South Carolina, 1997

Hail and Damaging Winds in South Carolina, August 5 to 16, 1997

August 5 to 16, 1997 · NWS CAE · 8 events in 5 counties and zones

5 thunderstorm wind, 2 hail, 1 lightning, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 1 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

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$23,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
8

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 Charleston,SC radar (KCLX), 60 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:30 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

5 thunderstorm wind, 2 hail, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Bamberg

When
August 5, 1:32 PM EST to 1:50 PM EST
Where
Bamberg County, Olar to Ehrhardt
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
33.180, -81.180

A severe thunderstorm took down trees along SC Highway 64 and other adjacent county roads.

Thunderstorm Wind, Fairfield

When
August 5, 3:42 PM EST to 4:04 PM EST
Where
Fairfield County, Blair to Jenkinsville
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
34.420, -81.380

A severe thunderstorm took down trees on SC Highways 307, 213, 48, 114, and 70 from Blair to Monticello to 5NE of Jenkinsville as reported by Highway Maint. Dept.

Hail, Richland

When
August 5, 4:30 PM EST
Where
Richland County, 5 mi NE of Columbia
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
34.050, -80.950

NWS employee reports 1 inch hail northeast of Columbia.

Thunderstorm Wind, Chesterfield

When
August 16, 3:49 PM EST to 3:55 PM EST
Where
Chesterfield County, Patrick to 1 mi ESE of Patrick
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage
$8,000
Coordinates
34.550, -80.030

Postal employee reported trees down on SC Highway 80. Shutters and shingles were blown off one home.

Hail, Bamberg

When
August 16, 4:48 PM EST to 4:55 PM EST
Where
Bamberg County, Olar to 1 mi W of Olar
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
33.170, -81.180

Post Office reports 1 inch hail.

Thunderstorm Wind, Bamberg

When
August 16, 4:55 PM EST to 5:03 PM EST
Where
Bamberg County, Olar to 1 mi NW of Olar
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
33.180, -81.200

Post Office reports trees down on SC Highway 64. Tops were broken off and blown into an animal shelter.

Lightning, Bamberg

When
August 16, 5:00 PM EST
Where
Bamberg County, 1 mi WNW of Olar
Property damage
$15,000
Coordinates
33.215, -81.054 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Garage was hit and destroyed by lightning. Contents included an automoblie, tractors, mowers, etc.

Thunderstorm Wind, Barnwell

When
August 16, 5:08 PM EST to 5:20 PM EST
Where
Barnwell County, Hilda to 4 mi SSE of Hilda
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
33.220, -81.220

Highway Dept. reports several trees were blow down along SC Highway 86.

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.
Lightning
A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in South Carolina in 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings in South Carolina, August 1997

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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5608347, 5608348, 5608349, 5608342, 5608343, 5608344, 5608345, 5608346.