Severe Thunderstorm Warning Issued for Aiken, Calhoun, Lexington, Orangeburg Counties SC

Source: NOAA · Central South Carolina

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The National Weather Service in Columbia has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for parts of central South Carolina until 2:00 PM EDT on August 20, 2026.

Read this weather record in 30 seconds

Record type
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Affected area
Central South Carolina
Issued
August 20, 2026
Issuing authority
NWS Columbia SC

Storm notices can cover different combinations of wind, hail, lightning, and rainfall. Use the original notice for the hazards and boundaries attached to this specific record.

Record status: publication date is recent, but current status is not stored on this page. Check the issuing agency's live warning service before acting because warnings can be updated, narrowed, or cancelled.

Alert Details

A Severe Thunderstorm Warning (SVR) has been issued by the National Weather Service Columbia SC. The alert is effective from August 20, 2026 at 1:13 PM EDT until August 20, 2026 at 2:00 PM EDT. Severity is Severe with Immediate urgency and Observed certainty.

Affected Areas

The warning covers Northwestern Calhoun County, Southeastern Lexington County, Northeastern Aiken County, and North central Orangeburg County in central South Carolina. Locations impacted include Gaston, Sandy Run, Swansea, North, Pelion, Woodford, Thor, Lexington County Airport At Pelion, and Peachtree Rock. This includes Interstate 26 between mile markers 125 and 135.

What You Should Do

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building. Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm and may lead to flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.

Expected Conditions

At 1:13 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Gaston, or 10 miles south of Red Bank, moving east at 25 mph. Hazards include 60 mph wind gusts and nickel size hail (0.88 inch). Expect damage to trees and powerlines.

Timeline

The alert is in effect from August 20, 2026 at 1:13 PM EDT and expires at 2:00 PM EDT the same day.

Original source: NOAA Official Notice ↗

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this NWS weather alert.

What is this NWS weather alert about?
The National Weather Service in Columbia has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for parts of central South Carolina until 2:00 PM EDT on August 20, 2026.
Which agency issued this alert?
This alert was issued by NOAA. The original notice is available at the source link at the bottom of this article.
How severe is this alert?
This alert is classified as "high" severity. Take precautions and monitor for updates.
What area is affected?
This alert affects Central South Carolina. Check with NOAA for the most current geographic scope.
Where can I find more Weather Alerts updates?
Browse the full Weather Alerts feed on Areazine at areazine.com/weather/ for the latest updates from NOAA and other agencies.