Not the ‘typical summer thunderstorms.’ Severe weather forecast for the Columbia area
Days after getting doused by a 1-in-1,000-year rain event, more severe weather is forecast for the Columbia area, according to the National Weather Service.
Scattered and widespread thunderstorms are expected in the Midlands Wednesday, National Weather Service meteorologists said.
These will not be the “typical summer thunderstorms,” meteorologists said in a briefing. The main severe weather threats with these thunderstorms will be damaging wind gusts and heavy rainfall, according to the briefing.
The storms are forecast to hit the area in the afternoon and will continue to be a threat through the late evening, according to a hazardous weather outlook.
There are the greatest chances for thunderstorms from 5-9 p.m., especially in the northern portion of the Midlands, the National Weather Service said. But all of the Midlands, including Richland and Lexington counties, are included in the hazardous weather outlook.
There’s a 40% chance of rain, and up to a tenth of an inch is expected in Columbia, according to the forecast. More rainfall is possible in localized areas hit by thunderstorms.
The rain comes on the heels of Monday’s massive downpour.
More than 4 inches of rain fell over one hour Monday night, according to the National Weather Service. The amount of rainfall was enough to be classified as a 1,000-year-storm.
No warnings, watches, or advisories related to the storms have been issued yet, but that is subject to change.
Powerful winds could cause considerable damage to trees and branches, in addition to mobile homes, roofs and outbuildings. Damage to trees and branches creates the possibility of downed power lines and outages.
Thunderstorms can produce dangerous cloud-to-ground lightning.
The storms come as the heat in Columbia continues to be intense. Temperatures are expected to reach a high of 96 Wednesday, with heat index values as high as 109, the forecast shows.
Weather conditions will be similar, if not more severe in Columbia on Thursday, according to the National Weather Service. Temperatures are predicted to hit a high of 97 degrees, while the heat index value could rise to 108, the forecast shows.
More severe weather is forecast to return on Thursday afternoon and evening, again with damaging winds and heavy rainfall predicted, according to the hazardous weather outlook.
All of the Midlands, including Columbia, is at a greater risk for severe weather effects Thursday, the National Weather Service said.
Temperatures in Columbia are expected to stay in the high 90s into the weekend, according to the forecast. Temperatures are expected to cool on Sunday and Monday, with highs predicted in the mid 80s, as rain and thunderstorms are likely.
