NWS Urges Caution as Flash Floods Sweep Through South Carolina

On August 6, 2025, the National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologists at the Greenville-Spartanburg office in South Carolina warned residents of York County to keep children away from storm drains, culverts, creeks, and streams as flash floods swept through the region. This warning comes amid a period of repeated flash flooding events across the United States this summer, including the recent catastrophic flooding in Texas that resulted in over 100 fatalities and highlighted the dangers posed by fast-rising waters.

The NWS strongly recommended that residents avoid all storm drains, culverts, creeks, and streams, warning that water could rise suddenly and sweep children and adults away. According to the NWS bulletin, radar and automated gauges indicated that storm-total rainfall over the prior six to eight hours surpassed 3 to 5 inches in parts of western York County, particularly near Sharon, Hickory Grove, and Bullock Creek. As rain continued, streams began overtopping their banks and nuisance flooding escalated, with forecasts predicting significant worsening within the next one to three hours and additional rainfall anticipated throughout the day.

The NWS meteorologist in charge, Steve Wilkinson, stated that the rainfall was "well-above normal" for this time of year, though not entirely abnormal for the July-September timeframe. The flash flood warning for York County remained in effect until 4:45 p.m. Eastern time on August 6, 2025, with the heaviest rain expected to ease up in the afternoon, though some lighter rain was anticipated into the night and the following day.