Tornado in South Carolina, September 7, 2004

Name: Tornado in South Carolina, September 7, 2004
Start: 2004-09-07T16:47
End: 2004-09-07T16:50
Location: South Carolina

September 7, 2004 · NWS ILM · 1 event in 1 county or zone

1 tornado, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. 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: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 1

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.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Wilmington, NC wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Sep 7, 3:00 PM EST, 1 hour 47 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Sep 7, 3:00 PM EST, 1 hour 47 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
400 PM EDT TUE SEP 7 2004

.SHORT TERM (TONIGHT THROUGH TOMORROW)...
PERIOD WILL BE DOMINATED BY REMNANTS OF FRANCES. HEAVY RAIN THREAT
WILL PERSIST THROUGH THE PERIOD AND THE FLOOD WATCH WILL REMAIN IN
EFFECT FOR ALL COUNTIES. SEVERE WEATHER WILL HOPEFULLY WIND DOWN
TONIGHT...ALTHOUGH SHEAR VALUES DO REMAIN HIGH...THE MORE FAVORED
NE QUADRANT OF THE CIRCULATION WILL END UP OFF TO OUR NORTH. TORNADO
WATCH CURRENTLY IN EFFECT FOR WHOLE CWA UNTIL 7PM. MODELS HAVE COME
TOGETHER WITH REGARD TO THE SPEED OF THE SYSTEM...WITH PREVIOUS ETA
RUNS BEING MUCH TOO FAST.

&&

.LONG TERM (THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY)...
SURFACE TROUGHINESS BEHIND FRANCES PROGGED TO REMAIN OVER THE AREA
UNTIL WASHING OUT FRIDAY NIGHT...KEEPING AT LEAST A SMALL CHANCE
FOR TSRA TO FIRE UP...WITH THE BEST CHANCE COMING IN THE AFTERNOON
HOURS DUE TO SOME HELP FROM DAYTIME HEATING. WEAK HIGH PRESSURE
WILL THEN NUDGE IN FROM THE NORTH THROUGH SATURDAY AND SUNDAY. FOR
NOW WILL LEAVE A DRY FCST...ALTHOUGH SILENT 20S WILL BE LEFT IN DUE
TO A SHEAR AXIS SHOWING UP AT MID LEVELS.

MODELS ARE SHOWING A COLD FRONT THAT TRIES TO PUSH THROUGH EARLY
MONDAY. ITS STILL A TOUGH CALL THOUGH...WITH IVAN POSSIBLY IN THE
PICTURE AFFECTING THE PATTERN. THE TROUGH DRIVING THE FRONT IS ALSO
TRANSIENT AND MOVES EAST VERY QUICKLY...IT MAY NOT BE ENOUGH OF A
PUSH TO SEND IT THIS FAR SOUTH.

&&

.AVIATION...
LOWERED CIGS AND VSBYS TO BE CARRIED PRETTY MUCH ACROSS THE BOARD
INTO EARLY TONIGHT AS FRANCES MOISTURE MOVES ACROSS. STILL EXPECT
CHANCE FOR HEAVY PRECIP AT ALL TERMINALS TOMORROW.

&&

.MARINE...
FRANCES WILL CONTINUE TO LIFT NORTH AND ACROSS THE APPALACHIANS
THROUGH WEDNESDAY AS IT GRADUALLY GETS ABSORBED IN A TROUGH OF LOW
PRESSURE. TIGHTER GRADIENT WILL PERSIST UNTIL FRANCES MOVES BY OUR
LATITUDE. SEAS HAVE STAYED IN THE 6 TO 8 FT CATEGORY TODAY AND WITH
CONVECTION TO BE MORE WIDESPREAD OVER THE WATERS OVERNIGHT INTO
WEDNESDAY...EXPECT SEAS TO REMAIN IN THIS RANGE.

SEAS WILL FINALLY FALL BELOW SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THRESHOLD WED
NIGHT AND EARLY THU. WEAK BOUNDARY WILL LIMB INTO THE WATERS ON SAT
AND THEN A STRONG COLD FRONT TO FOLLOW LATE SUN NIGHT/EARLY MON.

WIND AND SEAS WILL BE BENIGN FRI THROUGH SUN. SHOULD SEE A SURGE ON
NORTHEAST FLOW MON/TUE AS COOL CANADIAN HIGH BUILDS DOWN THE COAST.

&&

.ILM WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NC...TORNADO WATCH FOR ZONES NCZ087-096-097-099>101 UNTIL 7 PM.
     FLOOD WATCH FOR ZONES NCZ087-096-097-099>101 THROUGH WEDNESDAY.
SC...TORNADO WATCH FOR ZONES SCZ017-023-024-032>034-039-046 UNTIL
     7PM.
     FLOOD WATCH FOR ZONES SCZ017-023-024-032>034-039-046
     THROUGH WEDNESDAY.
MARINE...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR ZONES AMZ250-252-254-256 THROUGH
         WEDNESDAY.
&&

SHORT TERM/LONG TERM...MBB
AVIATION...MBB
MARINE...RJD

Hazardous weather outlook, Sep 7, 4:15 PM EST, 32 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
515 PM EDT TUE SEP 7 2004

NCZ087-096-097-099>101-SCZ017-023-024-032>034-039-046-081000-
BLADEN-BRUNSWICK-COLUMBUS-DARLINGTON-DILLON-FLORENCE-GEORGETOWN-
HORRY-MARION-MARLBORO-NEW HANOVER-PENDER-ROBESON-WILLIAMSBURG-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...BENNETTSVILLE...BURGAW...DARLINGTON...
DILLON...ELIZABETHTOWN...FLORENCE...GEORGETOWN...KINGSTREE...
LUMBERTON...MARION...MYRTLE BEACH...SOUTHPORT...WHITEVILLE...
WILMINGTON...WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH
515 PM EDT TUE SEP 7 2004

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHEASTERN NORTH CAROLINA
AND NORTHEASTERN SOUTH CAROLINA.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM...

...A FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT...

THE REMNANTS OF FRANCES WILL MOVE NORTH THROUGH THE SOUTHERN
APPALACHIANS TONIGHT. DEEP MOISTURE FROM BOTH THE GULF OF MEXICO AND
THE ATLANTIC OCEAN WILL PERSIST ACROSS THE AREA. THIS WILL CREATE
THE POTENTIAL FOR MORE HEAVY RAIN AND FLOODING. ISOLATED TORNADOES
WILL CONTINUE POSSIBLE TONIGHT.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY

...A FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT THROUGH WEDNESDAY...

THE REMNANTS OF FRANCES WILL MOVE NORTH ALONG THE SPINE OF THE
APPALACHIANS...AND WILL MOVE NORTH OF OUR LATITUDE BY WEDNESDAY
EVENING. THEREFORE THE THREAT FOR MORE HEAVY RAIN WILL PERSIST INTO
WEDNESDAY. IN ADDITION...ISOLATED TORNADOES WILL CONTINUE POSSIBLE
ON WEDNESDAY.

.SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS LIKELY.

&&

FOR ADDITIONAL WEATHER INFORMATION...PLEASE SEE OUR WEB SITE AT
HTTP://WWW.ERH.NOAA.GOV/ILM

RJD

In the hours before

Local storm report, Sep 7, 2:25 PM EST, 2 hours 22 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
325 PM EDT TUE SEP 07 2004

..TIME...   ...EVENT...     ...CITY LOCATION...      ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....     ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0205 PM     TORNADO          CHERRY GROVE            34.24N 78.97W
09/07/2004                   COLUMBUS           NC   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

            TORNADO TRACKED FROM CHERRY GROVE TO BOARDMAN. 2
            TORNADOES WERE REPORTED IN CERRO GORDO. 8 TO 10 HOMES HAD
            ROOFS BLOWN OFF FROM THIS TORNADO.

&&

JAN

Local storm report, Sep 7, 2:26 PM EST, 2 hours 21 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
326 PM EDT TUE SEP 07 2004

..TIME...   ...EVENT...     ...CITY LOCATION...      ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....     ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0158 PM     TORNADO          CLIO                    34.58N 79.55W
09/07/2004                   MARLBORO           SC   AMATEUR RADIO

            MAIN STREET IS BLOCKED BY DOWNED POWER LINES AND TREES.

&&

JAN

Local storm report, Sep 7, 2:26 PM EST, 2 hours 21 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED SOURCE OF THE REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
326 PM EDT TUE SEP 07 2004

..TIME...   ...EVENT...     ...CITY LOCATION...      ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....     ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0158 PM     TORNADO          CLIO                    34.58N 79.55W
09/07/2004                   MARLBORO           SC   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            MAIN STREET IS BLOCKED BY DOWNED POWER LINES AND TREES.

&&

JAN

Local storm report, Sep 7, 2:33 PM EST, 2 hours 14 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
333 PM EDT TUE SEP 07 2004

..TIME...   ...EVENT...     ...CITY LOCATION...      ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....     ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0225 PM     TORNADO          MCCOLL                  34.67N 79.55W
09/07/2004                   MARLBORO           SC   AMATEUR RADIO

            TREES DOWN.

0225 PM     TORNADO          MCCOLL                  34.67N 79.55W
09/07/2004                   MARLBORO           SC   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            TREES DOWN.

&&

JAN

Local storm report, Sep 7, 2:50 PM EST, 1 hour 57 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
350 PM EDT TUE SEP 07 2004

..TIME...   ...EVENT...     ...CITY LOCATION...      ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....     ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0345 PM     TORNADO          SOCIETY HILL            34.51N 79.85W
09/07/2004                   DARLINGTON         SC   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            TORNADO TOUCHDOWN SIGHTED AND TREE LIMBS DOWN.

&&

JAN

Local storm report, Sep 7, 4:06 PM EST, 41 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
506 PM EDT TUE SEP 07 2004

..TIME...   ...EVENT...     ...CITY LOCATION...      ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....     ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0356 PM     TORNADO          4 NW MARIETTA           34.41N 79.18W
09/07/2004                   ROBESON            NC   TRAINED SPOTTER

            ROOF DAMAGE TO HOME, SEVERAL TREES DOWN ON WEST WHITE
            POND ROAD

&&

HAWKINS

The radar

The Wilmington radar (KLTX), 125 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:46 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.

Tornado, Darlington

When: September 7, 4:47 PM EST to 4:50 PM EST
Where: Darlington County, 7 mi ESE of Darlington
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.6 mi
Path width: 30 yd
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 34.267, -79.750

Tornado snapped numerous trees.

What these are

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

Every storm in South Carolina in 2004 Every state in 2004 This day in weather history The tornado archive for South Carolina, 2004 Warnings in South Carolina, September 2004

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: 5422273.