Tornado and Hail in South Carolina, June 16, 2009

Name: Tornado and Hail in South Carolina, June 16, 2009
Start: 2009-06-16T15:20
End: 2009-06-16T22:35
Location: South Carolina

June 16, 2009 · NWS GSP · 23 events in 8 counties and zones

Several supercell thunderstorms affected the western Carolinas during the afternoon and evening hours, producing very large hail, wind damage and a few tornadoes.

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: 1
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $1.2 million
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 23

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 GSP wrote it up.

Several supercell thunderstorms affected the western Carolinas during the afternoon and evening hours, producing very large hail, wind damage and a few tornadoes.

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 Greenville-Spartanburg, SC wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jun 16, 1:48 PM EST, 1 hour 32 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jun 16, 1:48 PM EST, 1 hour 32 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
248 PM EDT TUE JUN 16 2009

.SYNOPSIS...
A STATIONARY FRONT SOUTH OF THE FORECAST AREA WILL LINGER THROUGH
WEDNESDAY THEN MOVE OFF THE COAST ON THURSDAY. A COLD FRONT WILL
THEN MOVE ACROSS THE CAROLINAS ON SATURDAY. WEAK HIGH PRESSURE WILL
BUILD OVER THE REGION DURING THE EARLY PART OF NEXT WEEK.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS...EXPECT THUNDERSTORMS TO FIRE ALONG AND
TO THE SOUTH AND WEST OF AN ILL-DEFINED NEARLY STATIONARY SURFACE
BOUNDARY THAT CUTS NW-SE ACROSS THE NC FOOTHILLS/WRN PIEDMONT. WE
REMAIN UNDER A SLGT RISK ON THE DAY1 OUTLOOK. THE SITUATION LOOKS
SLIGHTLY MORE FAVORABLE THAN YESTERDAY WITH 500 MB TEMPS A DEGREE OR
TWO COOLER RESULTING IN BETTER BUOYANCY...BUT WE LACK AN OUTFLOW
BOUNDARY FROM EARLIER CONVECTION TO GET THINGS GOING. THIS SHOULD
IMPROVE BY EARLY AFTERNOON. THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD CONTINUE WELL INTO
THE EVENING HOURS. WHAT REMAINS TO BE SEEN IS IF A LINE OF STORMS
MOVING INTO MIDDLE TN WILL MAKE IT TO THE MTNS BY SUNSET AND THEN IF
IT CAN SURVIVE. THE MODELS SAY NO...BUT APPEAR TO BE HAVING A HARD
TIME KNOWING OF ITS EXISTANCE. HOWEVER...THE POSSIBLE LEFTOVER MCV
IS FAVORABLE FOR MORE STORMS LATER ON.

A GREATER CONCERN MIGHT BE THE POTENTIAL FOR HEAVY RAIN LATER
TONIGHT. THE MODELS SUGGEST THAT THE SURFACE HIGH STRENGTHENING OFF
THE NEW ENGLAND COAST COULD DRIVE THE SURFACE BOUNDARY FARTHER WEST
AND SOUTH. LOW LEVEL EASTERLY UPSLOPE BALANCING WEST/NORTHWEST MID
LEVEL WINDS COULD ANCHOR DEEP CONVECTION NEAR THE BLUE RIDGE...
RESULTING IN SIGNIFICANT PRECIPITATION. THIS AREA WILL BE MONITORED
FOR A FLASH FLOOD WATCH. TEMPS WILL REMAIN MILD.

ON WEDNESDAY...THE BOUNDARY REMAINS NEARBY AND ONCE AGAIN THE MODELS
EVENTUALLY DEVELOP NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND STORMS ACROSS THE FORECAST
AREA. WILL GO ABOVE THE MOSGUIDE POP AND KEEP LIKELY ACROSS ALL BUT
THE SOUTHERN THIRD. TEMPS WILL BE TRICKY AGAIN ESPECIALLY IF WE
START THE DAY WITH LEFTOVER CONVECTION AND WEDGE-LIKE CLOUDS ACROSS
THE NW PIEDMONT...BUT ALLOWED FOR SOME HEATING THAT WOULD LET TEMPS
GET A DEGREE OR TWO WARMER ACROSS THE NW PIEDMONT.

&&

.SHORT TERM /WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/...
AS OF 145 PM EDT TUESDAY...A STACKED UPPER RIDGE WILL BUILD OVER THE
CENTRAL GULF COAST TO THE GREAT LAKES THURSDAY...THEN PROGRESS
TOWARDS THE EASTERN SEABOARD FRIDAY. AS A RESULT...THERE WILL BE
DECREASED CHANCES FOR CONVECTION AS ATMOSPHERE BECOMES CAPPED BY
WARMING MID LVLS AND DRYING LOW LVLS IN INCREASING NWLY DOWNSLOPE
FLOW. A CLIMO POP FOR THURSDAY (CHC MTNS AND SLGT CHC PIEDMONT) FOR
AFTN SHWRS/TSTMS...THEN NO CONVECTION EXPECTED FRIDAY. TEMPS WILL BE
WARMING UP MARKEDLY FROM THURSDAY TO FRIDAY...AS MODEL THICKNESSES
SUPPORT UPPER 90S ACRS THE PIEDMONT GIVEN FULL SUNSHINE.
HOWEVER...WITH HIGH SOIL MOISTURES FROM THIS RECENT WET
PERIOD...STILL THINK GUIDANCE IS A BIT TOO WARM. SO I LEFT MAX TEMPS
FRIDAY AS IS. THE COMBINATION OF MID-UPR 90S AND DECENT MOISTURE
FLUX FROM THE SOIL COULD PUSH HEAT INDEX VALUES OVER 100 DEGREES
(HEAT ADV CRITERIA). WILL KEEP THE MENTION IN THE HWO. WITH ALL THAT
SAID...IT DOES LOOK LIKE A FAIRLY SUNNY AFTN FRIDAY WITH AN ABSENCE
OF DEEP CONVECTION EXPECTED. ALSO...DOWNSLOPE FLOW ON THE ORDER OF
20 KTS COULD BE ENUF TO GET TEMPS UP TOWARD THE 12Z ADJMEX NUMBERS.
IF THEY VERIFY...THE RECORD HIGHS AT KAVL AND KGSP WOULD BE IN
JEOPARDY (SEE CLIMO SECTION BELOW).

&&

.LONG TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY/...
AS OF 130 PM EDT TUESDAY...THE MEDIUM RANGE FCST BEGINS 00Z SAT WITH
AN UPPER LVL TROUGH AMPLIFYING OVER THE UPPER MIDWEST REGION. THIS
FEATURE ATTEMPTS TO FLATTEN THE RIDGE THAT HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED OVER
THE SE CONUS OVER THE PREVIOUS FEW DAYS. BY LATE SAT OR EARLY
SUN...DEPENDING ON WHICH MODEL YOU USE...THIS TROUGH DEVELOPS INTO A
CLOSED LOW OVER NEW ENGLAND. FOR THE REMINDER OF THE FCST...THE LONG
RANGE MODELS HAVE IT MOVING VERY SLOWLY TO THE NE...AND THUS BY DAY
7 IT IS STILL ANCHORED OVER THE FAR NE CONUS. THE MOST RECENT GFS IS
ABOUT 6 TO 12 HRS FASTER THAN THE ECMWF EARLY IN THE PERIOD. THE
DIFFERENCE IS NEGLIGIBLE AFTER DAY 5 OR SO...AS THE SYNOPTIC PATTERN
LINES UP BETTER.

AT THE SFC...A COLD FRONT APPROACHES FROM THE NORTHWEST ON
SATURDAY...REACHING THE CAROLINA COAST BY SUNDAY. BY MONDAY BOTH
MODELS HAVE THIS FRONT NEARLY STATIONARY AND WELL TO OUR SOUTH AS
THE PARENT SFC LOW LINGERS OVER NEW ENGLAND. BEST CHANCES FOR
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS REMAIN SAT WITH THE FROPA. I LEFT A SLIGHT
CHANCE POP FOR THE LATER PART OF SUN FOR THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS AS NW
FLOW COULD TRIGGER SOME CONVECTION. TEMPERATURES WERE CHANGED VERY
LITTLE FROM THE PREVIOUS FCST AND WILL BE WELL ABOVE NORMAL BEFORE
THE FRONTAL PASSAGE...DROPPING TO A FEW DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL AFTER
THE FROPA.

&&

.AVIATION /19Z TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
FOR THE BALANCE OF THE AFTERNOON...CONVECTIVE CLOUDS WILL PERSIST
WITH BASES BETWEEN 2K AND 3K FEET. ALL TAF SITES WILL BE IN AND OUT
OF AN MVFR CEILING FOR SEVERAL HOURS...BUT AFTER 19Z THE PREVAILING
CONDITION SHOULD BE SCATTERED. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL
DEVELOP ACROSS THE REGION. ALL TAF SITES GET A VCTS AND AMENDMENTS
WILL BE MADE AS NECESSARY WHEN STORMS THREATEN AN AIRFIELD. WINDS
ARE A TOUGH CALL AS A WEAK BOUNDARY WILL LINGER ACROSS THE WESTERN
CAROLINAS. MOST PLACES WILL BE VARIABLE AND LIGHT WITH DIRECTIONS
EVENTUALLY A FACTOR OF WHERE THUNDERSTORM OUTFLOW BOUNDARIES MOVE. A
LIGHT EASTERLY UPSLOPE FLOW SHOULD DEVELOP THIS EVENING THAT WILL
FORM A CEILING LOWERING FROM MVFR TO IFR DURING THE EARLY MORNING
HOURS. LOW LEVEL MOISTURE IS SUFFICIENT TO ALSO FORM FOG LATE
TONIGHT...ESPECIALLY WHERE SHOWERS DEVELOP TODAY. MVFR/IFR CEILING
AND VISIBILITY WILL BE SLOW TO LIFT/BURN OFF AGAIN ON WEDNESDAY...
MOST LIKELY LINGERING UNTIL 15Z-16Z.

AT KCLT...THE SURFACE BOUNDARY CUTS ACROSS THE METRO AREA. THIS
MAKES THUNDERSTORMS A BIT MORE LIKELY FOR THE NEXT 6 TO 8 HOURS...
AND MAKES WIND DIRECTION VERY DIFFICULT TO CALL. IN GENERAL IT
SHOULD BE FROM THE EAST OR NORTHEAST...BUT DIRECTION WILL CHANGE
DEPENDING ON THUNDERSTORM OUTFLOWS. IFR CEILINGS LOOK LIKE A GOOD
BET AFTER MIDNIGHT AGAIN WITH THE UPSLOPE FLOW.

OUTLOOK...CIG/VSBY RESTRICTIONS POSSIBLE IN SHWRS/TSTMS TUE
AFTERNOON AND WEDNESDAY...ALONG WITH AREAS OF LOW CLOUDS AND FOG IN
THE MORNING. CHANCES OF RESTRICTIONS WILL DECREASE CONSIDERABLY
THU-FRI AS DRIER HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS INTO THE REGION FOR A COUPLE
DAYS.

&&

.CLIMATE...
RECORD HIGHS FOR FRIDAY JUNE 19TH:

ASHEVILLE (KAVL): 92 SET IN 1933
GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG AREA (KGSP): 98 SET IN 1944
CHARLOTTE METRO AREA (KCLT): 102 SET IN 1944

&&

.GSP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
GA...NONE.
NC...NONE.
SC...NONE.

&&

SYNOPSIS...JPT
NEAR TERM...PM
SHORT TERM...ARK
LONG TERM...JPT
AVIATION...PM
CLIMATE...ARK

Hazardous weather outlook, Jun 16, 2:41 PM EST, 39 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
341 PM EDT TUE JUN 16 2009

GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029-NCZ033-035>037-048>053-056>059-062>065-
068>072-082-501>510-SCZ001>014-019-171945-
RABUN-HABERSHAM-STEPHENS-FRANKLIN-HART-ELBERT-AVERY-ALEXANDER-
IREDELL-DAVIE-MADISON-YANCEY-MITCHELL-SWAIN-HAYWOOD-BUNCOMBE-CATAWBA-
ROWAN-GRAHAM-NORTHERN JACKSON-MACON-SOUTHERN JACKSON-TRANSYLVANIA-
HENDERSON-CLEVELAND-LINCOLN-GASTON-MECKLENBURG-CABARRUS-UNION NC-
CALDWELL MOUNTAINS-GREATER CALDWELL-BURKE MOUNTAINS-GREATER BURKE-
MCDOWELL MOUNTAINS-EASTERN MCDOWELL-RUTHERFORD MOUNTAINS-
GREATER RUTHERFORD-POLK MOUNTAINS-EASTERN POLK-OCONEE MOUNTAINS-
PICKENS MOUNTAINS-GREENVILLE MOUNTAINS-GREATER OCONEE-
GREATER PICKENS-GREATER GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG-CHEROKEE-YORK-
ANDERSON-ABBEVILLE-LAURENS-UNION SC-CHESTER-GREENWOOD-
341 PM EDT TUE JUN 16 2009

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST GEORGIA...PIEDMONT
NORTH CAROLINA...WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

MOST OF THE WESTERN CAROLINAS AND NORTHEAST GEORGIA HAS A SLIGHT
RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. THE AREA
FROM HICKORY AND CHARLOTTE TO THE WEST SHOULD SEE NUMEROUS
THUNDERSTORMS...MAINLY UNTIL MIDNIGHT. A FEW OF THE THUNDERSTORMS
WILL PRODUCE LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WIND GUSTS.

MEANWHILE...THE NORTHWEST PIEDMONT OF NORTH CAROLINA AND FROM
HICKORY TO THE CHARLOTTE METRO AREA COULD EXPERIENCE HEAVY RAIN IN
PERSISTENT SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. A
FLASH FLOOD WATCH MAY BE ISSUED LATER TODAY FOR ALL OR PART OF
THIS AREA...PERHAPS EVEN THE AREA NEAR THE BLUE RIDGE.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY.

THUNDERSTORMS ARE IN THE FORECAST WEDNESDAY AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT. A
FEW OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS COULD BECOME SEVERE...PRODUCING LARGE
HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS.

HEAT INDEX VALUES OF 105 DEGREES ARE POSSIBLE FRIDAY AND SATURDAY
IN THE UPPER SAVANNAH RIVER VALLEY OF NORTHEAST GEORGIA AND
UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SKYWARN SPOTTERS ARE REQUESTED TO FORWARD ANY REPORTS OF LARGE
HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS...TORNADOES OR FLASH FLOODING TO OUR OFFICE.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jun 16, 2:12 PM EST, 1 hour 8 minutes before

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Local storm report, Jun 16, 2:15 PM EST, 1 hour 5 minutes before

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Local storm report, Jun 16, 2:21 PM EST, 59 minutes before

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Special weather statement, Jun 16, 2:42 PM EST, 38 minutes before

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The radar

The Greer radar (KGSP), 31 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:17 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

15 hail, 7 thunderstorm wind, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Pickens

When: June 16, 3:20 PM EST
Where: Pickens County, 0.65 mi SSW of Dacusville
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 34.922, -82.556

Thunderstorm Wind, Pickens

When: June 16, 3:20 PM EST
Where: Pickens County, 0.65 mi SSW of Dacusville
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 34.922, -82.556

Two large pine trees were blown down.

Hail, Pickens

When: June 16, 3:41 PM EST
Where: Pickens County, 1.74 mi ESE of Latham
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 34.812, -82.521

Hail was reported on Old Easley Bridge Rd.

Hail, Anderson

When: June 16, 3:51 PM EST
Where: Anderson County, 0.56 mi NNW of Powdersville
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 34.788, -82.482

Hail was reported at the intersection of highway 81 and highway 153.

Hail, Anderson

When: June 16, 3:54 PM EST
Where: Anderson County, 1.02 mi ESE of Powdersville
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 34.775, -82.463

Hail was reported near the intersection of I-85 and highway 53.

Hail, Greenville

When: June 16, 3:59 PM EST
Where: Greenville County, 1.08 mi W of Marietta
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 35.020, -82.519

Hail, Anderson

When: June 16, 4:05 PM EST
Where: Anderson County, 0.69 mi N of Piedmont
Measured: 1.5 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 34.710, -82.470

Hail reported on the north side of Piedmont.

Hail, Anderson

When: June 16, 4:09 PM EST
Where: Anderson County, 0.09 mi NE of Piedmont
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 34.701, -82.469

Hail reported on Marshall St.

Hail, Greenville

When: June 16, 4:09 PM EST to 4:21 PM EST
Where: Greenville County, 0.83 mi N of Piedmont to 3.97 mi S of Piedmont
Measured: 2.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 34.712, -82.450

A supercell thunderstorm produced a swath of hail over the southwest part of the county. Hail ranged from baseball size in Piedmont to penny size in Pelzer.

Hail, Greenville

When: June 16, 4:43 PM EST
Where: Greenville County, 0.4 mi WNW of Fork Shoals
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates: 34.623, -82.306

Thunderstorm Wind, York

When: June 16, 5:35 PM EST to 5:40 PM EST
Where: York County, 4.91 mi WNW of Bethany to 3.25 mi SSW of Bethany
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.138, -81.384

Numerous trees were blown down in the area around Kings Mountain National Park.|A tree was also blown down on highway 55 near the Ce Stewart Rd intersection.

Hail, York

When: June 16, 5:35 PM EST
Where: York County, 3.25 mi SSW of Bethany
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 35.079, -81.328

Hail reported on highway 55 near the Ce Stewart Rd intersection.

Hail, Cherokee

When: June 16, 5:43 PM EST
Where: Cherokee County, 2.54 mi NW of Grassy Pond
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates: 35.151, -81.707

Tornado, York

When: June 16, 5:50 PM EST to 5:54 PM EST
Where: York County, 3.95 mi WSW of Filbert to 4.32 mi WSW of Filbert
Rating: EF1
Path length: 1.47 mi
Path width: 30 yd
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 35.037, -81.318

A tornado damage path began near the intersection of South Beersheba Rd and highway 5 and extended south, southeast for about 1.5 miles. Damage was mainly confined to uprooted and snapped trees. However, a concrete structure partially collapsed, with roofing material tossed about 30 yards from the structure.

Thunderstorm Wind, Chester

When: June 16, 6:01 PM EST to 6:17 PM EST
Where: Chester County, 1.06 mi NNW of Evans to 0.74 mi NW of Cornwell
Measured: 75 kt (86 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 34.683, -81.190

An area of microburst damage began along highway 321 about 2 miles south of Chester. The damage ran roughly parallel to highway 321 for several miles, ending just south of Cornwell Rd. Numerous trees were uprooted and snapped off and some houses sustained minor roof damage. Very large wind driven hail caused significant damage to some structures.

Hail, Chester

When: June 16, 6:01 PM EST to 6:17 PM EST
Where: Chester County, 1.06 mi NNW of Evans to 0.74 mi NW of Cornwell
Measured: 2.5 in hail
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 34.683, -81.190

A swath of very large, damaging hail began about two miles south of Chester, along highway 321. The area of damage ran roughly parallel to highway 321 for around 6 miles, ending just south of Cornwell Rd. The very large wind driven hail caused significant damage to some structures.

Thunderstorm Wind, Cherokee

When: June 16, 6:05 PM EST
Where: Cherokee County, 2.64 mi SW of Gaffney Cherokee Arp
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 35.073, -81.683

Several trees were blown down, mainly on the west side of Gaffney.

Thunderstorm Wind, Spartanburg

When: June 16, 9:35 PM EST to 9:50 PM EST
Where: Spartanburg County, 0.89 mi S of Pauline to 3.5 mi SSE of Walnut Grove
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 34.817, -81.873

Numerous trees were blown down in areas south of Pauline, with trees blocking Riddle Rd, Marshall Tucker Rd, Blackstock Rd, and Gwinn Mill Rd.

Thunderstorm Wind, Greenville

When: June 16, 9:50 PM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where: Greenville County, 1.03 mi NNW of Gaylord Xrds to 0.86 mi SSE of Fountain Inn
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: NWS Employee
Coordinates: 34.743, -82.189

Numerous trees were blown down from Jones Mill Rd north of Fountain Inn, east to the Spartanburg County line, and south to within the city limits of Fountain Inn. At least one tree fell on a house.

Hail, Greenville

When: June 16, 9:50 PM EST
Where: Greenville County, Travelers Rest
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 34.970, -82.430

Hail, Greenville

When: June 16, 10:00 PM EST
Where: Greenville County, 0.82 mi SSE of Fountain Inn
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 34.689, -82.194

Thunderstorm Wind, Laurens

When: June 16, 10:13 PM EST to 10:35 PM EST
Where: Laurens County, 1.12 mi NNE of Owings to 0.98 mi N of Maddens
Measured: 80 kt (92 mph) estimated gust
Deaths: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $1.2 million
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 34.644, -82.120

NWS survey found an area of extensive straight line wind damage. The damage began near Gray Court, but winds intensified significantly along West Main St in the city of Laurens, mainly in areas from Todd Ave to Laurens High School. Hundreds of trees were snapped off or uprooted. A 29-year-old woman was killed on highway 321 south of the city when a tree fell on her vehicle. Numerous trees fell on homes, causing roof damage. Other trees fell on and destroyed automobiles and outbuildings. For the most part, damage caused directly by the wind was minor. However, a detached garage at the intersection of highway 76 and Stagecoach Rd had its roof blown off, causing two of the walls to collapse. Another small structure was destroyed on LC Drive.

Hail, Laurens

When: June 16, 10:25 PM EST
Where: Laurens County, 2.82 mi SSW of Barksdale
Measured: 2 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 34.530, -82.090

The people who died

As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.

Event	Date	Age	Sex	Where	Kind
Thunderstorm Wind, Laurens	2009-06-16	29	Female	Vehicle/Towed Trailer	Direct

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.
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 2009 Every state in 2009 This day in weather history The tornado archive for South Carolina, 2009 Warnings in South Carolina, June 2009

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: 183754, 183755, 183757, 183758, 183759, 183762, 183760, 183761, 183763, 183765, 184244, 184246, 184245, 184247, 184242, 184243, 184248, 184250, 184251, 184253, 184252, 184254, 184256.