South Carolina, 1998

Damaging Winds and Lightning Strike in South Carolina, July 31, 1998

July 31, 1998 · NWS CHS · 8 events in 5 counties and zones

7 thunderstorm wind, 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
None recorded
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), 20 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:09 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

7 thunderstorm wind, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Hampton

When
July 31, 3:10 PM EST to 3:13 PM EST
Where
Hampton County, Estill
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
32.750, -81.230

Powerlines down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Colleton

When
July 31, 3:15 PM EST to 3:18 PM EST
Where
Colleton County, Islandton
Measured
55 kt (63 mph)
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
32.900, -80.930

Thunderstorm Wind, Colleton

When
July 31, 3:25 PM EST to 3:28 PM EST
Where
Colleton County, Walterboro
Measured
55 kt (63 mph)
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
32.900, -80.650

Trees and powerlines down.

Lightning, Colleton

When
July 31, 3:25 PM EST to 3:45 PM EST
Where
Colleton County, Walterboro
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
32.843, -80.650 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A barn was struck by lightning, which started a fire.

Thunderstorm Wind, Jasper

When
July 31, 3:50 PM EST to 3:54 PM EST
Where
Jasper County, Ridgeland
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
32.480, -81.020

Trees down near I-95.

Thunderstorm Wind, Beaufort

When
July 31, 4:10 PM EST to 4:13 PM EST
Where
Beaufort County, 5 mi W of Beaufort
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
32.430, -80.770

Trees down along Highway 170.

Thunderstorm Wind, Beaufort

When
July 31, 4:25 PM EST to 4:28 PM EST
Where
Beaufort County, Beaufort
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
32.430, -80.680

Trees down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Berkeley

When
July 31, 5:00 PM EST to 5:04 PM EST
Where
Berkeley County, Bonneau
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
33.300, -79.950

Powerlines down.

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.
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 1998Every state in 1998This day in weather historyWarnings in South Carolina, July 1998

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: 5653248, 5653249, 5653573, 5653574, 5653575, 5653245, 5653246, 5653247.