Augusta, GA

Deadly storm leaves a path of damage through CSRA

Published

9 months ago

June 8, 2025

Deadly storm leaves a path of damage through CSRA

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A deadly storm left a path of damage in the CSRA as it lashed its way through the region Saturday night.

Sheets of rain came down as thunder roared and winds gusted during the storm that started suddenly – although not unexpectedly, since News 12 meteorologists had issued a FIRST ALERT for possible severe weather.

Stretching across the region, the storm left one person dead in Banks County, Ga.

In the CSRA, much of the damage was in Aiken County, including trees that came down and blocked roads in the Rapids neighborhood off River Bluff Drive in North Augusta. In that same neighborhood, part of a shed blew into a road.

Also in North Augusta, power was out from Exit 1 of Interstate 20 all the way down Martintown Road to Georgia Avenue. At the exit, Waffle House employees were standing around outside waiting for power to come back on.

Our weather app can help you track storms, and you can get alerts from the News First Alert...

In total, about 4,000 Dominion Energy customers were without power at one point in Aiken County. For the current Dominion outage map, visit https://outagemap.dominionenergysc.com/.

In Augusta, electricity was out for about 2,000 Georgia Power customers at one point. For the current outage map, visit https://outagemap.georgiapower.com/.

Other problems included:

A tree was down at Cherokee Drive and Jefferson Davis Highway in Clearwater. Also, one power pole and power lines were down.
A tree came down on a house on Hammond Road.
A transformer blew at Maple Street and Truman Avenue and set grass on fire in New Ellenton.
A tree blocked tree Mount Calvary Road in Aiken County.
The storm started a small brush fire near Midland Valley Estates on Jefferson Davis Highway. The source of the fire appeared to be a transformer.
In Edgefield County, power poles and power lines were down in the 800 block of Highway 283. Neighbors came out to direct traffic.

A storm started a small fire near Midland Valley Estates on Jefferson Davis Highway in Aiken... — A storm started a small fire near Midland Valley Estates on Jefferson Davis Highway in Aiken County.(WRDW)

Elsewhere in the region, the Georgia Department of Public Safety said one person was killed when a tree came down on his car in Banks County.

Jason Keith Payne, 56, was driving east on Georgia Highway 51 when a tree on the south side of the highway fell onto his car. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp expressed condolences.

“Join us in praying for the loved ones of a Georgian tragically lost tonight due to the severe storms,” he said Saturday night in a post on X. “As we keep them in our thoughts, we’re also praying for the first responders rushing to help those affected by this strong weather system and the safety of those in its path.”

There could be more severe weather ahead.

First Alert meteorologist Emily Acton explains Saturday night’s storm and looks at what could be ahead for the CSRA.

A FIRST ALERT remains in effect Sunday and Monday for the chance of severe storms.

The Storm Prediction Center has placed the CSRA, including Augusta and Aiken, in its category of slight risk (2 out of 5) for severe thunderstorms Sunday and Monday, with damaging winds and large hail being the main concerns.

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Augusta, GA

Peach Belt tournament: Augusta misses out for the first time in Metress era

Published

8 hours ago

March 2, 2026

Press Room

Peach Belt tournament: Augusta misses out for the first time in Metress era

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The 2025-2026 Peach Belt Conference brackets are set, and there is plenty of shakeup this year.

Starting with the women’s bracket, Augusta University secured the #4 overall seed and will face #5 seed Middle Georgia in round one.

USCA’s women’s team did not fair as well, finishing in last place of this season’s standings.

On the men’s side, USCA’s men’s team secured the eighth and final spot in the conference tournament.

In a shocking turn of events, AU’s men’s team did not qualify for the tournament.

This marks the first time the program has missed the PBC tournament since Dip Metress took over the program in 2004.

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Augusta, GA

Augusta Falls to Georgia Southwestern in Final Game of the Series – Augusta University

Published

20 hours ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Augusta Falls to Georgia Southwestern in Final Game of the Series – Augusta University

Augusta, Ga. – Augusta managed just five hits and one run and fell to Georgia Southwestern 12-1 Sunday as the Hurricanes win two of the three games of the series. The Jaguars are now 7-2 in Peach Belt Conference play and 11-8 overall. The Canes improve to 7-2 in conference play and 12-7 overall.

Georgia Southwestern scored runs in all but one inning including four runs in the first two innings and plated five runs in the fifth, highlighted by a grand slam.

The only Augusta run would come in the fourth inning. Landon Leonard would reach on an error and would come around when Kent Moon reached on a fielder’s choice that would plate Leonard.

Leonard, Moon, Davis Newman, Harris Bachelder and Jakob Cowart would collect the hits for the Jaguars.

Augusta will next be in action on Friday when the open up a three game series with Lander at Jaguar Field. First pitch on Friday is set for 6:00 p.m.

Fans of Jaguar Athletics can subscribe to the email listserve by clicking here. Fans can follow Augusta University at www.augustajags.com and receive short updates on Facebook at Augusta University Athletics and on Twitter at @AugustaJags.

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Augusta, GA

Protestors in downtown Augusta speak out after strikes on Iran

Published

1 day ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Protestors in downtown Augusta speak out after strikes on Iran

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Local protestors made their voices heard after Israel and the U.S. announced strikes on Iran Saturday, ones that killed Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, reports say.

Protesters lined 13th Street in Downtown Augusta and walked across the river to North Augusta to make sure as many people as possible heard them.

50501 CSRA already had a march planned for Saturday, but in light of the strikes on Iran, decided to expand its focus.

Local leaders spoke about their concerns for the strikes, and roughly 60 people showed up to share theirs as well.

One of the event organizers said to make your voice heard your voice heard.

“Just call your people, call your representatives, if you don’t like that Iran was bombed, I don’t either. But call people and let them know, email them. Let it be relentless. Congress did not approve this. They have a say in this,” Zee Cook said.

The strike is being called “Operation Epic Fury,” with Iran responding with multiple missile and drone strikes across the Middle East.

In a social media post, President Trump said the bombing of the country will continue “as long as necessary.”

People across the world began lining the streets as well in support and against the decision.

Leaders across the world reacted to the news, including those in Georgia and South Carolina.

There’s a protest planned in Charleston and other regional cities this week.

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