News Summary
A strong thunderstorm alert has been issued for Upstate South Carolina, affecting counties like Anderson, Laurens, Greenville, and Spartanburg. Residents should expect marble-sized hail, winds up to 40 mph, and potential lightning risks. With this storm moving northeast at 20 mph from the vicinity of Greenville, experts advise residents to seek shelter and take safety precautions. Upcoming weather forecasts indicate more storms could occur mid-week, as temperatures steadily rise into the 80s.
Strong Thunderstorm Alert Issued for Upstate South Carolina
Attention, residents of Upstate South Carolina! A strong thunderstorm alert has just been issued by the National Weather Service at 9:55 p.m. this Wednesday evening. This alert is effective until 10:45 p.m. for several counties including Anderson, Laurens, Greenville, and Spartanburg. If you live in these areas or are planning to be outdoors, it’s time to pay close attention!
What to Expect
So, what can you expect from this storm? Well, brace yourself for some marble-sized hail (about 0.5 inches) and wind gusts that could reach up to 40 mph. That’s strong enough to send tree limbs tumbling and maybe even toss around some of those loose items in your yard. Keep an eye out for minor hail damage, particularly to outdoor equipment and decorations.
The Doppler radar is currently tracking a robust thunderstorm just 15 miles south of downtown Greenville, or about 6 miles east of West Pelzer. This storm is moving northeast at 20 mph. The locations that may feel the brunt of this storm include Simpsonville, Fork Shoals, Williamston, West Pelzer, and several more around the Greenville Eastside area.
Stay Safe!
Residents are advised to seek shelter indoors if you’re caught outside when the storm hits. With storms like these, the risk of lightning is a real concern. Did you know that the U.S. experiences lightning strikes about 25 million times each year? Summer is the peak season, and it’s responsible for an average of 20 fatalities annually! Being inside while the storm passes is your best bet for safety.
If you don’t have access to indoor shelter during the storm, make sure to take precautions to keep yourself safe. Any time a thunderstorm approaches, the chances of lightning increase, peaking when the storm is directly overhead before tapering off as it moves away. And make sure you drive cautiously, as hydroplaning can occur when water builds up on the roads.
Weather Ahead
Looking at the forecast, after this evening’s storms, there’s a cold front expected to sweep through the eastern U.S. and could bring more severe thunderstorms mid-week. For those in the Deep South and Southeast, warm temperatures are still on the horizon.
As we kick off Monday, expect likely showers and more thunderstorms from late morning to afternoon, with a mild high near 72°F. Winds will be coming from the southwest at 10 to 15 mph, with gusts up to 25 mph, and forecasts show an 80% chance of precipitation on Monday. Hold tight; chances of showers and thunderstorms will linger through Monday evening.
What’s Coming Up?
As we move to mid-to-late week, temperatures are set to rise into the 80s, with another cold front expected to roll in by Sunday, potentially signaling more storms on the horizon. Tuesday is looking like a nice day with a high of 73°F, but warmer days are ahead, reaching up to 87°F by Friday! Just keep those umbrellas handy as showers may pop up again by Sunday.
Residents are crossing their fingers for rain to help extinguish the ongoing Table Rock and Persimmon Ridge wildfires in the Upstate. Let’s hope Mother Nature cooperates!
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Additional Resources
- WYFF4: Tornado Threat in Greenville
- Fox Carolina: Severe Thunderstorm Warning
- Greenville Online: Severe Storms Impacting Upstate SC
- Weather.com: Today’s Weather
- Greenville Advocate: Limited Storm Severity Expected
- Wikipedia: Thunderstorm
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Meteorology
- Google Search: Thunderstorm Safety
- Google Scholar: Thunderstorm Research
- Google News: Severe Weather
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