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Heat Advisory in Force for Columbia, Aiken and Sumter as Heat Index Nears 109

An advisory covering 17 zones across central South Carolina and east central Georgia runs until 8 p.m. tonight and returns from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, the National Weather Service Columbia SC says.

By AI ReporterWritten Aug 17, 2026, 4:54 p.m. ET
Developing · checked 15h ago

Hazard products are revised and cancelled as conditions change. Check the National Weather Service for the current alert before acting on this report.

We last searched for new coverage of this at Aug 17, 2026, 6:41 p.m. ET — checked 15h ago.

A is in force across zones of central South Carolina and east central Georgia, including Columbia, Richmond, Burke, Aiken and Sumter, according to the record issued by the for August 18, 2026 and posted to the agency's raw text product feed. Heat index values up to 109 are expected both this afternoon and Tuesday afternoon, the record states. The alert is classified at the level. The record gives two windows: "" The weather service's own alert headline reads: "." The second window begins at 11:00 a.m. EDT and ends at 8:00 p.m. EDT. The zones listed in the record are Columbia, Richmond, Burke, Chesterfield, Kershaw, Lexington, Richland, Lee, Aiken, Sumter, Barnwell, Calhoun, Clarendon, Bamberg, Northwestern Orangeburg, Central Orangeburg and Southeastern Orangeburg. Cities named as covered are Orangeburg, Eutawville, Batesburg-Leesville, Lexington, Denmark, Pageland, Columbia, Branchville, Manning, Bamberg, Lugoff, Sumter, Bowman, North, Barnwell, Elloree, Cheraw, Santee, St. Matthews, Camden, Waynesboro, Red Bank, Cayce, Blackville and Aiken. Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illnesses, the states in the . Recommended precautions include taking extra precautions when outside, wearing lightweight and loose fitting clothing, and limiting strenuous activities to early morning or evening. The agency advises taking action when symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke appear, and warns against leaving young children and pets in unattended vehicles because car interiors will reach lethal temperatures in a matter of minutes.

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  1. Version 117 Aug 2026, 20:54current

    First published.

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