South Carolina Weather: Tornado Watch In Effect, Could Affect Primary Turnout

The National Weather Service has issued a Tornado Watch for parts of South Carolina and Georgia from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. The South Carolina counties covered are Aiken, Bamberg, Barnwell, Calhoun, Edgefield, Fairfield, Lexington McCormick, Newberry, Orangeburg, Richland and Saluda.

The area includes the state capital and largest city, Columbia.

The storm could also produce hail to one inch in area, wind gusts up to 70 miles per hour and dangerous lightning.

Showers and thunderstorms hit upstate and central portions of the state this morning, and more are expected this afternoon.

Obviously, the poor weather could depress turnout. However, The State reported that rain Saturday morning had not deterred voters.

Nico Hines of The Times of London speculated that the weather might hurt Mitt Romney, since the tornado watch was in effect for areas that voted for John McCain in 2008.

The polls close at 7 p.m.