COLUMBIA, S.C. — Severe weather is pushed through South Carolina today with a risk of potentially dangerous weather throughout the day, including a risk of isolated tornadoes.
Earlier in the day, a tornado watch was in effect for the entire Midlands area until 6 p.m., including Calhoun, Clarendon, Fairfield, Kershaw, Lee, Lexington, Newberry, Orangeburg, Richland, Saluda, and Sumter. Those warning have all been cancelled.
A watch means conditions are favorable for a tornado to form. A warning would be issue if a tornado is spotted by someone on the ground or is indicated on radar.
People can get the latest weather alerts from News19's meteorologists on the News19+ app on Roku, Amazon Fire, and Apple TV. Download the News19 news app and sign up to receive alerts for the latest.
Now the severe weather has passed through the area, officials are starting to survey storm damage left behind. News 19 crews are also out in the field checking out any storm damage.
We'll have the latest updates as they come into our newsroom below.
5:05 pm: All watches and warnings in the Midlands area cancelled
4:46 pm: Emergency officials warn of live power lines down in the area.
4:22 pm Charleston County puts raised/high-span bridges on Code Red, meaning they are unsafe for travel due to high winds. Motorists are cautioned not to drive over these bridges and to do so will be at their own risk. Highway 17 northbound at the Ravenel Bridge into Mt. Pleasant is closed to all traffic due to an overturned tractor trailer. Elsewhere, Charleston County EMS has moved to a modified operations center east of the Ravenel Bridge. Patients needing transport will be taken to the closest appropriate hospital.
4:17 pm: Troopers in Charleston County continue to ask drivers to stay off the roads off the roads if possible
4:15 pm: SC Highway Patrol wars of localized flooding in Bamberg County
3:54 pm: Lexington County reports more storm damage.
3:45 pm: S.C. State Transport Police warns of driving through standing water
3:42 pm: South Carolina Highway Patrol reports more damage in Bamberg County
3:40 pm: County of Lexington reports trees and power lines down on West Ridge Road in Chapin; a tree down on and Amazon delivery truck at Old Lexington Hwy and Mallard Drive in Chapin. An unconfirmed tornado was reported at Bel Mar Road and the Wexford Community in Irmo.
3:17 pm: SCHP reports damage in Bamberg County
3:16 pm: SC DOT warns of debris in roadways
3:15 pm: Fairfield County Sheriff Will Montgomery reports there have been 5 trees down across roads but no power outages have been reported. He says there are high winds and roads in the county are beginning to flood. As a reminder to motorists, if there is water covering the road, turn around and find another route.
2:47 pm: Tornado warning issued for Bamberg, Calhoun & Orangeburg Counties
The National Weather Service has issued a Tornado Warning for Southeastern Calhoun County, Central Bamberg County, and Central Orangeburg County until 3:15 p.m.
2:15 pm: National Weather Service Columbia issues a tornado warning including Irmo, Rion and Richtex until 2:45 pm. That would be Lexington, Fairfield and portions of Richland counties. Along the South Carolina coast, a tornado warning has been issued for Myrtle Beach, Socastee, and Conway until 2:45 pm.
1:55 pm: National Weather Service issues a severe thunderstorm warning for Columbia, Lexington and West Columbia until 3 p.m.
A second severe thunderstorm warning was issues one minute later for Orangeburg, Barnwell and Bamberg until 3 p.m.. This storm contains wind gusts up to 70 mph.
12:52 pm: Sumter closes city offices, parks, issues reminders
Due to the threat of severe weather the City of Sumter offices closed at 12:30pm today. Parks will also be closed. Other important notices:
REPORT POWER OUTAGES TO:
- Duke Energy Customers – Report outages by texting OUT to 5780, report online at duke-energy.com/outages or call 800-419-6356. Duke also has an app you can download to report outages.
- Black River Electric Cooperative Customers – Download the Black River app to report outages. Black River can be reached at 803-469-8060 or online at https://ebpp.blackriver.coop/mcp/
TRAVEL/ROAD CONDITIONS:
- Information from the state Department of Transportation can be found at https://www.scdot.org/travel/stormResources.aspx or by using the 511 app for South Carolina. Local flooding and other hazardous road conditions, such as downed limbs, trees and powerlines, are possible. If you have to be out, don't try to drive through flooded roads/intersections. The risk is too great. Cones/barriers are to alert drivers to danger ahead. Don't remove them or try to drive around them.
EMERGENCIES: Dial 9-1-1.
- For non-emergency calls in the city, the Sumter Police Department can be reached at 803-436-2700. To avoid problems related to heavy call volumes, please limit calls during the height of the storm. Power outages should be reported to your respective service provider.
12:26 pm: Central Carolina Technical College (CCTC) closes campuses
All CCTC campuses will close today, Jan. 9 at 12:30 p.m. due to inclement weather. Normal hours of operation will resume on Wednesday, Jan. 10. Any updates will be announced through the Emergency Notification System (text, email, phone call), social media and the college's website - cctech.edu.
12:26 pm: Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued for Newberry, Saluda County
The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm warning for the following South Carolina counties through 1:30 pm: Central Edgefield County, South central Saluda County, West central Aiken County, Southeastern McCormick County.
11:41 am: Tornado Watch issues for several South Carolina counties
The National Weather Service issued tornado watches for the following counties through 6 pm: Aiken, Calhoun, Clarendon, Fairfield, Kershaw, Lee, Lexington, Newberry, Orangeburg, Richland, Sumter.
10:30 am: Lexington County cancels Council, committee meetings
Lexington County committee meetings and council meeting have been canceled for Tuesday, Jan. 9, due to intermittent power outages at the Administration Building. County offices remain open at this time.