The National Weather Service issued a tornado watch for 14 of South Carolina’s 46 counties Saturday, the same day voters there will cast their votes in for the South Carolina Republican primary election.
The tornado watch includes Columbia, the Palmetto state capital and the largest city in South Carolina. It will be interesting to see how the weather influences voter turnout for voters in South Carolina Saturday, who should be charged up for the election that saw plenty of fireworks from the remaining Republican candidates this week.
However, The Weather Channel predicted conditions that should “entice voters to head out,” in their “South Carolina Primary Forecast” released Saturday. They’ve reduced their severe weather watch to just two counties in South Carolina, Allendale and Hampton.
“A cold front will also be nearing South Carolina. This will trigger scattered showers and thunderstorms, particularly across the northern portion of the state. A few could be locally severe,” said The Weather Channel meteorologist Chris Dolce in a forecast posted to Weather.com on Friday.
Popular South Carolina newspaper The State reports a mixed voter turnout statewide as of the early afternoon portion of voting, an indication that voter turnout should be near the 2008 levels there.
“Rain has been falling much of the day in the Upstate and rain arrived in the Midlands by mid-morning,” writes The State in an article Saturday.
The weather forced Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum to delay an appearance at a polling station in Chapin by three hours.
Whereas supporters of Texas congressman Ron Paul were said to be the ones who would brave severe weather conditions in Iowa, Newt Gingrich supporters are likely to brave storms in South Carolina considering his regional popularity and surging support indicated by recent polls.
Weather did not end up being a factor in Iowa, but if it is in South Carolina, supporters of Mr. Gingrich seem to be the most committed evidenced by the standing ovations he received during debates this week and the sell out crowds at his campaign appearances in recent days.
