News Summary
Charleston and surrounding areas are under a severe thunderstorm warning due to significant storm developments across the Lowcountry. The National Weather Service reported risks of damaging winds, heavy rainfall, and lightning, with affected counties including Berkeley, Charleston, and Beaufort. Residents are advised to seek shelter as high winds and flash flooding are expected, along with another warning extending into additional nearby counties following earlier advisories. Power outages have been reported, and precautions are urged as storms continue to develop.
Charleston Issues Severe Thunderstorm Warnings as Storms Develop Across Lowcountry
Charleston, SC – A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for Charleston and surrounding areas that is expected to last until 8:45 p.m. Friday evening, following significant storm developments across the Lowcountry. The National Weather Service (NWS) Charleston reported that strong thunderstorms are affecting several counties, with potential risks of damaging winds, torrential rainfall, and frequent lightning.
As of 6:32 p.m. Friday, Doppler radar indicated a strong thunderstorm over Ridgeland, moving northeast at a speed of 30 mph. This initial warning impacts Inland Jasper, Coastal Jasper, Hampton, and Beaufort counties, with affected locations including Ridgeland, Yemassee, Jasper, Coosawhatchie, Grahamville, and several others. Key highways affected by the storms include I-95 in South Carolina between mile markers 13 and 39.
Residents are being warned to expect gusty winds of up to 60 mph that have the potential to knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Lightning is also a concern, with the possibility of strikes occurring as much as 10 miles away from any thunderstorm. In addition, torrential rainfall is leading to flash flooding, prompting advisories for drivers to avoid flooded roadways.
At 8:01 p.m., the severe thunderstorm warning was extended to include Berkeley and Charleston counties, with radar tracking severe thunderstorms along a line stretching from Sullivan’s Island to eight miles south of Kiawah Island, moving southeast at 25 mph. Affected areas during this new warning include North Charleston, Mount Pleasant, Hanahan, Johns Island, James Island, West Ashley, Downtown Charleston, and nearby neighborhoods. Important roadways, including I-26 between mile markers 214 and 221 and I-526 between mile markers 11 and 31, are also affected.
Residents in the impacted regions are advised to take safety precautions by seeking shelter in well-built structures and avoiding windows during the storms. The likelihood of lightning increases as storms approach, and safety measures should be taken seriously due to lightning being a significant hazard in thunderstorms. Approximately 25 million lightning strikes occur annually in the U.S., resulting in an average of 20 fatalities each year, showcasing the inherent dangers associated with thunderstorms.
As of late Friday evening, further updates from the NWS indicated that a severe thunderstorm warning for Colleton, Beaufort, Hampton, and Jasper counties had expired by 11:30 p.m., but warnings remain in place for other areas. Earlier reports at 10:29 p.m. indicated another severe thunderstorm near Hendersonville, capable of producing golf-ball-sized hail and moving southwest at 20 mph.
Power outages have been reported, affecting 356 Berkeley Electric Cooperative customers and 289 Dominion Energy customers in Berkeley County. Despite the cessation of some warnings, the area remains under a severe thunderstorm watch until midnight, including regions such as Charleston, Berkeley, Dorchester, Williamsburg, Georgetown, Orangeburg, Beaufort, and Colleton.
This storm activity follows the lifting of an earlier heat advisory that expired at 8 p.m. after heat index values reached between 103 and 108 degrees. Residents are reminded that prolonged exposure to high temperatures can cause heat exhaustion and heat stroke, conditions that require immediate attention.
As the storms continue to develop, residents are urged to stay updated on weather conditions and prepared for sudden changes. Taking precautions during severe weather can help ensure safety for all.
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Additional Resources
- ABC News 4
- Wikipedia: Thunderstorm
- Count on 2
- Google Search: Severe Thunderstorm Weather
- Live 5 News
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Weather
- Myrtle Beach Online
- Google News: Thunderstorm Warnings
- WV Metro News
- Google Scholar: Thunderstorm Impact

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