Tornadoes and Hail in South Carolina, March 15, 2008

An EF2 Tornado was confirmed by a storm survey conducted by the Charleston, South Carolina National Weather Service Forecast Office. The Tornado touched down in western Allendale County about 3.5 miles south-southwest of Martin at 712 PM EDT and traveled east-southeast for 18 miles before lifting about 2 miles northeast of Fairfax, South Carolina at 735 PM EDT. This Tornado uprooted or snapped off between 1500 and 2000 trees, destroyed two mobile homes, toppled a cell phone tower, produced mainly minor roof damage to many dozens of homes, knocked down numerous power lines and power poles, destroyed or severely damaged a couple dozen vehicles, destroyed several outbuildings, barns, and sheds, and overturned an empty tractor trailer along route 29 between Allendale and Seigling. The Tornado reached a maximum width of three quarters of a mile along route 29 between Allendale and Seigling. One injury occurred when a person drove a car into a tree that had fallen across the road. The maximum sustained winds in this EF2 Tornado were estimated between 115 and 125 mph. In addition to the Tornado Damage, there was sporadic straight line wind damage with estimated winds of up to 90 mph occurring up to a couple of miles south of the Tornado path. The straight line wind damage resulted in numerous downed trees and power lines, along with minor damage to homes and businesses especially in and around Allendale, South Carolina.

A public report was received of half dollar sized hail in Martin, South Carolina.

A public report was received of two trees down at 56 Main Street in Allendale, South Carolina.

One large tree was reported down in Allendale, South Carolina.

A trained weather spotter reported quarter sized hail 1 mile southwest of Lodge, South Carolina.

Nickel sized hail was reported in Ashton by a law enforcement official.

A law enforcement official reported several trees down at 85 Sineth Street in Islandton, South Carolina.

A law enforcement official reported trees down in and around the city of Walterboro, South Carolina. Trees were reported down at the intersection of Poplar Sixth Street, at 639 Bay Street, and in the 200 block of Wilkey.

A trained weather spotter reported 3 to 4 inch tree limbs down on Highway 63 just inside the county line. Dime size hail was also reported.

A trained weather spotter reported a large tree down on I-95 near mile marker 51. Dime sized hail was also reported.

Quarter and Dime sized hail was reported near Walterboro, South Carolina.

A trained weather spotter reported the tops of trees snapped off and mailboxes blown away at 3388 Cane Branch Road near 5 miles north-northwest of Hendersonville, South Carolina.

A public report was received of trees down on Forks Road in Walterboro, South Carolina.

A public report was received of trees and power lines down at the intersection of Cane Branch Road and Cavanaugh Road in Walterboro, South Carolina.

A trained weather spotter reported penny size hail near Walterboro, South Carolina.

A trained weather spotter reported nickel to quarter sized hail near Walterboro, South Carolina.

An EF1 Tornado was confirmed by a storm survey conducted by the Charleston, South Carolina National Weather Service Office. The Tornado touched down north of Ridgeville, South Carolina at the Carters fast stop gas station, and traveled 2.2 miles before lifting. The maximum width of the tornado was determined to be 40 yards. Roof panels were stripped from the Canopy at the Carters fast stop gas station, two mobile homes were damaged with one shifted 5 feet off its foundation and another having its windows and doors blown out. Additionally, a car was moved approximately 50 feet. The estimated maximum sustained winds in this EF1 Tornado were estimated to be between 100 and 110 mph.

A public report was received that an old barn collapsed due to strong winds.

A trained weather spotter reported dime to quarter sized hail near Fairfax, South Carolina.

Straight line wind damage was observed near the Jedburg, South Carolina exit off of I-26. Interviews revealed that large pine trees were down across the roadway. In addition over one hundred pine trees were snapped off along the trunk or completely uprooted. Wind speeds were estimated to be between 95 and 105 mph.

Three road signs were bent over or broken off midway up a steel pole in various places along the causeway leading to the Ravennel Bridge in downtown Charleston, South Carolina. All three signs were blown down to the east.

A public report was received of trees and power lines down in Hendersonville, South Carolina.

The public reported golf ball sized hail along Highway 64 west of Walterboro, South Carolina. The hail was reported to have fallen for 20 minutes.

An EF1 Tornado was confirmed by a Storm Survey conducted by the Charleston, South Carolina National Weather Service Forecast Office in Berkeley County near Mount Holly, South Carolina. The Tornado touched down at 825 PM EDT north of Mount Holly, South Carolina in the Strawberry Hill Mobile Home Park just east of Highway 52. The Tornado tracked 0.6 miles before lifting near Angel Lane. The maximum width of the Tornado was around 180 yards, with maximum sustained winds estimated to be between 100 and 110 mph. Extensive damage occurred to two mobile homes, moderate damage to six mobile homes, and minor damage to six additional mobile homes in the Strawberry Hill Mobile Home Park. There were seven injuries which resulted from the Tornado, with 3 individuals in need of additional treatment transported to a local hospital. Large trees were also observed to have been snapped off at the base or uprooted.

Quarter sized hail was reported by a trained weather spotter in Hendersonville, South Carolina. A small dead tree was also reported down.

The Berkeley county warning point reported that a boat was blown into the parking lot of Action Island Auto Sales 2 miles southwest of Moncks Corner, South Carolina.

The tops of three pine trees were blown off 5 miles northwest of Crocketville, South Carolina. Several large trees were also blown down within 1 mile of this location.

A trained weather spotter using a home weather station measured a 59 mph wind gust near the intersection of Highway 17A and Highway 176.

Penny sized hail was reported by a county official in Whitesville, South Carolina.

An EF1 Tornado was confirmed by a Storm Survey conducted by the Charleston, South Carolina National Weather Service Forecast Office in Berkeley County near Cainhoy, South Carolina. At 836 PM EDT, a Tornado touched down in a plantation west of Cainhoy Road and continued to track 1.2 miles before lifting. The maximum path width was around 135 yards, with maximum sustained winds estimated between 95 and 105 mph. The Tornado severely damaged a large storage shed and knocked down several large trees as it crossed the plantation. The Tornado then crossed Cainhoy Road and struck the Mount Zion Methodist Church. The church suffered complete failure of the front porch and had a portion of the roof deck uplifted and the steeple knocked over. Portions of the outer brick wall also suffered significant damage. The Tornado then continued into a field behind the church before lifting.

A trained weather spotter reported a large tree down on Hendersonville Highway 5 miles north of Hendersonville, South Carolina.

Several trees were reported down in the 6000 block of Ritter Road in Green Pond, South Carolina.

A law enforcement official reported several trees and power lines down at Hope Plantation and Bright Road in Jacksonboro, South Carolina.

Nickel sized hail was reported at the Charleston Municipal Golf Course. Several trees were also reported to have been clipped off at the top.

Quarter sized hail was reported by a trained weather spotter in West Ashely, South Carolina.

Nickel sized hail was reported by a trained weather spotter in Charleston, South Carolina.

Quarter sized hail was reported by a trained weather spotter in Johns Island, South Carolina.

Nickel sized hail was reported on Plowground Road in Johns Island, South Carolina.

Nickel and Dime sized hail was reported by a trained weather spotter along Folly Road.

Hail one and one half inch in diameter was reported in downtown Charleston at the intersection of Market Street and King Street. The hail lasted between 10 and 15 minutes. A funnel cloud was also observed.

Penny sized hail was reported off of Highway 17 near Carolina Bay.

Hail one and one half inch in diameter was reported in West Ashley, South Carolina.

Nickel sized hail was reported by a trained weather spotter at the intersection of Folly Road and Fort Johnson Road.

The Jasper County Warning Point reported trees down along I-95 at exit 28 near Coosawhatchie, South Carolina.

The Beaufort County Emergency Manager reported two large pine trees down, the tops of two pine trees snapped off, and one large oak tree limb down. It was also reported that shingle and skirting damage occurred to a mobile home, a shed was flipped, and a carport was blown over. The damage was reported to have occurred in approximately 7 seconds.

Approximately 25 trees were reported down in a 150 yard long and 40 yard wide path in the 8200 block of Coakley Road in Dale, South Carolina.

Hail two and one half inches in diameter was reported by a trained weather spotter in Bluffton, South Carolina.

The public reported that golf ball sized hail fell for 2 minutes in Bluffton, South Carolina.

The Beaufort County Emergency Manager and the fixed airport base operator reported that sixty two planes sustained damage due to golf ball to baseball sized hail. Approximately ten percent of the planes were reported a total loss, twenty five percent were no longer air worthy, and the rest had repairable damage. In addition numerous cars sustained damage.

Quarter to half dollar sized hail was reported on Hilton Head Plantation.

Golf ball sized hail was reported on Hilton Head Island.

One and one quarter inch diameter hail was reported in Bluffton, South Carolina.

A trained weather spotter reported golf ball sized hail in Hilton Head Plantation.

A National Weather Service CoCoRaHS Observer reported hail ranging in size from penny to golf ball size. The hail was reported to have accumulated to a depth of around one inch. Minor tree damage was also reported.

A trained weather spotter reported quarter sized hail on Hilton Head Island.

A trained weather spotter reported quarter sized hail on Hilton Head Island.

A trained weather spotter reported golf ball sized hail on Hilton Head Island.

Baseball sized hail was reported by the public on Hilton Head Island.