Flash Flood — Orangeburg, South Carolina

2024-11-07 · near North, Orangeburg, South Carolina

Event narrative

Orangeburg County and SC state officials confirmed a complete breach of Etheredge Millpond dam, with an estimated time of 800am EST. A large section of Highway 178 was destroyed and washed out as a result of the breach. No other immediate direct damage from the breach was identified.

Wider weather episode

Record setting rainfall occurred across portions of the southern Midlands as a stalled front and a deep plume of tropical moisture caused rain rates of over 2-4 per hour for over six hours. Hurricane Rafael in the Gulf of Mexico contributed to the influx of extremely anomalous moisture. Northern Orangeburg and western Calhoun counties received over 10 and the surrounding counties saw over 6 as training tropical downpours and thunderstorms lingered over the area. Widespread flash flooding was reported from initial rainfall, causing numerous small dam and pond failures. Additional flooding from dam and pond failures along with substantial river flooding occurred along the North Fork Edisto River.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (33.6259, -81.0516)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1222039. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.