COLUMBIA, S.C. — Heavy rains led to flash flooding in the central Midlands late Monday afternoon.
The rains began to increase just after 5 p.m. as afternoon heating triggered a rash of pop up storms. Rainfall rates in some areas began to exceed four inches in one hour.
That much rain in that short amount of time led to flooded streets from the Broad River area through Five Points and down to southeast Columbia.
In Five Points in Columbia, a viewer photo showed water rising up to the midway point of tires that were parked outside some businesses. At the intersection of Main and Whaley Street near the USC campus, the Rocky Branch Creek came out of its banks and flooded the intersection, with the river cresting to a record high. At lease one vehicle was trapped there.
Chief Aubrey Jenkins with the Columbia Fire Department said at least three vehicles were stuck at the intersection of Main and Laurel Streets. And out on Interstate 20 near mile marker 64 near Broad River Road, at least one lane was shut down as water ponded on that part of the roadway.
As always, the best advice is to not attempt to drive over any road that is covered in water.
The cell that produced the rain was isolated, with areas to the east and west receiving little to no rain.