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Strong Tornadoes and Widespread Strong Winds Likely Overnight into Monday morning

Severe Storm Risk and Timing
Jeff Huffman
/
SCEIN
Severe Storm Risk and Timing

A line of intense thunderstorms is expected to bring the potential for widespread damaging winds and a few strong tornadoes to the Palmetto State late Sunday night into Monday morning.

Tornadoes have been observed in northern Louisiana late Sunday morning. These storms are moving into Mississippi, where Tornado Watches are in effect as of early Sunday afternoon. Reliable forecast models show these storms spreading into Alabama early this evening and into Georgia around midnight before spreading into the Upstate of South Carolina between 3 and 6 AM. Damaging winds and embedded tornadoes are anticipated within a line of thunderstorms as it approaches.

A second surge of wind energy in the lower part of the atmosphere is forecast to surge into the state from Georgia early Monday morning. This is likely to lead to the intensification of storms as they approach the Midlands, Pee Dee, and Lowcountry. Present estimates show the storms arriving in the Columbia, Rock Hill, and Aiken areas between 5 and 9 AM. Florence, Myrtle Beach, Sumter, and Charleston should expect the storms to arrive between 7 and 11 AM. The Storm Prediction Center is forecasting the potential of a few strong tornadoes and damaging winds near these areas as the storms move through.

Forecasters and Emergency Operation officials recommend residents have multiple ways of receiving warnings, including via cell phone, radio, and television. Residents should be prepared to seek shelter in the lowest level of their home, in an interior room, and away from windows. Those who rely on public storm shelters as a refuge should check to see if they are available because of the COVID-19 pandemic.