Strong storms are likely again Tuesday afternoon and night, one day after possible tornadoes caused damage in Abbeville and Greenwood counties. The same storm system produced reports of hail almost as large as tennis balls and more than two dozen reports of wind damage across the state Monday evening.
A disturbance in the upper atmosphere over the lower Mississippi River Valley is expected to approach the state from the west Tuesday afternoon and evening. Rising air ahead of this disturbance, combined with an unseasonably humid conditions, will create a moderately unstable air mass. Scattered storms over the Upstate Tuesday morning are expected to become more numerous Tuesday afternoon. These storms will then spread to the Midlands and Central Savannah River area during the Tuesday evening drive, before spreading into the Pee Dee, Lowcountry, and coastal areas around or shortly after sunset. Pockets of damaging wind, lightning, and heavy rain are likely the primary hazards with these storms.
Meanwhile, a line of storms is expected to organize Tuesday afternoon in Mississippi and Alabama. The line is forecast to move through Georgia Tuesday evening and into the Central Savannah River area of South Carolina overnight Tuesday. The storms should weaken when compared to their strength in Georgia and Alabama, but they still could be strong enough to produce strong winds and an isolated tornado from the Central Savannah River into the Lowcountry during the wee-hours of Wednesday morning.
There will be one last chance of thunderstorms on Wednesday associated with a cold front. The greatest chances will be along and southeast of Interstate 20 during the afternoon and early evening hours. This final round is not likely to be as widespread as the weather on Monday or Tuesday, but a few of the storms are still capable of damaging gusts or hail.
Quieter weather conditions, along with lower humidity, is forecast from Thursday into the upcoming weekend statewide.
