Tornadoes and Hail in South Carolina, August 16, 1994

Tornado touched down near intersection of Highways 64 and 301, moved north northwest to slightly north of Govan. The tornado was up and down many times topping trees. One mobile home was overturned and heavily damaged.

Tornado downed trees and power lines at Neese.

Tornado observed as it touched down and damaged trees and home in southeast Edmund. It lifted and moved across Edmund Fire Station, then touched down and damaged pine forest immediately north of Edmund.

Tornado observed as it touched down and damaged trees and home in southeast Edmund. It lifted and moved across Edmund Fire Station, then touched down and damaged pine forest immediately north of Edmund.

Tornado demolished the north portion of a mini-warehouse complex near the SC602 and SC6 intersection. It moved northward and overturned three cars in Redbank, blew down trees and power lines.

Tornado was up and down several times taking down trees and power lines. A funnel cloud was sighted but, no touchdowns reported.

Lake Murray ,Tornado touched down near intersection of SC311 and SC244 3 miles south-southeast of Lexington. Major damage occurred to the Glassmaster factory at the intersection of SC6 and Interstate 20. The tornado from that point was mostly on the ground as it moved through east and north central Lexington. Outside of Lexington, the tornado passed near the Rikard Nursing home. The storm became more intense with another area of severe damage in the Secret Cove area along the south Lake Murray shore. The tornado apparently dissipated over Lake Murray although strong winds were noted in the Old Forbes Road area on the northern shore of Lake Murray. Approximately 200 homes were damaged, many businesses, several churches and public buildings were also damaged. Five electric substations were damaged in Lexington County with 15,000 customers without electrical power. Forty people were injured. The tornado was observed by many people from the time it first struck near SC602 until it dissipated over Lake Murray.

Tornado funnel cloud observed by FAA Control Tower and National Weather Service personnel at the Columbia Airport. The tornado touched down briefly in a wooded area 3 miles southwest of the Airport destroying a small area of timber and then moved to 3 miles northwest of the Airport as a funnel cloud.

Tornado took down trees and power lines and damaged roofs to some homes.

Tornado completely destroyed a square stick frame home.

Tornado touched down in a rural area taking out trees.

Trees and power lines blown down.

,,,,,,,,Thunderstorm Winds Large hail and thunderstorm winds reported at Richburg.

Limbs and large tree blown down.

Tornado began near Santuc as a large multi-vortex F3 tornado. Spotters engaged the storm almost immediately and followed it as it curved north to northwest through the County. The storm had intermittent ground contact of about 30 to 40 percent but there was not a great deal of separation between areas of damage. The path width gradually diminished to about 50 yards from 0.75 mile initially, and the storm intensity gradually weakened to F2 and then to F1 at Pauline. The tornado crossed into Spartanburg County near Pacolet Mills at 1545EST. A well constructed home near Santuc was destroyed, a stationary vehicle was thrown aout 150 yds, and other homes and structures received severe damage along its path.

Trees blown down near highway 176.

This tornado was nearly parallel to the Santuc tornado described above. It moved along a track 2 to 3 miles east of the first storm and just a few minutes later. This tornado was not as large nor intense as the first tornado and was on the ground about 20 to 30 percent of the time. The most damage occurred around Carlisle where the roof of a restaurant was removed and homes and mobile homes were damaged - and at the end of its track at Cowpens where nearly $80,000 damage was done to homes and mobile homes. At Cowpens, one resident watched the tornado become stationary for a minute or so in an open field just before it dissipated. The tornado crossed into Cherokee County at 1600EST and into Spartanburg County at 1620EST. Spotters were able to follow both the above tornadoes for most of their paths through Union County.

Tornado blew down large trees and ripped a roof and rafters off a home at intersection of SC101 and Rocky Point Road.

Numerous trees down between Hickory Grove and Smyrna

Emergency Preparedness Director reported trees down 2 miles south of County Airport

Tornado touched down at SC54 and SC269 and took out trees

Tornado struck near highway SC321 and damaged an area of trees.

This tornado touched down briefly and caused severe damage to a large well-constructed home. Otherwise, damage was limited to trees, powerlines, and outbuildings. The tornado moved northwest along a 3-mile track before dissipating.

This tornado caused substantial damage to homes and a couple of churches. It crossed Interstate 85 and then moved into North Carolina. The vortex was clearly visible to many people in the area as it moved along the base of a small mountain at Blacksburg.

Tornado touched down near Woods Ferry Road between highways 9 and 72 blowing down trees.

The tornado struck near Lockhart where a woman was injured when a mobile home was destroyed. The mobile home was picked up with a woman and son inside and tossed about 100 yards. Two brick homes were virtually destroyed in the same area. The tornado crossed into Cherokee County at 1810EST and moved to Gowdeysville where a church was destroyed and some homes severely damaged. Damage from the above tornadoes exceeded $800,000 in Cherokee County, about $600,000 in Union County, near $90,000 in Spartanburg County, and less than $10,000 in Greenwood County.