weather Service meteorologists said in a briefing. The window from 5 p.m. Tuesday to 1 a.m. Wednesday is when severe weather is most likely to occur, according to the briefing.
Damaging winds and heavy rain that could lead to flash flooding — especially in urban and flood-prone areas — are the main threats to the Columbia area, National Weather Service meteorologists said.
The portion of the Midlands at the greatest risk of being impacted by the severe weather is in the area south of Interstate 20, and west of the Savannah River, according to the briefing. Most of that area is under a slight risk for excessive rainfall, the National Weather Service said.
There’s currently a low probability of severe wind in Columbia, but the possibilities for the damaging winds and gusts exist.
Powerful winds cause damage to trees and branches, which creates the possibility of downed power lines and outages.
No warnings, watches or advisories have been issued for any part of the Midlands, but that is subject to change as the storms get closer.
There is a 70% chance of rain Tuesday, and less than half an inch of precipitation is possible in the Columbia area, the forecast shows. Localized amounts could be higher, especially during thunderstorms.
More rain is possible Wednesday, but not much is in the forecast. The possibility of more rain showers increases Thursday and Friday, when temperatures are expected to reach highs in the 80s, before conditions dry out over the weekend, according to the forecast.
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