The National Weather Service has posted a Tornado Watch until 11 PM for portions of the Upstate, Midlands, and Pee Dee Region. The Tornado Watch includes Greenville, Spartanburg, Rock Hill, Columbia, Sumter, and Darlington.
Several lines of thunderstorms are moving through the Upstate Thursday afternoon, prompting the National Weather Service to issue Severe Thunderstorm Warnings there. Strong winds through a deep layer of the atmosphere, high humidity, and an approaching cold front are the ingredients responsible for the thunderstorms.
Damaging, straight-line wind is the primary hazard from the thunderstorms; however, a few tornadoes are also possible. NOAA's Storm Prediction Center said isolated wind gusts as high as hurricane force may occur with the strongest thunderstorms.
Here is the estimated time of arrival of these thunderstorms:
Rock Hill: 5-6 PM
North Augusta: 5-6 PM
Columbia Metro Area: 5:30-700 PM
Orangeburg: 6-7 PM
Florence: 7-9 PM
Charleston/Myrtle Beach: 8-11 PM
The storms are expected to move offshore by midnight followed by much cooler air Friday and this weekend.