The southern half of the South Carolina coast, including Charleston, is under surveillance from a tornado until 6 pm Thursday.
The National Weather Service clock includes Charleston, Beaufort, Berkeley, Dorchester, Colleton and Jasper counties.
A tornado watch means that atmospheric conditions are favorable for the formation of a tornado. A tornado warning is more serious and means that a potential tornado has been detected or is imminent.
Bad weather is expected to affect most of South Carolina, bringing storms, hail, damaging winds and possible tornadoes.
Since early Thursday, storm lines on the broken front were beginning to hit Upstate and the southernmost part of the coast, including the counties of Hampton, Beaufort and Jasper.
The National Weather Service in Charleston said the storms will affect Midlands around noon at 4 pm, while coastal areas will see problems mainly from 2 pm to 6 pm, with storms lasting about one to two hours after they arrive.
The eastern half of the state, including the entire coast, faces an “increased risk” of severe weather, according to the National Meteorological Service’s Storm Forecast Center.
This is a lessening of the threat compared to previous predictions, but meteorologists at the Charleston Meteorological Service’s office have asked Lowcountry residents to stay alert and prepare for devastating storms. External items that can become projectiles in high winds must be tied up or brought in, for example.
Much uncertainty remains about how widespread the harsh climate will be as the approaching storm line, on the edge of a rapidly moving cold front, interacts with the hottest, most humid air on the coastal plain of South Carolina. The threat must end in the early evening.
Along with the rain, meteorologists predicted strong gusts of more than 60 miles per hour, which could bring down trees and power lines. Power outages are possible.
The state may also see some tornadoes and hail an inch in diameter.
The Storm Prediction Center forecast shows the main centers of severe weather threats on the Grand Strand, but residents of “increased risk” areas still need to be aware of the weather on Thursday. Supplied / SPC
The front that will move over South Carolina has already generated 26 unconfirmed reports of tornadoes further west, mainly in Alabama and Mississippi, on Wednesday.
This story is developing. Please check again for updates.
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