Georgia, South Carolina Special Weather Statement - Moderate | Effective 05/22/2026 16:50

Headline: 
Special Weather Statement issued May 22 at 7:50PM EDT by NWS Columbia SC
Event: 
Special Weather Statement
Urgency: 
Expected
Effective: 
May 22, 2026 - 4:50pm
Expires: 
May 22, 2026 - 5:30pm
Description: 
At 749 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a line of strong thunderstorms along a line extending from 6 miles northwest of Lincolnton to near Warrenton to 8 miles north of Herndon. Movement was northeast at 30 mph. ...Boaters on Lake Thurmond Should Seek Safe Harbor... HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Locations impacted include... North Augusta, Grovetown, Evans, Thomson, Waynesboro, Fort Gordon, Augusta, Clearwater, Martinez, Plant Vogtle, Belvedere, Hephzibah, McCormick, Harlem, Jackson, Lincolnton, Glendale, Gough, South Augusta, and Clarks Hill Recreation Area. This includes the following highways... Interstate 20 in Georgia between mile markers 166 and 201. Interstate 20 in South Carolina between mile markers 0 and 8. Interstate 520 in Georgia between mile markers 1 and 15. Interstate 520 in South Carolina between mile markers 16 and 23.
Instruction: 
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building. Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms. Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe shelter inside a building or vehicle. If on or near Lake Thurmond, get out of the water and move indoors or inside a vehicle. Remember, lightning can strike out to 10 miles from the parent thunderstorm. If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning. Move to safe shelter now! Do not be caught on the water in a thunderstorm.
Area Description: 
Lincoln; McDuffie; Columbia; Richmond; Burke; McCormick; Edgefield; Aiken; Barnwell
Forcast Office: 
NWS Columbia SC