NEWBERRY COUNTY, S.C. — A tornado warning covered portions of northeastern Newberry County and northwestern Fairfield County early Sunday as the National Weather Service tracked a storm near Blair.
The alert remained in effect until 6:30 a.m. EDT Sunday after the weather service said a tornado had been observed threatening parts of central South Carolina, including rural stretches of both counties.
An updated bulletin at 6:15 a.m. placed a confirmed tornado near Blair, about 12 miles north of VC Summer Nuclear Station, moving northeast at about 40 mph, with impacts flagged for Blair, Henderson Island and the Feasterville Fire Station area.
Residents were told to move immediately to a small interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building and stay away from windows, and people in mobile homes or vehicles were urged to seek more substantial shelter if it was safe to do so.
No hail was expected with the storm in the Newberry-Fairfield warning package, and the weather service stressed flying debris, roof and vehicle damage, and tree damage as the main hazards while the warning remained active.
Newberry County sees occasional tornadoes, typically EF0 to EF1 strength, with severe thunderstorm season running March through May, adding local context for why early-morning spring and fall storms still draw urgent shelter guidance across the Piedmont.
