South Carolina, 1995

Tornadoes and Hail in South Carolina, May 15, 1995

May 15, 1995 · 48 events in 20 counties and zones

35 hail, 11 thunderstorm wind, 2 tornado, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 47 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
1
Property damage
$66,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
48

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

35 hail, 11 thunderstorm wind, 2 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Orangeburg

When
May 15, 12:22 AM EST
Where
Orangeburg County, Norway
Property damage
$1,000
Coordinates
33.439, -80.800 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several large trees blown down across highway.

Hail, Union

When
May 15, 1:54 PM EST
Where
Union County, Pauline
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
34.689, -81.619 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Union

When
May 15, 2:20 PM EST
Where
Union County, Buffalo
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
34.689, -81.619 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Spartanburg

When
May 15, 2:30 PM EST
Where
Spartanburg County, Springfield
Measured
0.88 in hail
Coordinates
34.931, -81.991 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Spartanburg

When
May 15, 2:49 PM EST
Where
Spartanburg County, Inman
Measured
1.5 in hail
Coordinates
34.931, -81.991 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Spartanburg

When
May 15, 2:57 PM EST
Where
Spartanburg County, Spartanburg
Measured
1.5 in hail
Coordinates
34.931, -81.991 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Spartanburg

When
May 15, 3:06 PM EST
Where
Spartanburg County, Converse
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
34.931, -81.991 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Union

When
May 15, 3:22 PM EST
Where
Union County, Union and to Union
Measured
0.88 in hail
Coordinates
34.689, -81.619 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Laurens

When
May 15, 3:30 PM EST
Where
Laurens County, Clinton and to Joanna
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
34.484, -82.006 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

,,,,,,,,Thunderstorm Winds ,,,,,,,,Funnel Cloud

Hail, Lancaster

When
May 15, 3:30 PM EST
Where
Lancaster County, E Part
Measured
1.75 in hail
Property damage
$5,000
Coordinates
34.687, -80.705 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Greenville

When
May 15, 3:32 PM EST
Where
Greenville County, Simpsonville
Measured
0.88 in hail
Coordinates
34.894, -82.371 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tornado, Newberry

When
May 15, 3:53 PM EST
Where
Newberry County, ?
Rating
F0
Path length
0.1 mi
Path width
30 yd
Coordinates
34.380, -81.750

Hail, Fairfield

When
May 15, 4:00 PM EST
Where
Fairfield County, Sw Part
Measured
1 in hail
Property damage
$1,000
Coordinates
34.395, -81.121 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Kershaw

When
May 15, 4:00 PM EST
Where
Kershaw County, East Part
Measured
1.75 in hail
Property damage
$5,000
Coordinates
34.339, -80.590 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Newberry

When
May 15, 4:10 PM EST
Where
Newberry County, Newberry
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
34.290, -81.600 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Anderson

When
May 15, 4:10 PM EST
Where
Anderson County, Anderson
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
34.519, -82.638 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Anderson

When
May 15, 4:25 PM EST
Where
Anderson County, Starr
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
34.519, -82.638 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Greenville

When
May 15, 4:30 PM EST
Where
Greenville County, Simpsonville
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
34.894, -82.371 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Greenville

When
May 15, 4:36 PM EST
Where
Greenville County, Simsonville
Measured
0.88 in hail
Coordinates
34.894, -82.371 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Laurens

When
May 15, 4:38 PM EST
Where
Laurens County, Fountain
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
34.484, -82.006 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Greenville

When
May 15, 4:38 PM EST
Where
Greenville County, Fountain Inn
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
34.894, -82.371 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Lee

When
May 15, 4:45 PM EST
Where
Lee County, North Part
Measured
0.75 in hail
Property damage
$10,000
Coordinates
34.163, -80.254 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Laurens

When
May 15, 4:54 PM EST
Where
Laurens County, Gray Court
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
34.484, -82.006 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Richland

When
May 15, 5:05 PM EST
Where
Richland County, Irmo
Measured
1.75 in hail
Property damage
$10,000
Coordinates
34.022, -80.903 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Sumter

When
May 15, 5:10 PM EST
Where
Sumter County, Manchester
Property damage
$10,000
Coordinates
33.916, -80.382 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Large trees down in Manchester area.

Hail, Greenville

When
May 15, 5:18 PM EST
Where
Greenville County, Greenville-Spartanbur
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
34.894, -82.371 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Lexington

When
May 15, 5:20 PM EST
Where
Lexington County, U.S. and Interstate 2
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
33.902, -81.272 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Lexington

When
May 15, 5:30 PM EST
Where
Lexington County, Calhoun City- to St Matthews
Coordinates
33.902, -81.272 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Greenville

When
May 15, 5:40 PM EST
Where
Greenville County, Sugartit
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
34.894, -82.371 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

,,,,,,,,Thunderstorm Winds Several severe thunderstorms developed in the northwest flow under very unstable atmospheric conditions. Optimum availability of cold air aloft caused these thunderstorm to produce primarily large hail. The hail fell in large amounts. Although damage will be quite extensive from these storms - estimates were not available at the time of writing. In some areas multiple storms caused two to three hail events. A tornadic storm developed along the Union/Laurens County border, but did not produce a tornado until it moved into Newberry County.

Hail, Calhoun

When
May 15, 5:40 PM EST
Where
Calhoun County, Lonestar
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
33.675, -80.780 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Greenville

When
May 15, 5:42 PM EST
Where
Greenville County, Greenville-Spartanbur
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
34.894, -82.371 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

,,,,,,,,Thunderstorm Winds Several severe thunderstorms developed in the northwest flow under very unstable atmospheric conditions. Optimum availability of cold air aloft caused these thunderstorm to produce primarily large hail. The hail fell in large amounts. Although damage will be quite extensive from these storms - estimates were not available at the time of writing. In some areas multiple storms caused two to three hail events. A tornadic storm developed along the Union/Laurens County border, but did not produce a tornado until it moved into Newberry County.

Hail, Georgetown

When
May 15, 5:55 PM EST
Where
Georgetown County, Andrews 5 W
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
33.413, -79.299 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

,,,,,,,,Hail (1.00)

Hail, Lexington

When
May 15, 5:55 PM EST
Where
Lexington County
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
33.902, -81.272 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm winds blew roof off a mobile home.

Thunderstorm Wind, Georgetown

When
May 15, 6:00 PM EST
Where
Georgetown County, Andrews
Coordinates
33.413, -79.299 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

,,,,,,,,Hail (1.00)

Hail, Orangeburg

When
May 15, 6:00 PM EST
Where
Orangeburg County, Orangeburg
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
33.439, -80.800 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Berkeley

When
May 15, 6:00 PM EST
Where
Berkeley County, Cross
Measured
2 in hail
Property damage
$1,000
Coordinates
33.198, -79.951 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tied down mobile home was blown off its foundation. Hail (2.00 inch) was also observed with this thunderstorm.

Tornado, Berkeley

When
May 15, 6:00 PM EST
Where
Berkeley County, Cross
Rating
F0
Path length
0.2 mi
Path width
30 yd
Property damage
$3,000
Coordinates
33.198, -79.951 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tied down mobile home was blown off its foundation. Hail (2.00 inch) was also observed with this thunderstorm.

Hail, Orangeburg

When
May 15, 6:05 PM EST
Where
Orangeburg County, Holly Hill
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
33.439, -80.800 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Clarendon

When
May 15, 6:05 PM EST
Where
Clarendon County, Paxville
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
33.666, -80.216 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Dorchester

When
May 15, 6:25 PM EST
Where
Dorchester County, Summerville
Measured
60 kt (69 mph)
Injuries
1 direct, 0 indirect
Coordinates
33.080, -80.406 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm winds blew down trees, downed power lines, and caused considerable minor damage. There were several small fires started when limbs fell on power lines. One injury occurred when a tree crushed the roof of a car near Ridgeville.

Thunderstorm Wind, Orangeburg

When
May 15, 6:25 PM EST
Where
Orangeburg County
Property damage
$20,000
Coordinates
33.439, -80.800 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High winds and heavy rains wreaked havoc throughout eastern Orangeburg County. Holly Hill streets were flooded, power lines and trees blown down and roof blown off a mobile home in Eutawville. A pontoon boat was turned over by the wind at Rock Pond Campground.

Thunderstorm Wind, Dorchester

When
May 15, 6:30 PM EST
Where
Dorchester County, Summerville
Measured
65 kt (75 mph)
Coordinates
33.080, -80.406 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm winds blew down trees, downed power lines, and caused considerable minor damage. There were several small fires started when limbs fell on power lines. One injury occurred when a tree crushed the roof of a car near Ridgeville.

Thunderstorm Wind, Dorchester

When
May 15, 6:40 PM EST
Where
Dorchester County, Summerville
Measured
60 kt (69 mph)
Coordinates
33.080, -80.406 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm winds blew down trees, downed power lines, and caused considerable minor damage. There were several small fires started when limbs fell on power lines. One injury occurred when a tree crushed the roof of a car near Ridgeville.

Thunderstorm Wind, Dorchester

When
May 15, 6:47 PM EST
Where
Dorchester County, Summervile
Measured
60 kt (69 mph)
Coordinates
33.080, -80.406 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm winds blew down trees, downed power lines, and caused considerable minor damage. There were several small fires started when limbs fell on power lines. One injury occurred when a tree crushed the roof of a car near Ridgeville.

Hail, Berkeley

When
May 15, 6:47 PM EST
Where
Berkeley County, Moncks Corner-
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
33.198, -79.951 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

,,,,,,,,,Thunderstorm Winds(G49)

Hail, Charleston

When
May 15, 6:54 PM EST
Where
Charleston County, North Charleston
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
32.749, -79.942 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Large tree limbs down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Charleston

When
May 15, 7:00 PM EST
Where
Charleston County, Folly Beach
Coordinates
32.749, -79.942 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Large tree limbs down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Charleston

When
May 15, 7:00 PM EST
Where
Charleston County, Navy Base
Measured
57 kt (66 mph)
Coordinates
32.749, -79.942 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Thunderstorm Wind
Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Tornado
A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in South Carolina in 1995Every state in 1995This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for South Carolina, 1995Warnings in South Carolina, May 1995

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 10346871, 10346305, 10346306, 10346010, 10346011, 10346012, 10346013, 10346307, 10346710, 10347515, 10347122, 10346826, 10347373, 10347441, 10346827, 10347027, 10347028, 10347123, 10347124, 10346711, 10347125, 10346721, 10346712, 10346996, 10346262, 10347126, 10346756, 10346757, 10347127, 10347241, 10347158, 10346680, 10346758, 10346681, 10346872, 10347184, 10347185, 10346873, 10347108, 10345457, and more.