An area of low pressure and associated cold front pushed through the southeast where kinematic profiles and anomalously cold air aloft existed. This lead to the development of strong storms over Allendale county overnight on April 10, 2009.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
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 episode as NWS CHS wrote it up.
An area of low pressure and associated cold front pushed through the southeast where kinematic profiles and anomalously cold air aloft existed. This lead to the development of strong storms over Allendale county overnight on April 10, 2009.
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 Charleston, SC wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Apr 10, 10:35 PM EST, 50 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
1135 PM EDT FRI APR 10 2009
...WATCHING FOR ISOLATED STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS OVERNIGHT...
.SYNOPSIS...
A COLD FRONT WILL APPROACH FROM THE WEST TONIGHT AND PUSH OFFSHORE
SATURDAY MORNING. HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD DOWN THE EAST COAST
SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT. A WARM FRONT WILL LIFT
NORTHWARD TOWARD THE REGION MONDAY...AND PUSH NORTH OF THE AREA
MONDAY NIGHT. A COLD FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH THE REGION TUESDAY
NIGHT...WITH HIGH PRESSURE THEN BUILDING BACK INTO THE AREA
WEDNESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. ANOTHER STORM SYSTEM MAY IMPACT THE
AREA BY THE END OF THE UPCOMING WORK WEEK.
&&
.NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM SATURDAY MORNING/...
A FAIRLY SOLID LINE OF CONVECTION IS FOUND FROM THE SC MIDLANDS TO
EAST CENTRAL GA...WITH A SECOND CLUSTER OF CONVECTION FROM WEST
CENTRAL GA TO SE AL. LOCAL RADARS ARE INDICATING ONE SUPER CELL
APPROACHING CAE FROM THE WEST...WITH STRONG STORMS FURTHER SW IN
PARTS OF GA...BUT FAR UPSTREAM FROM THE CWFA.
THE MAIN CONCERN FOR TONIGHT REMAINS THE POTENTIAL FOR STRONG OR
SEVERE STORMS. WIND FIELDS ARE IMPRESSIVE WITH A 40-50 KT LOW
LEVEL JET TO MOVE THROUGH OVERNIGHT...IN SYNC WITH LEFT FRONT
QUAD OF 100-120 KT UPPER LEVEL JET. KINEMATICS ARE FAVORABLE WITH
STEEP MID LEVEL LAPSE RATES...LOW WET BULBS AROUND 8-10K FT AND
COLD MID LEVEL TEMPS WHERE 500 MB READINGS AS AS LOW AS -16 TO
-18C. TOTAL TOTAL INDEX OF 50-52 STILL SUGGESTS THERE COULD BE
ISOLATED SEVERE STORMS INLAND...WHILE BULK SHEAR AND HELICITY
VALUES ARE SUGGESTIVE OF SMALL SPIN UPS...WITH STRONG RIGHT CURVED
HODOGRAPHS. IN ADDITION...THERE IS ENOUGH OF AN INCREASE IN DEW
POINTS...WITH UPPER 50S AND LOWER 60S TO PERSIST THROUGH THE
NIGHT...WHILE SURFACE MIXING RATIO IS 10-12 G/KG. NEGATING
FACTORS LOOK TO HOW MUCH DOES DIURNAL COOLING COME INTO
PLAY...SBCAPES WILL BE GENERALLY 500-1000 J/KG AND BEST SHORT WAVE
ENERGY BEGINS TO LIFT OUT TO THE ENE ACROSS NC AND VA OVERNIGHT.
IN ADDITION...AIR MASS AS PER KCHS SOUNDING REVEALS A COOL
BOUNDARY LAYER AND LIMITED INSTABILITY. HOWEVER...AT LEAST PART OF
THAT IS A RESULT OF STABILIZING EFFECTS OF THE AFTERNOON/EVENING
SEA BREEZE.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO SHOW THE BEST RISK OF ANY SEVERE WEATHER OVER
THE NW HALF OF THE CWFA...WITH THE HIGHEST PROBABILITIES OVER THE
NW TIER...AND WE WILL ADD MENTION OF POSSIBLE DAMAGING WINDS AND
LARGE HAIL. SEVERE TSTM WATCH 138 IN NOW IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF SC
AND ALL INLAND COUNTIES EXCEPT LONG COUNTY IN SE GA UNTIL 6 AM.
TORNADO RISK IS TOO LOW TO MENTION IN THE FORECAST...BUT WE WILL
KEEP MENTION IN THE HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK.
WE WILL INCREASE RAIN CHANCES INTO THE LIKELY RANGE NW...BUT
MAINTAIN LITTLE TO NO CHANCE FAR SE.
MODERATE TO STRONG S-SW WINDS ACROSS COASTAL SC AND LIGHT TO
MODERATE FLOW MOST ELSEWHERE...ALONG WITH WARM AIR ADVECTION THE
FIRST PART OF THE NIGHT WILL PREVENT TEMPS FROM DROPPING MUCH THE
NEXT SEVERAL HOURS. HOWEVER...EVAPORATE COOLING WILL DEVELOP WITH
THE ONSET OF THE SHOWERS/TSTMS AND WINDS WILL DROP OFF
LATE...ENOUGH TO ALLOW FOR TEMPS TO FALL INTO THE LOWER AND MIDDLE
60S OVER THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE FORECAST AREA.
LAKE WINDS...A LAKE WIND ADVISORY FOR LAKE MOULTRIE REMAINS IN
EFFECT...WITH RECENT OBSERVATIONS FROM THE AREA SHOWING 20 TO OCNL
25 KT. STRONG LOW LEVEL WINDS AND A TIGHT SURFACE PRESSURE GRADIENT
WILL PERSIST AND COMBINE TO PRODUCE WINDS OF 20 TO 25 KT THROUGH
EARLY SATURDAY MORNING.
&&
.SHORT TERM /6 AM SATURDAY MORNING THROUGH 6 PM SATURDAY/...
THERE WILL BE A LINGERING RISK FOR SHOWERS AND TSTMS THROUGH
SUNRISE SATURDAY...MAINLY ALONG AND EAST OF INTERSTATE 95. ANY
SHOWER AND TSTM ACTIVITY SHOULD PUSH OFFSHORE BY 14-15Z IS
FORECAST TO BE OFFSHORE BY THEN. WILL HOLD ONTO A SLIGHT CHANCE
FOR MEASURABLE PRECIPITATION THROUGH MID-MORNING WITH DRY WEATHER
PREVAILING THEREAFTER. SHOULD SEE SOME FAIRLY RAPID CLEARING
THROUGH THE DAY AS MID-LEVEL TRAJECTORIES BECOME DOWNSLOPE
DOMINATED. EXPECT MOSTLY SUNNY SKIES TO PREVAIL BY EARLY
AFTERNOON IF NOT BEFORE. EXPECT HIGHS IN THE UPPER 70S TO LOWER
80S...WARMEST ACROSS THE SOUTHERN HALF OF THE FORECAST AREA.
&&
.LONG TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/...
MEDIUM RANGE GUIDANCE IS IN FAIRLY GOOD AGREEMENT THROUGH THE
EXTENDED PERIOD THIS AFTERNOON. HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD INTO THE
AREA FROM THE NORTH SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT...BEFORE
SHIFTING OFFSHORE AND INTO THE ATLANTIC MONDAY AS A WARM FRONT
BEGINS TO LIFT NORTHWARD TOWARD THE REGION. THE WARM FRONT WILL LIFT
NORTH OF THE REGION MONDAY NIGHT...WITH A COLD FRONT THEN SWEEPING
BACK THROUGH THE AREA TUESDAY NIGHT. HIGH PRESSURE WILL THEN BUILD
BACK INTO THE AREA WEDNESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT. ANOTHER STORM
SYSTEM MAY THEN TRY TO WORK ITS WAY INTO THE REGION FRIDAY.
AS FOR SENSIBLE WEATHER...WILL KEEP THE FORECAST RAIN FREE SATURDAY
NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING. AS ISENTROPIC ASCENT/WARM AIR
ADVECTION BEGINS TO DEVELOP AFTER MIDNIGHT SUNDAY AS THE WARM FRONT
BEGINS TO PUSH INTO THE AREA...COULD SEE A FEW SHOWERS ACROSS
PRIMARILY SOUTHEAST GEORGIA ZONES...SO HAVE INCLUDED SLIGHT
CHANCE/LOW CHANCE POPS HERE. RAIN CHANCES LOOK PRETTY GOOD IN THE
MONDAY THROUGH TUESDAY TIME FRAME IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE WARM FRONT
AND COLD FRONT PUSHING THROUGH THE REGION...SO HAVE INCREASED POPS
INTO THE HIGH CHANCE/LOW END LIKELY RANGE. DEEPEST MOISTURE IS
EXPECTED TO HAVE SHIFTED EASTWARD AND INTO THE ATLANTIC TUESDAY
NIGHT...BUT COULD SEE A LINGERING SHOWER/THUNDERSTORM ALONG FAR
NORTHEASTERN ZONES...SO WILL KEEP SLIGHT CHANCE POPS GOING HERE WITH
RAIN FREE WEATHER ELSEWHERE. RAIN FREE WEATHER IS THEN EXPECTED
WEDNESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT AS HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS BACK INTO
THE AREA. MODEL AGREEMENT DIMINISHES QUICKLY BY FRIDAY...BUT BOTH
THE GFS AND ECMWF DO INDICATE SOME SORT OF SYSTEM WILL BEGIN TO
APPROACH THE REGION WITH DEEP MOISTURE INCREASING ACROSS THE
REGION...SO WILL INCLUDE SLIGHT CHANCE POPS ACROSS THE AREA.
TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO RUN SEVERAL DEGREES BELOW CLIMO SUNDAY
AND MONDAY...THEN REBOUND BACK CLOSER TO NORMAL TUESDAY THROUGH
FRIDAY.
&&
.AVIATION /04Z SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
ALTHOUGH WINDS WILL REMAIN ELEVATED THROUGH THE NIGHT WITH
SUFFICIENT MIXING OF THE BOUNDARY LAYER...THERE WILL BE A
SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN WINDS WITHIN THE FIRST FEW THOUSAND FEET.
AS A RESULT WE HAVE ADDED WIND SHEAR TO BOTH KCHS AND KSAV DURING
MOST OF THE TIME THROUGH 09Z.
AIR MASS WILL REMAIN DRY ENOUGH EARLY TONIGHT TO MAINTAIN THE VFR
CONDITIONS...BUT LOOK FOR AN INCREASE IN LOW LEVEL MOISTURE IN
ADVANCE OF COLD FRONT LATE TONIGHT AND EARLY SATURDAY. WHAT/S
LEFT OF A DECAYING LINE OF SHRA AND POSSIBLE TSRA WILL MOVE
THROUGH THE TERMINALS BETWEEN 09Z AND 13Z SATURDAY. CONFIDENCE IS
HIGH ENOUGH THAT VFR CIGS WILL OCCUR...BUT THERE WILL BE AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR A BRIEF PERIOD OF MVFR CONDITIONS SHOULD ANY
PRECIP ACTUALLY IMPACT THE AREA. WE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR RADAR
AND SATELLITE TRENDS...AND REASSESS THE SITUATION AGAIN FOR THE
06Z TAF ISSUANCE.
FOR THE BULK OF SATURDAY A DRY AND SINKING AIR MASS WILL OVERTAKE
THE AREA WITH DOWNSLOPING WEST AND NW FLOW OFF THE APPALACHIANS.
THIS WILL RESULT IN MOSTLY CLEAR OR CLEAR SKIES...WITH OCNL GUSTY
SURFACE WINDS REACHING NEAR 20 KT AT TIMES.
EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK...MVFR CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE MONDAY
INTO TUESDAY DUE TO SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS.
OTHERWISE...VFR CONDITIONS EXPECTED.
&&
.MARINE...
STRONG LOW LEVEL JET OF 40-50 KT WILL MOVE INTO THE MARINE
COMMUNITY TONIGHT...AND ALTHOUGH MIXING WILL BE SOMEWHAT LIMITED
WITH WARM AIR ADVECTION AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT...WE WILL OBTAIN
AS MUCH AS 60 PERCENT OF THE 30-40 KT OF GEOSTROPHIC WINDS AT 1000
MB. GIVEN THAT WINDS WILL INCREASE FURTHER THROUGH THE NIGHT AND
ARE ALREADY GUSTING NEAR 25 KT AT GRAYS REEF...FRP2 AND A REPORT
FROM THE SAVANNAH PILOT BOAT AT BUOY C...WE ARE GOING TO RAISE AN
SCA FOR AMZ352 AND AMZ354. THUS ALL WATERS WILL NOW HAVE AN SCA
THROUGH THE NIGHT...AND INTO THE LATE MORNING FOR THE OUTER GA
WATERS AND AMZ350. WITH S-SW WINDS OF 20-25 KT AND GUSTY
TONIGHT...SEAS WILL CLIMB AS HIGH AS 6 OR 7 FT...HIGHEST FAR NORTH
AND ACROSS THE OUTER GA WATERS.
WINDS WILL TURN OFFSHORE AND DIMINISH SATURDAY MORNING AS A COLD
FRONT SHIFTS OFF THE COAST.
SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY...HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD INTO
THE AREA FROM THE NORTH SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT...
BEFORE SHIFTING FURTHER EAST INTO THE ATLANTIC MONDAY AS A WARM
FRONT LIFTS NORTHWARD TOWARD THE WATERS. THE WARM FRONT WILL LIFT
NORTH OF THE WATERS MONDAY NIGHT...WITH A COLD FRONT THEN SWEEPING
BACK THROUGH THE AREA TUESDAY NIGHT. HIGH PRESSURE WILL THEN BUILD
BACK INTO THE REGION WEDNESDAY.
EXPECT A FAIRLY GOOD SURGE AS HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS IN FROM THE NORTH
SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY...AND MAY EVENTUALLY NEED SMALL CRAFT
ADVISORIES FOR PORTIONS OF THE WATERS. FAVORABLE FETCH MAY RESULT IN
SEAS REMAINING IN THE SMALL CRAFT RANGE ACROSS THE OUTER GEORGIA
WATERS SUNDAY NIGHT AS WELL...WITH THE REMAINING WATERS DROPPING
BELOW SMALL CRAFT LEVELS.
WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE AS A WARM FRONT LIFTS NORTHWARD
TOWARDS THE WATERS MONDAY...AND THROUGH THE THE WATERS MONDAY NIGHT.
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORIES MAY AGAIN BE NEEDED FOR MOST MARINE ZONES
LATE MONDAY THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT.
GRADIENT IS EXPECTED TO DECREASE QUICKLY TUESDAY MORNING...AND
SHOULD SEE WINDS/SEAS DROP BELOW SCA LEVELS ACROSS ALL WATERS BY
TUESDAY AFTERNOON. WINDS/SEAS SHOULD THEN REMAIN BELOW SMALL CRAFT
THRESHOLDS TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY.
&&
.CHS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
GA...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH UNTIL 6 AM EDT SATURDAY FOR GAZ087-
088-099>101-114-115.
SC...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH UNTIL 6 AM EDT SATURDAY FOR SCZ040-
042>045-047>051.
LAKE WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 5 AM EDT SATURDAY FOR SCZ045.
MARINE...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH UNTIL 6 AM EDT SATURDAY FOR AMZ330.
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 5 AM EDT SATURDAY FOR AMZ330-352-
354.
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 11 AM EDT SATURDAY FOR AMZ350-374.
&&
33HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC 1145 PM EDT FRI APR 10 2009 SCZ045-110930- BERKELEY- 1145 PM EDT FRI APR 10 2009 ...LAKE WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 AM EDT SATURDAY FOR LAKE MOULTRIE... ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 138 IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM EDT SATURDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. LAKE WIND ADVISORY. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. GAZ087-088-099>101-114-115-SCZ040-042>044-047>051-110930- JENKINS-SCREVEN-CANDLER-BULLOCH-EFFINGHAM-TATTNALL-EVANS-ALLENDALE- HAMPTON-INLAND COLLETON-DORCHESTER-INLAND JASPER-BEAUFORT- COASTAL COLLETON-CHARLESTON-COASTAL JASPER- 1145 PM EDT FRI APR 10 2009 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 138 IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM EDT SATURDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHEAST GEORGIA AND SOUTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. GAZ116>119-137>141-110930- INLAND BRYAN-COASTAL BRYAN-INLAND CHATHAM-COASTAL CHATHAM-LONG- INLAND LIBERTY-COASTAL LIBERTY-INLAND MCINTOSH-COASTAL MCINTOSH- 1145 PM EDT FRI APR 10 2009 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHEAST GEORGIA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. AMZ350-352-354-374-110930- WATERS FROM SOUTH SANTEE RIVER TO EDISTO BEACH SC OUT 20 NM- WATERS FROM EDISTO BEACH SC TO SAVANNAH GA OUT 20 NM- WATERS FROM SAVANNAH GA TO ALTAMAHA SOUND GA OUT 20 NM...INCLUDING GRAYS REEF NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY- WATERS FROM SAVANNAH GA TO ALTAMAHA SOUND GA EXTENDING FROM 20 TO 60 NM- 1145 PM EDT FRI APR 10 2009 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR ATLANTIC COASTAL WATERS. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. AMZ330-110930- CHARLESTON HARBOR- 1145 PM EDT FRI APR 10 2009 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 138 IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM EDT SATURDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR ATLANTIC COASTAL WATERS. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. 33
The Charleston,SC radar (KCLX), 67 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 04:25 UTC.
2 tornado, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A National Weather Service Damage Survey Team determined tree damage found 2.4 miles northeast of Millet, South Carolina was caused by a thunderstorm microburst. Peak winds were estimated to be around 60 mph.
A National Weather Service Storm Survey Team determined that a tornado touched down 2.1 miles north-northwest of Martin, South Carolina at 1226 AM Saturday Morning. The tornado traveled approximately 1.2 miles before lifting 1.8 miles north-northwest of Martin at approximately 1228 AM. There was significant tree damage throughout the path of the tornado, but no structures were damaged. The tornado did not result in any injuries or fatalities. The National Weather Service Damage Survey Team determined the strength of the tornado to be an EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale with winds estimated to be around 100 miles per hour. The maximum damage width was 300 yards.
A National Weather Service Survey Team determined a tornado touched down along Roberts Road 3.5 miles northeast of Martin, South Carolina at 1230 AM local time Saturday morning and traveled 5.6 miles before lifting. Initially the tornado uprooted or snapped numerous trees with one tree falling on a mobile home and damaging the roof of the structure. The under-skirting of the mobile home was peeled back by the winds and a couple windows were blown out. Additionally, several cars sustained damage by falling trees outside of the mobile home. Another couple homes along Roberts Road received minor rood damage and a couple carports were slightly damaged as well. The tornado continued to nearly parallel Miller Creek Road downing numerous trees and power lines. The maximum width of the tornado was approximately 500 yards near the intersection of Camp Jackson Road and Miller Creek Road. The tornado lifted 2.3 miles south southeast of Kline, South Carolina just past the intersection of Appleton Road and Barnwell Highway /US Highway 278/ at 1239 AM local time, but not before damaging the roof and cinder-block walls of a home, downing numerous trees and completely destroying the historic Cave Methodist Church. The church was wiped completely off its foundation. Several grave stones surrounding the church were overturned or knocked down. An 18 wheel truck was overturned a couple hundred feet from the Cave Methodist Church with a tree falling on it and causing further damage. In total, 4 homes, 1 mobile home, 1 church and 5 vehicles received damage as a result of the tornado. In addition, hundreds of acres of timber was damaged or destroyed. The tornado did not result in any injuries or fatalities. The National Weather Service Damage Survey Team determined the strength of the tornado to be an EF2 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale with winds estimated between 120 and 130 miles per hour.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in South Carolina in 2009Every state in 2009This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for South Carolina, 2009Warnings in South Carolina, April 2009
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: 166152, 166128, 166138.