A violent weather system brought high winds and lightning.
SUMTER (WACH) -- Midlands residents took cover Monday from severe storms, bringing heavy rains, dangerous lightning and high winds.
According to Robbie Baker with the Sumter Emergency Management Division, a funnel cloud was spotted near Broad Street and West Wesmark Boulevard in Sumter early Monday evening.
At about 7:00 p.m., the weather system had loosened its grip on Sumter.
Damage was hard to spot in most areas, but along U.S. Highway 378 in Sumter County, motorists could see the aftermath of the storm. The National Weather Service says winds reached more than 60 miles per hour at times.
Although there were no reports of an actual tornado touching down in Sumter County, residents say the storm was just as bad.
“The lightning was popping and tree limbs were falling,” said Sumter resident Pamela Dukes.
“It was thundering and lightning really, really, really bad and our power went out,” said Sumter resident Brittney Sigler.
Sumter County did receive three to four inches of rain.
Residents are also dealing with power outages. SCE&G reports that around 1,700 customers were without power Monday evening.
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