Tornado and Hail in South Carolina, April 16, 2011

Name: Tornado and Hail in South Carolina, April 16, 2011
Start: 2011-04-16T15:53
End: 2011-04-16T16:58
Location: South Carolina

April 16, 2011 · NWS CHS · 6 events in 1 county or zone

A cold front in combination with outflow boundaries from upstream convection, resulted in scattered strong to severe thunderstorms across southern South Carolina.

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: 6

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 CHS wrote it up.

A cold front in combination with outflow boundaries from upstream convection, resulted in scattered strong to severe thunderstorms across southern South Carolina.

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 Charleston, SC wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Apr 16, 3:08 PM EST, 45 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 16, 3:08 PM EST, 45 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
408 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

.SYNOPSIS...
A COLD FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH THE AREA FROM THE WEST LATE THIS
AFTERNOON. HIGH PRESSURE WILL DOMINATE THROUGH MID WEEK BEFORE
ANOTHER COLD FRONT APPROACHES FROM THE NORTHWEST AND POSSIBLY
STALLS OUT OVER OR NEAR THE AREA LATE IN THE WEEK.

&&

.NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 PM THIS EVENING/...
NEAR TERM SEVERE THREAT IS QUICKLY DIMINISHING AS DRY AIR
OVERWHELMS THE REGION. RISK AREA THROUGH 6 PM IS GENERALLY
CONFINED TO THE AREA FROM WALTERBORO TO NORTH CHARLESTON NORTH.
PDS TORNADO WATCH 150 HAS BEEN CLEARED FOR HAMPTON-JASPER-
BEAUFORT COUNTIES INCLUDING AMZ350. SUSPECT WE WILL BE ABLE TO
CLEAR THE WATCH FROM THE REMAINING AREAS BY 6 PM IF CURRENT TRENDS
CONTINUE.

VERY WINDY CONDITIONS PERSIST ALONG THE LOWER SOUTH CAROLINA COAST
AS WELL AS DORCHESTER AND BERKELEY COUNTIES. WINDS RECENTLY GUSTED
AS HIGH AS 43 MPH AT THE CHARLESTON AIRPORT. OBSERVATIONS FROM THE
SANTEE DAM ALONG EASTERN LAKE MARION SUGGEST WINDS REMAIN AT OR
MAYBE JUST BELOW HIGH WIND WARNING CRITERIA FOR LAKE MOULTRIE.
WILL KEEP THE WIND ADVISORY AND HIGH WIND WARNING AREAS IN TACT
THROUGH THEIR 6 PM EXPIRATION TIMES.

THE COLD FRONT WILL PUSH OFFSHORE THIS EVENING WITH COOLER/DRIER
AIR ADVECTING INTO THE REGION IN ITS WAKE. CLEAR SKIES...LOWERING
DEWPOINTS AND WEAK-MODERATE COLD AIR ADVECTION WILL ALLOW LOWS TO
DROP INTO THE UPPER 40S INLAND TO THE LOWER 50S COAST.

&&

.SHORT TERM /6 PM THIS EVENING THROUGH TUESDAY/...
QUIET WEATHER IS EXPECTED THROUGH THE SHORT TERM PERIOD WITH RAIN
FREE CONDITIONS AND CLEAR TO PARTLY CLOUDY SKIES. TEMPERATURE ARE
EXPECTED TO RUN CLOSE TO CLIMO SUNDAY AND MONDAY...BEFORE
REBOUNDING TO ABOVE NORMAL LEVELS ON TUESDAY.

&&

.LONG TERM /TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY/...
SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE WILL PREVAIL OVER THE WESTERN ATLANTIC THROUGH
MID WEEK WITH UPPER LEVEL HIGH PRESSURE BUILDING CONSIDERABLY OVER
THE SOUTHEAST STATES AND WESTERN ATLANTIC. THE STRONG SUBSIDENCE
WILL GENERALLY KEEP RAIN-FREE CONDITIONS IN PLACE...HOWEVER A
STRENGTHENING ONSHORE FLOW COULD RESULT IN ISOLATED DIURNAL
CONVECTION BEGINNING WED BUT PROBABILITIES ARE TOO LOW TO MENTION AT
THIS POINT. RAIN CHANCES WILL INCREASE TOWARD THE END OF THE WEEK AS
A COLD FRONT DROPS TOWARD THE AREA. TEMPERATURES WILL BE ABOVE
NORMAL THROUGH THE PERIOD.

&&

.AVIATION /20Z SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ASSOCIATED WITH AN APPROACHING COLD FRONT
WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP AND PROPAGATE TOWARD BOTH TERMINALS THIS
AFTERNOON. CONDITIONS ACROSS THE CHARLESTON AREA WILL REMAIN MORE
FAVORABLE FOR STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT THAN ACROSS
SOUTHEAST GEORGIA. THUS...HAVE INCLUDED A TEMPO GROUP FOR KCHS OF
MVFR TSRA. WITH ANY THUNDERSTORM THAT DEVELOPS CONDITIONS COULD
QUICKLY DETERIORATE TO BELOW IFR LEVELS...BUT PREFER TO AMEND IF
THESE CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED. TIMED THUNDERSTORMS TO DEVELOP IN THE
VICINITY OF KCHS BY 19Z. EXPECT MAJORITY OF ANY DEVELOPMENT TO PUSH
NORTH AND EAST OF THE TERMINAL AFTER 22Z. HOWEVER WILL MAINTAIN
MENTION OF CB THROUGH 01Z TO COMPENSATE FOR ANY LINGERING
SHOWERS/THUNDERSTORMS.

EVEN THOUGH INSTABILITY FACTORS ARE BETTER NORTH OF KSAV...CAN NOT
COMPLETELY RULE OUT THE POSSIBILITY OF A THUNDERSTORM AFFECTING THE
KSAV. HOWEVER...WILL KEEP TS OUT OF TAFS FOR NOW. BASED ON RADAR
TRENDS...TIMED SHOWERS TO AFFECT KSAV RIGHT AROUND 18Z. ADDITIONAL
DEVELOPMENT IS EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON...THUS WILL KEEP MENTION OF CB
UNTIL 21Z.

THIS EVENING GUSTY CONDITIONS WILL DIMINISH AS THE COLD FRONT PULLS
AWAY FROM THE AREA. HOWEVER...MODEL SOUNDINGS SHOW THAT WINDS ALOFT
WILL REMAIN AROUND 35 KNOTS FOR THE FIRST HALF OF THE OVERNIGHT.
THUS...AS WINDS AT THE SURFACE DIMINISH AFTER SUNSET...EXPECT A FEW
HOURS OF LLWS PRIOR TO 06Z.

EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK...THERE ARE NO SIGNIFICANT CONCERNS
ATTM.

&&

.MARINE...
GALE WARNINGS CONTINUE UNTIL 6 PM FOR ALL BUT THE CHARLESTON
NEARSHORE WATERS. OBSERVATIONS OUT OF THE CHARLESTON HARBOR AND
REPORTS FROM THE CHARLESTON HARBOR PILOT BOAT OUT ABOUT 10-12 NM
OFFSHORE INDICATE WINDS HAVE BEEN BLOWING SOLID GALES SINCE LATE
MORNING. WINDS WILL DIMINISH THIS EVENING AS A COLD FRONT SHIFTS
OFFSHORE AND THE LLJ NUDGES EAST.

SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY...HIGH PRESSURE WILL REMAIN THE DOMINANT
WEATHER FEATURE THROUGH THE PERIOD...WITH WINDS AND SEAS REMAINING
BELOW HEADLINE THRESHOLDS.

&&

.TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...
TIDES HAVE BEEN RUNNING A SOLID 0.3-0.5 FT ABOVE PREDICTED SO FAR
THIS AFTERNOON COURTESY OF A STRONG ONSHORE FLOW. TIDES MAY COME
VERY CLOSE TO COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY CRITERIA AT CHARLESTON
HARBOR.

PREDICTED TIDE LEVELS WILL BE CLOSE TO SHALLOW COASTAL FLOODING
LEVELS SUNDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY DURING THE EVENING HIGH TIDE
CYCLE...AND COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORIES MAY EVENTUALLY BE NEEDED FOR
PORTIONS OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA AND GEORGIA COASTS.

&&

.CHS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
GA...NONE.
SC...HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 6 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR SCZ045.
     WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR SCZ044-048>050-
     052.
MARINE...GALE WARNING UNTIL 6 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR AMZ330-350-352-
     374.
     SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR AMZ354.

&&

Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 16, 3:17 PM EST, 36 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
417 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

AMZ354-GAZ087-088-099>101-114>116-118-137-138-140-SCZ040-042-047-
172030-
WATERS FROM SAVANNAH GA TO ALTAMAHA SOUND GA OUT 20 NM...INCLUDING
GRAYS REEF NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY-JENKINS-SCREVEN-CANDLER-BULLOCH-
EFFINGHAM-TATTNALL-EVANS-INLAND BRYAN-INLAND CHATHAM-LONG-
INLAND LIBERTY-INLAND MCINTOSH-ALLENDALE-HAMPTON-INLAND JASPER-
417 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR ATLANTIC COASTAL
WATERS...SOUTHEAST GEORGIA AND SOUTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

GAZ117-119-139-141-172030-
COASTAL BRYAN-COASTAL CHATHAM-COASTAL LIBERTY-COASTAL MCINTOSH-
417 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

...MODERATE RISK FOR RIP CURRENTS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS
EVENING...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHEAST GEORGIA.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   MODERATE RISK FOR RIP CURRENTS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

SCZ048-172030-
BEAUFORT-
417 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EDT THIS EVENING...
...HIGH RISK FOR RIP CURRENTS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS
EVENING...

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.

   HIGH RISK FOR RIP CURRENTS.
   WIND ADVISORY.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

AMZ352-172030-
WATERS FROM EDISTO BEACH SC TO SAVANNAH GA OUT 20 NM-
417 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EDT THIS EVENING...

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.

   GALE WARNING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

SCZ051-172030-
COASTAL JASPER-
417 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

...HIGH RISK FOR RIP CURRENTS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS
EVENING...

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.

   HIGH RISK FOR RIP CURRENTS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

SCZ044-172030-
DORCHESTER-
417 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EDT THIS EVENING...
...TORNADO WATCH 150 IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM EDT THIS EVENING...

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.

   WIND ADVISORY.
   TORNADO WATCH.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

SCZ045-172030-
INLAND BERKELEY-
417 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EDT THIS EVENING...
...TORNADO WATCH 150 IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM EDT THIS EVENING...

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.

   HIGH WIND WARNING.
   TORNADO WATCH.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

SCZ043-172030-
INLAND COLLETON-
417 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

...TORNADO WATCH 150 IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM EDT THIS EVENING...

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.

   TORNADO WATCH.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

SCZ049-050-172030-
COASTAL COLLETON-CHARLESTON-
417 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EDT THIS EVENING...
...HIGH RISK FOR RIP CURRENTS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS
EVENING...
...TORNADO WATCH 150 IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM EDT THIS EVENING...

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.

   HIGH RISK FOR RIP CURRENTS.
   WIND ADVISORY.
   TORNADO WATCH.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

SCZ052-172030-
TIDAL BERKELEY-
417 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EDT THIS EVENING...
...TORNADO WATCH 150 IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM EDT THIS EVENING...

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.

   WIND ADVISORY.
   TORNADO WATCH.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

AMZ330-350-172030-
CHARLESTON HARBOR-
WATERS FROM SOUTH SANTEE RIVER TO EDISTO BEACH SC OUT 20 NM-
417 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EDT THIS EVENING...
...TORNADO WATCH 150 IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM EDT THIS EVENING...

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.

   GALE WARNING.
   TORNADO WATCH.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

AMZ374-172030-
WATERS FROM SAVANNAH GA TO ALTAMAHA SOUND GA EXTENDING FROM 20 TO
60 NM-
417 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EDT THIS EVENING...

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.

   GALE WARNING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Apr 16, 2:47 PM EST, 1 hour 6 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
347 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

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

0330 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST 2 SSW CHARLESTON        32.76N  79.95W
04/16/2011  M41 MPH          CHARLESTON         SC   MESONET

            WEATHERFLOW MARINE OBSERVATIONS ALONG THE SOUTHWEST
            PORTION OF THE CHARLESTON HARBOR REPORTED GALE FORCE
            WIND GUSTS OF 41 MPH.

&&

EVENT NUMBER CHS1100309

Local storm report, Apr 16, 2:58 PM EST, 55 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
358 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

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

1210 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST 14 WNW SAINT STEPHEN    33.48N  80.15W
04/16/2011  M42 MPH          BERKELEY           SC   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

            PINEVILLE OBSERVATION RECORDED A 42 MPH WIND GUST.

&&

EVENT NUMBER CHS1100310

DPB

Special weather statement, Apr 16, 3:11 PM EST, 42 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
411 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

SCZ043>045-162100-
DORCHESTER-INLAND BERKELEY-INLAND COLLETON-
411 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT PORTIONS OF BERKELEY...DORCHESTER
AND COLLETON COUNTIES THROUGH 500 PM EDT...

AT 406 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM...NEAR CAT HOLE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.

SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL BE AFFECTED INCLUDE...
HARLEYVILLE...INDIAN FIELD...REEVESVILLE...RUFFIN...SAINT GEORGE...
SMOAKS AND WILLIAMS...

PREPARE NOW FOR THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS...
GUSTY WINDS OF 40 TO 50 MPH...
DIME SIZE HAIL...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

BE ALERT FOR RAPIDLY CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS AS STORMS APPROACH.
BE READY TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION IN CASE A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM
WARNING IS ISSUED FOR YOUR LOCATION.

&&

LAT...LON 3330 8047 3327 8043 3327 8037 3328 8035
      3327 8030 3330 8025 3332 8025 3332 8024
      3326 8019 3300 8081 3308 8089 3313 8089
      3314 8088 3334 8050
TIME...MOT...LOC 2010Z 235DEG 44KT 3318 8072

Local storm report, Apr 16, 3:22 PM EST, 31 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
422 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

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

0415 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST 12 NE CHARLESTON        32.90N  79.78W
04/16/2011  M42 MPH          CHARLESTON         SC   AWOS

            GUST TO 42 MPH MEASURED AT EAST COOPER AIRPORT.

&&

EVENT NUMBER CHS1100311

Local storm report, Apr 16, 3:31 PM EST, 22 minutes before

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Local storm report, Apr 16, 3:35 PM EST, 18 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
435 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

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

0345 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST 5 SE VALONA             31.42N  81.29W
04/16/2011  M42 MPH          MCINTOSH           GA   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

            MEASURED BY THE SAPELO ISLAND NOAA NERRS OBSERVATION
            SITE.

&&

EVENT NUMBER CHS1100313

The radar

The Charleston,SC radar (KCLX), 101 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:51 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

5 hail, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Berkeley

When: April 16, 3:53 PM EST to 3:54 PM EST
Where: Berkeley County, 0.9 mi SW of Pigeon Bay
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 33.260, -80.240

The public reported golf ball size hail near Tree Farm Lane and Highway 311.

Hail, Berkeley

When: April 16, 3:57 PM EST to 3:58 PM EST
Where: Berkeley County, 1.35 mi ENE of Cross
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 33.330, -80.150

The public reported dime to nickel size hail in Cross, South Carolina.

Tornado, Berkeley

When: April 16, 4:03 PM EST to 4:14 PM EST
Where: Berkeley County, 4.96 mi SW of Russellville to 0.64 mi ESE of St Stephen
Rating: EF1
Path length: 7.92 mi
Path width: 120 yd
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 33.355, -80.037

NWS personnel confirmed a EF-1 tornado with estimated wind speeds between 105 to 110 miles per hour. A tornadic waterspout formed over northern Lake Moultrie in South Carolina at 503 PM and traveled east northeast for 2 miles before coming onshore 2.5 miles southwest of Russellville South Carolina. The tornado then traveled east northeast before dissipating 1 mile southeast of Saint Stephen, South Carolina. The tornado lifted a roof off a church, destroyed a mobile home, shifted two other mobile homes off their foundations, tore half the roof off a house, destroyed a barn, tore shingles and/or siding off of a dozen homes/mobile homes, uprooted or snapped off many hundred trees, damaged or destroyed sections of several fences and knocked down several power poles.

Hail, Berkeley

When: April 16, 4:09 PM EST to 4:10 PM EST
Where: Berkeley County, 3.2 mi WNW of Bonneau
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 33.320, -80.000

The public reported quarter size hail in Bonneau Beach, South Carolina.

Hail, Berkeley

When: April 16, 4:42 PM EST to 4:43 PM EST
Where: Berkeley County, 2.69 mi ENE of Bonneau
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 33.320, -79.910

A trained spotter reported nickel size hail.

Hail, Berkeley

When: April 16, 4:57 PM EST to 4:58 PM EST
Where: Berkeley County, 2.07 mi S of Alvin
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 33.320, -79.820

The public reported 1 inch diameter hail.

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
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 2011 Every state in 2011 This day in weather history The tornado archive for South Carolina, 2011 Warnings in South Carolina, April 2011

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: 304143, 304142, 304137, 304141, 304140, 304139.