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.

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Comments

[gaydood]

05:44 PM on 01/21/2012

the guy in the sky must not like the gopeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

[Nagarjuna]

05:03 PM on 01/21/2012

It's that Texas rain that Perry was praying for.

[ssteplana]

05:50 PM on 01/21/2012

haha this was good!

[eejones]

04:16 PM on 01/21/2012

I remember the Democratic caucus of 2008 in this red state. A half-mile long line in the dark in bitter-cold, windy weather but everyone was cheerful. They had to open up multiple locations because the people could not fit into the scheduled venue. I never got to caucus - could not find a parking spot anywhere. The outcome was overwhelming for Obama.

I guess they don't feel very enthusiasic for their candidates if a little rain and Republican voter ID laws are going to keep them home. I can't say I blame them.

[undertheinfluence]

03:53 PM on 01/21/2012

As far as the GOP candidates go, I believe Gingrich to be God's choice. I think, considering God is usually in the storm, that God will see to it that Newt wins today. Newt is a prime example of God parting the sea of politics, in order to get His candidate onto solid ground.

Go God, Go Newt!!

[NateFisher]

04:13 PM on 01/21/2012

I see your happy meds are working.

[skeeterandbucky]

07:13 PM on 01/21/2012

Go Nate!

[YahBetcha]

03:39 PM on 01/21/2012

They won't vote cause it might rain! WTF!

[undertheinfluence]

04:04 PM on 01/21/2012

F&F on the bio.LOL!!

God's raining in Romney's parade.:)

[edwardandersons]

03:38 PM on 01/21/2012

Well the followers of Paul are a very committed group so I think a litte rain,hail and win will deter them from voting. They know how the elite are doing all they can to stop them from voting and with this tenancity hopefully nothing will stand in their way. Well I guess if Newt was in their way it might be a problem hehehe...

[judiNJ]

03:35 PM on 01/21/2012

Maybe God is telling them something.

[edwardandersons]

03:34 PM on 01/21/2012

I love how HP ignores Ron Paul; no stories mention him in the campaign page and it is disgusting. A well liked SC gov endorsed Ron Paul with an awesome speech about why he decided to choose him and it is not even mentioned! I hope people wake up and vote for the person who speaks for the American people and is not a paid puppet for the corperate banking elite.

[FastPlastic]

04:11 PM on 01/21/2012

I've been watching for that article for several days now, nothing. They did however cover his "possible" knock out blow that they never bothered to follow up on. I also remember seeing an article that had Santorum praising SC governors endorsement as being the biggest factor in SC. Go figure.

[eejones]

03:32 PM on 01/21/2012

Great, now we are down to .00000000001% of the population that will decide who runs against President Obama.

[YahBetcha]

03:39 PM on 01/21/2012

Who will lose against President Obama.

[NYC619]

03:28 PM on 01/21/2012

Ok, so will the TeaTool Evangelicals whine and cry about how the tornado is "an act of God to punish sinners?" Or is that stupid sentiment only exclusive to ethnic places?

[Keith N]

03:27 PM on 01/21/2012

With all that hot air that's being spewed by the Newt-Romney-Ron-Rick blowhards I'm not surprised that twisters would form... just look how they twist the facts and truth to try and fool the American public.

[Try the truth]

03:20 PM on 01/21/2012

I Wonder if Calista's hair will move.

[A Picture is Worth]

03:30 PM on 01/21/2012

As long as Gort's eye doesn't move I will feel safe.

[freedom1947]

03:33 PM on 01/21/2012

Hair spray is flamable.

[Try the truth]

04:17 PM on 01/21/2012

If only Newt was really on fire!

[Stephen Stafford]

03:13 PM on 01/21/2012

They will not update that Weather School curriculum. They have been told. They will not listen.

This happens every time there is such an excess of hot air and card carrying windbags in any state. They thought it would not affect things in their state because windbaggery is an official state commodity.

Not so. Watch for it when these very clown cars invade your state. Not even hot air balloons will be safe.

[DennyCrane]

03:10 PM on 01/21/2012

Someone should ask the loser whether he still thinks climate change is a hoax now that it cost him the election.

[anima mundi]

03:01 PM on 01/21/2012

It must be due to all that hot air coming from the candidates!!