Weather alert in place for Midlands Wednesday afternoon - gusts up to 50 mph

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A weather alert was issued by the NWS Columbia SC on Wednesday at 1:39 p.m. for strong thunderstorms until 2:30 p.m. The alert is for Central Orangeburg and Southeastern Orangeburg as well as Sumter, Calhoun and Clarendon counties.

Wind gusts of up to 50 mph and pea-sized hail (0.25 inches) are predicted.

"At 1:39 p.m., Doppler radar tracked a strong thunderstorm near Elloree, or 10 miles east of Brookdale, moving northeast at 45 mph," states the NWS. "Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is possible."

Locations impacted by the alert include Sumter, Manning, south Sumter, Summerton, Elloree, Alcolu, Santee State Park, Santee Cooper Regional Airport, Mulberry, Millwood, Santee, Pinewood, Cameron, Paxville, Vance, Poplar Creek Landing, Rimini, Stumphole Landing, Brogdon and Lone Star. This includes the following highways: Interstate 26 near mile marker 147, near mile marker 150, and between mile markers 156 and 167. Interstate 95 between mile markers 89 and 128.

The NWS adds, "If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building."

This alert is in effect until 2:30 p.m.

How to react when facing a lightning hazard?

Around 25 million lightning strikes occur in the United States every year, with most taking place during the summer months. The NWS reports that these strikes result in about 20 fatalities annually. The probability of lightning strikes rises as a thunderstorm approaches and peaks when the storm is directly above. As the storm moves away, this likelihood decreases.

Here are suggestions for staying safe during a thunderstorm:

• To lower the risk of lightning strikes, when going outdoors, develop a plan to reach a safer spot.
• If the sky turns ominous and thunder can be heard, find a secure place for shelter.
• Once indoors, avoid touching corded phones, electrical equipment, plumbing, and windows and doors.
• Wait for 30 minutes after the last lightning or thunder before going back out.

If finding indoor shelter is not an option:

• Stay away from open fields, hill summits, or ridge tops.
• Keep a distance from tall, isolated trees or other elevated objects. If in a forest, stay close to lower trees.
• If you are in a group, disperse to prevent the current from passing between group members.
• When camping in an open environment, select a campsite in a valley, ravine, or low region. Just remember, tents do not offer protection from lightning.
• Keep a distance from water, wet articles, and metal objects. While water and metal do not draw lightning, they are proficient conductors of electricity.

Rainy weather driving tips

• Switch on headlights - Even during daylight hours, using headlights can enhance visibility and signal your presence to other drivers.
• While driving - Stick to the middle lanes and stay on elevated ground. Rainwater tends to accumulate at the road edges.
• Avoid puddles - Driving into puddles or low rainwater areas can lead to vehicles hydroplaning or losing control.
• Do not follow large vehicles closely - Large vehicles like trucks or buses can create a spray of water that can reduce your visibility.
• Avoid flooded areas - When encountering a flooded road, do a U-turn and head back. The strong currents from flash floods can pull drivers off roadways. Driving through deep water can also negatively affect a vehicle's mechanical and electrical systems.

What is hydroplaning?

Hydroplaning occurs when a vehicle begins to slide uncontrollably on wet roads.

This happens when water in front of the tire builds up faster than the vehicle's weight can push water out of the way. The water pressure then causes the vehicle to rise and slide on a thin layer of water between the tires and the road, making the driver lose control. The top three contributors to hydroplaning are:

1. Vehicle speed - When a vehicle's speed increases, the tire-traction grip and ability to control the vehicle decreases. Drive at a reduced speed during wet weather.
2. Water depth - The deeper the water, the sooner a vehicle loses traction on the road. It doesn't matter how deep the water is, even a thin layer can lead to hydroplaning.
3. Tire tread depth - Checking your tire tread before hitting the road is important, as low or no tread can lead to sliding.

In the event of your vehicle hydroplaning, here's what to know:

• Ease off the accelerator - Step off the gas to slow down the vehicle until the tires find traction.
• Turn into the skid - Turning into the skid can help the vehicle's tires realign to regain control.
• Make sure the tires reconnect with the road - During the skid, wait until the tires reconnect with the road and then gently straighten the wheels to regain control.
• Brake gently as needed - Brake normally if the vehicle has anti-lock brakes and pump brakes gently if in an older vehicle.

Source: The National Weather Service

United Robots South Carolina

This story was originally published May 27, 2026 at 1:43 PM.