Tornadoes and Damaging Wind in South Carolina, April 15, 1993

A cluster of thunderstorms associated with an old meso-low pressure system left over from the previous day and early morning hours re-intensified as it moved rapidly from central Georgia into the southern part of the upstate. A supercell began the production of severe weather with a long track but weak tornado. The tornado left a mostly continuous 34-mile path through Greenwood and Laurens Counties. It began at Bradley in Greenwood County, crossed into Laurens County 10 miles north east of Greenwood at 1540 EST, and dissipated 5 miles south-southwest of Clinton. The tornado was of F0 intensity with a width of 200 yards in Greenwood County. Trees and power lines were blown down all along the path with fairly substantial damage in the Southern part of the city of Greenwood. Chimneys were blown off some houses and large trees fell on some structures. Not including hail damage, which will not be apparent until later, damage was estimated at $75,000 to $100,000. In Laurens County the storm became a bit stronger reaching F1 intensity with a path width of 300 yards. Most damage was around Cross Hill where a couple of mobile homes were damaged (one virtually destroyed), a steeple was blown off a church, and numerous trees were blown down. Some trees fell on structures. Damage, without hail considered, was in excess of $50,000. The hailstorm associated with the supercell was very impressive. Largest hail was restricted to the area very near the tornado with large amounts of marble to dime-size hail falling north of that area. The tornado lifted before reaching Clinton but thunderstorm winds blew down some trees and power lines, blew shingles off roofs, and enormous amounts of golfball-size hail severely damaged cars and roofs.

Exactly an hour after producing the first severe weather in the upstate, the supercell produced its strongest tornado in South Carolina. A high F1/low F2 tornado struck Union. Property damage resulting from the tornado's winds was estimated about $500,000. More hail damage is likely as the hail accumulated to great depths very quickly and near the tornado track was quite large. Winds were estimated from 60 to 90 mph in downtown sections where plate glass windows were blown out. There was also considerable damage to trees and power lines along with damage from the wind-driven hail. Nearer the tornado track damage was more severe with large trees crushing some homes. Mobile homes were damaged or destroyed, and a couple of houses lost roofs from the wind. The large hail quickly clogged storm drains and an estimated 2 to 3 inches of rain fell causing $50,000 in water damage to equipment in the hospital. Highest winds from south of Union to near Monarch were estimated at 115 mph in a small area. Two people were slighlty injured when a falling tree crushed their car.