Lightning in Richland County, South Carolina

Lightning July 12, 2025 · Richland County, South Carolina

$300K

Damage as recorded

Where the report was made, with tornadoes recorded within 15 miles over the years.

What the National Weather Service wrote

Columbia-Richland Fire Department reported responding to a 2-alarm fire caused by a lightning strike in the 1100 block of Bradford Ridge Lane. Two homes were left uninhabitable, with a third sustaining minor damage. All occupants escaped with no injuries.

The wider storm

A weak shortwave along the apex of an upper ridge and some weak surface troughing brought isolated convection across the Midlands in SC. Instability was modest with weak organizing shear, but by the late afternoon moderate DCAPE was seen in the central Midlands as deep mixing occurred. This led to a severe thunderstorm in southern Kershaw County that caused tree damage. There was also a reported 2-alarm fire in Richland County due to a lightning strike.

Began near Pontiac Airstrip Arp (34.1231, -80.8851).

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event 1271342. Narratives are written by the National Weather Service forecast office that issued the report.

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