Strong Wind — Lee, South Carolina

2022-01-03 · Lee, South Carolina

Event narrative

Trees and power lines were downed across the county. Two motor vehicle accidents, involving downed trees, occurred.

Wider weather episode

An area of low pressure developed along a frontal boundary near the Deep South/Gulf Coast region on Sunday January 2nd, 2022. In response to the approach of a strong upper low, the surface low intensified rapidly and moved NE over Central GA, and across the Upstate of SC during the early morning of January 3rd, then into NC. This led to strong gradient wind gusts from a SW to W direction, that peaked behind the passage of a frontal boundary just south of the low during the early morning hours of Monday, January 3rd. Numerous reports of downed trees, tree limbs, and power lines were received, along with measured wind gusts that generally ranged from around 45 to around 60 mph. Total rainfall amounts with the system generally ranged between 1 and 2 inches across the northern and central Midlands of SC, with higher amounts ranging from 2 to around 3.5 inches across the southern and eastern Midlands. No reports of significant street or flash flooding were received, but there was some minor river flooding in a few locations.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 991473. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.