Hail and Damaging Winds in South Carolina, July 4, 2008

Name: Hail and Damaging Winds in South Carolina, July 4, 2008
Start: 2008-07-04T13:20
End: 2008-07-04T21:50
Location: South Carolina

July 4, 2008 · NWS CAE · 9 events in 7 counties and zones

A slow moving frontal boundary moved closer to the area. Warm and moist airmass ahead of the front provided fuel for afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms.

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: 9

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 happened

The episode as NWS CAE wrote it up.

A slow moving frontal boundary moved closer to the area. Warm and moist airmass ahead of the front provided fuel for afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms.

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 Columbia, SC wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jul 4, 12:46 PM EST, 34 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 4, 12:46 PM EST, 34 minutes before

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Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 4, 6:02 AM EST, 7 hours 18 minutes before

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In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 4, 12:05 PM EST, 1 hour 15 minutes before

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The radar

The Columbia radar (KCAE), 31 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:19 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

8 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Richland

When: July 4, 1:20 PM EST to 1:25 PM EST
Where: Richland County, 3.43 mi W of Blythewood
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 34.220, -81.030

University Golf Club 3 miles west of Blythewood reported penny sized hail.

Thunderstorm Wind, Richland

When: July 4, 1:23 PM EST to 1:28 PM EST
Where: Richland County, 0.57 mi W of Blythewood
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 34.220, -80.980

Power lines down at 1600 Syrup Mill Rd. just northwest of the center of town.

Thunderstorm Wind, Kershaw

When: July 4, 2:10 PM EST to 2:15 PM EST
Where: Kershaw County, 1.14 mi W of Stoneboro
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 34.530, -80.750

Kershaw County Sheriff Dispatch reported a large tree down on Flat Rock Road.

Thunderstorm Wind, Newberry

When: July 4, 3:56 PM EST to 4:01 PM EST
Where: Newberry County, 1.49 mi SSW of Glymphville
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 34.380, -81.430

Trees down on SC HIGHWAY 34...2 miles west of teh Fairfield County line.

Thunderstorm Wind, Aiken

When: July 4, 7:45 PM EST to 7:50 PM EST
Where: Aiken County, 2.15 mi SSW of White Pond
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 33.400, -81.490

Highway Department reported a tree down on U.S. Highway 278 AND Silver Bluff Road.

Thunderstorm Wind, Richland

When: July 4, 7:46 PM EST to 7:51 PM EST
Where: Richland County, 3.44 mi E of (Mmt)mc Entire Ang
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 33.920, -80.740

Tree down across Lower Richland Blvd. and Clarkson Rd. in Hopkins.

Thunderstorm Wind, Sumter

When: July 4, 8:10 PM EST to 8:15 PM EST
Where: Sumter County, 2.07 mi S of Claremont
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 33.940, -80.570

Trees down and blocking road near SC 261 and US 378.

Thunderstorm Wind, Calhoun

When: July 4, 8:28 PM EST to 8:33 PM EST
Where: Calhoun County, 1.17 mi S of Singleton
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 33.663, -80.730

Highway Department reported trees down on Longstreet Road.

Thunderstorm Wind, Chesterfield

When: July 4, 9:45 PM EST to 9:50 PM EST
Where: Chesterfield County, 0.57 mi W of Pageland
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 34.770, -80.390

County Sheriff reporeted trees down in Pageland.

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
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.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in South Carolina in 2008 Every state in 2008 This day in weather history Warnings in South Carolina, July 2008

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: 100060, 100061, 100062, 100063, 100064, 100067, 100065, 100068, 100066.