South Carolina, 2011

Hail and Damaging Winds in South Carolina, April 9, 2011

April 9, 2011 · NWS CAE · 45 events in 7 counties and zones

Supercell thunderstorms rolled across the upper Midlands and Pee Dee region and produced large hail up to the size of baseballs. The insurance industry estimates $45 million in damages across the state.

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
$1.6 million
Crop damage
$412,000
Events
45

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.

Supercell thunderstorms rolled across the upper Midlands and Pee Dee region and produced large hail up to the size of baseballs. The insurance industry estimates $45 million in damages across the state.

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 Apr 9, 1:12 PM EST, 3 hours 33 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 9, 1:12 PM EST, 3 hours 33 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 9, 2:32 PM EST, 2 hours 13 minutes before
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The radar

The Columbia radar (KCAE), 122 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:45 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

42 hail, 3 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Lancaster

When
April 9, 4:45 PM EST to 4:49 PM EST
Where
Lancaster County, 12.89 mi NNW of Van Wyck
Measured
0.88 in hail
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
35.030, -80.890

Public reported nickel size hail 3.5 miles ENE of Fort Mill.

Hail, Lancaster

When
April 9, 5:09 PM EST to 5:13 PM EST
Where
Lancaster County, 6.93 mi N of Van Wyck
Measured
1.25 in hail
Property damage
$45,000
Crop damage
$10,000
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
34.950, -80.840

Hail reported...bigger than quarter sized but small than golfball sized...at the Indian Land AMACO station. Also, several cars had broken windshields.

Hail, Lancaster

When
April 9, 5:15 PM EST to 5:30 PM EST
Where
Lancaster County, 0.57 mi W of Lancaster
Measured
1.75 in hail
Property damage
$80,000
Crop damage
$20,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
34.720, -80.780

Lancaster EMA reported 3 separate episodes of hail. Golfball size hail occurred from 615-630pm, 1.5-2 inch hail occurred from 710-720pm. Pea to marble size hail occurred between 730-740pm. Hail covered the ground and there was one tree knocked down by a wind gust.

Hail, Lancaster

When
April 9, 5:15 PM EST to 5:20 PM EST
Where
Lancaster County, 1.33 mi ENE of Spring Dell
Measured
2.5 in hail
Property damage
$80,000
Crop damage
$20,000
Reported by
Amateur Radio
Coordinates
34.830, -80.850

HAM radio operator reported tennis ball size hail 1 mile south of the intersection of State Route 5 and State Route 75 near Van Wyck.

Hail, Lancaster

When
April 9, 5:15 PM EST to 5:20 PM EST
Where
Lancaster County, 1.33 mi ESE of Van Wyck
Measured
2 in hail
Property damage
$40,000
Crop damage
$10,000
Reported by
Other Federal Agency
Coordinates
34.840, -80.810

Hail measuring 2 inches was reported at Andrew Jackson State Park.

Hail, Lancaster

When
April 9, 5:15 PM EST
Where
Lancaster County, 0.89 mi SW of Tradesville
Measured
1.75 in hail
Property damage
$40,000
Crop damage
$10,000
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
34.760, -80.560

Public reported golfball size hail covering the ground at the M and R Mini Mart.

Hail, Lancaster

When
April 9, 5:27 PM EST to 5:30 PM EST
Where
Lancaster County, Lingles Xrds
Measured
1.5 in hail
Property damage
$25,000
Crop damage
$10,000
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
34.750, -80.620

Pbulic reported 1.5 inch hail that covered the ground at the Express Mart.

Hail, Lancaster

When
April 9, 5:30 PM EST to 5:35 PM EST
Where
Lancaster County, 0.57 mi W of Lancaster
Measured
1 in hail
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
34.720, -80.780

Public reported 1 inch hail in Lancaster.

Hail, Lancaster

When
April 9, 5:53 PM EST to 5:57 PM EST
Where
Lancaster County, 2.27 mi W of Camp Creek
Measured
1.25 in hail
Property damage
$5,000
Crop damage
$5,000
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
34.750, -80.720

Public reported 1.25 inch hail.

Hail, Lancaster

When
April 9, 5:58 PM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where
Lancaster County, 10.5 mi N of Van Wyck
Measured
2 in hail
Property damage
$40,000
Crop damage
$10,000
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
35.000, -80.860

Public reported 2 inch hail.

Hail, Chesterfield

When
April 9, 6:00 PM EST to 6:05 PM EST
Where
Chesterfield County, 3.52 mi SW of Angelus
Measured
1.75 in hail
Property damage
$10,000
Crop damage
$5,000
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
34.570, -80.370

Pbulic reported hail up to golfball size at the EZ Quick mart.

Hail, Lancaster

When
April 9, 6:07 PM EST to 6:10 PM EST
Where
Lancaster County, 0.57 mi W of Lancaster
Measured
1.75 in hail
Property damage
$40,000
Crop damage
$10,000
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
34.720, -80.780

Spotter reported golfball size hail in Lancaster.

Hail, Lancaster

When
April 9, 6:10 PM EST to 6:15 PM EST
Where
Lancaster County, 2.68 mi SE of Van Wyck
Measured
1.75 in hail
Property damage
$40,000
Crop damage
$10,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
34.820, -80.800

County EM measured golfball size hail with dents covering his vehicle and others.

Hail, Lancaster

When
April 9, 6:15 PM EST
Where
Lancaster County, 2.27 mi W of Camp Creek
Measured
1.25 in hail
Property damage
$10,000
Crop damage
$5,000
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
34.750, -80.720

Public reported 1.25 inch hail.

Thunderstorm Wind, Chesterfield

When
April 9, 6:15 PM EST to 6:19 PM EST
Where
Chesterfield County, 2 mi NW of Pageland
Measured
55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$8,000
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
34.791, -80.405

Public reported a metal roof peeled off a horse stall and multiple trees down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Lancaster

When
April 9, 6:19 PM EST to 6:23 PM EST
Where
Lancaster County, 1.49 mi SSE of Fork Hill Xrds
Measured
55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$8,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
34.650, -80.610

EM reported trees down along Musket Road.

Hail, Chesterfield

When
April 9, 6:25 PM EST to 6:30 PM EST
Where
Chesterfield County, 0.57 mi W of Mc Bee
Measured
1.75 in hail
Property damage
$40,000
Crop damage
$20,000
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
34.470, -80.260

McBee police reported golfball size hail. Considerable crop damage was done to the peach orchards in the area.

Hail, Lancaster

When
April 9, 6:40 PM EST to 6:45 PM EST
Where
Lancaster County, 0.57 mi W of Kershaw
Measured
1.5 in hail
Property damage
$30,000
Crop damage
$10,000
Reported by
Storm Chaser
Coordinates
34.550, -80.590

Storm chaser and meteorologist reported 1.5 inch hail in the town of Kershaw.

Hail, Kershaw

When
April 9, 6:45 PM EST
Where
Kershaw County, 0.69 mi S of Bethune
Measured
1.75 in hail
Property damage
$50,000
Crop damage
$15,000
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
34.410, -80.350

Golfball size hail reported at the Mini Maart in Bethune. Windshield broken on a car.

Hail, Chesterfield

When
April 9, 6:48 PM EST to 6:52 PM EST
Where
Chesterfield County, 1.49 mi SSE of Ingrams
Measured
1 in hail
Property damage
$10,000
Crop damage
$20,000
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
34.450, -80.210

Local farmer reported hail damage to his strawberry fields and peaches knocked off trees.

Hail, Lee

When
April 9, 7:08 PM EST to 7:12 PM EST
Where
Lee County, 1.14 mi E of Bishopville Muni Arp
Measured
1.75 in hail
Property damage
$20,000
Crop damage
$15,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
34.250, -80.210

EM reported golfball size hail covering the ground at Hwy 15 and and the Lynches River Bridge.

Hail, Chesterfield

When
April 9, 7:21 PM EST
Where
Chesterfield County, 2.76 mi N of Mc Bee
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
34.510, -80.250

Public reported penny size hail.

Hail, Clarendon

When
April 9, 7:43 PM EST to 7:45 PM EST
Where
Clarendon County, 1.38 mi N of Turbeville
Measured
1 in hail
Property damage
$5,000
Crop damage
$5,000
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
33.900, -80.020

Sheriff reported quarter size hail just north of Turbeville.

Hail, Lancaster

When
April 9, 8:05 PM EST to 8:10 PM EST
Where
Lancaster County, 4.47 mi SW of Douglas
Measured
1.75 in hail
Property damage
$30,000
Crop damage
$10,000
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
34.620, -80.850

Pbulic reported golfball size hail near Hwy 200 and Lloyd Reid Road.

Hail, Kershaw

When
April 9, 8:15 PM EST
Where
Kershaw County, 3.17 mi ESE of Liberty Hill
Measured
1.75 in hail
Property damage
$40,000
Crop damage
$10,000
Reported by
Post Office
Coordinates
34.460, -80.750

Post Office reported golfball size hail in Liberty Hill.

Hail, Kershaw

When
April 9, 8:17 PM EST to 8:22 PM EST
Where
Kershaw County, 2.99 mi SSE of Liberty Hill
Measured
1.75 in hail
Property damage
$30,000
Crop damage
$10,000
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
34.440, -80.780

Golfball size hail reported for 5 minutes at the River Deck Store on Lake Wateree. Hail damaged the canopy at the store and covered the ground.

Thunderstorm Wind, Kershaw

When
April 9, 8:17 PM EST to 8:22 PM EST
Where
Kershaw County, Camden
Measured
60 kt (69 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$8,000
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
34.250, -80.600

Sheriff reported several trees down in Camden.

Hail, Kershaw

When
April 9, 8:38 PM EST
Where
Kershaw County, 1.5 mi NNE of Kirkland
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
34.320, -80.610

Public reported penny size hail.

Hail, Kershaw

When
April 9, 8:40 PM EST
Where
Kershaw County, 0.9 mi NW of Camden
Measured
2 in hail
Property damage
$120,000
Crop damage
$15,000
Reported by
Storm Chaser
Coordinates
34.260, -80.610

Storm chaser reported 2 inch hail in Camden.

Hail, Kershaw

When
April 9, 8:41 PM EST to 8:45 PM EST
Where
Kershaw County, 0.9 mi NW of Camden
Measured
2.75 in hail
Property damage
$120,000
Crop damage
$20,000
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
34.260, -80.610

Sheriff dispatch reported from golfball to baseball size in Camden. Reportes of several vehicles damaged along with trees down.

Hail, Kershaw

When
April 9, 8:47 PM EST to 8:50 PM EST
Where
Kershaw County, 0.9 mi NW of Camden
Measured
1.75 in hail
Property damage
$20,000
Crop damage
$5,000
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
34.260, -80.610

Public reported golfball size hail near Camden.

Hail, Fairfield

When
April 9, 8:55 PM EST to 9:00 PM EST
Where
Fairfield County, 3.5 mi N of Bucklick
Measured
1.75 in hail
Property damage
$30,000
Crop damage
$10,000
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
34.500, -80.890

Spotter reported golfball size hail near Lake Wateree.

Hail, Sumter

When
April 9, 9:00 PM EST
Where
Sumter County, 2.86 mi E of Dalzell
Measured
1.75 in hail
Property damage
$40,000
Crop damage
$5,000
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
34.020, -80.430

Golfball size hail reported in Dalzell - relayed by COCORAHS observer.

Hail, Sumter

When
April 9, 9:04 PM EST to 9:07 PM EST
Where
Sumter County, 0.9 mi SE of (Ssc)shaw Afb Sumter
Measured
1 in hail
Property damage
$10,000
Crop damage
$2,000
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
33.960, -80.470

Sheriff dispatch reported quarter size hail near Broad Street and Cherryhill Drive.

Hail, Fairfield

When
April 9, 9:05 PM EST to 9:10 PM EST
Where
Fairfield County, 0.57 mi W of Longtown
Measured
1.75 in hail
Property damage
$40,000
Crop damage
$10,000
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
34.350, -80.840

NWS COOP Observer reported golfball size hail in Longtown.

Hail, Sumter

When
April 9, 9:10 PM EST to 9:15 PM EST
Where
Sumter County, 1.34 mi WSW of (Ssc)shaw Afb Sumter
Measured
2.5 in hail
Property damage
$100,000
Crop damage
$20,000
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
33.960, -80.500

Public reported hail up to tennis ball size near Shaw AFB.

Hail, Sumter

When
April 9, 9:10 PM EST to 9:15 PM EST
Where
Sumter County, 3.51 mi ESE of (Ssc)shaw Afb Sumter
Measured
2 in hail
Property damage
$60,000
Crop damage
$15,000
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
33.960, -80.420

Public reported golfball to egg size hail near Shaw AFB.

Hail, Sumter

When
April 9, 9:10 PM EST to 9:14 PM EST
Where
Sumter County, 2.68 mi WNW of Sumter
Measured
3 in hail
Property damage
$60,000
Crop damage
$10,000
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
33.940, -80.390

Public reported 3 inch hail near Sumter.

Hail, Sumter

When
April 9, 9:11 PM EST
Where
Sumter County, 1.15 mi E of (Ssc)shaw Afb Sumter
Measured
1.75 in hail
Property damage
$60,000
Crop damage
$15,000
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
33.970, -80.460

Public reported golfball size hail west of Sumter near Shaw AFB.

Hail, Sumter

When
April 9, 9:12 PM EST to 9:15 PM EST
Where
Sumter County, 2.68 mi WNW of Sumter
Measured
1.75 in hail
Property damage
$40,000
Crop damage
$10,000
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
33.940, -80.390

Spotter reported hail ranging from quarter size to golfball size covering the ground in Sumter.

Hail, Sumter

When
April 9, 9:14 PM EST to 9:18 PM EST
Where
Sumter County, 1.85 mi WNW of Sumter
Measured
1.75 in hail
Property damage
$40,000
Crop damage
$5,000
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
33.930, -80.380

COCORAHS Observer reported golfball size hail near the USC Sumter campus.

Hail, Sumter

When
April 9, 9:15 PM EST to 9:20 PM EST
Where
Sumter County, 2.29 mi E of (Ssc)shaw Afb Sumter
Measured
2 in hail
Property damage
$60,000
Crop damage
$15,000
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
33.970, -80.440

Public reported 2 inch hail near Shaw AFB.

Hail, Kershaw

When
April 9, 9:25 PM EST to 9:30 PM EST
Where
Kershaw County, 3.09 mi SW of Lugoff
Measured
1.75 in hail
Property damage
$40,000
Crop damage
$5,000
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
34.190, -80.710

Public reported golfball size hail between Lugoff and Camden.

Hail, Kershaw

When
April 9, 9:30 PM EST
Where
Kershaw County, 0.9 mi NW of Lugoff
Measured
1.75 in hail
Property damage
$40,000
Crop damage
$10,000
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
34.230, -80.680

Public reported half dollar to golfball size hail that covered the deck at his house near exit 92 on I-20.

Hail, Fairfield

When
April 9, 9:56 PM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where
Fairfield County, 1.33 mi ESE of Bucklick
Measured
1 in hail
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
34.440, -80.880

Public reported nickel to quarter size hail at Suttons Landing on Lake Wateree.

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

More

Every storm in South Carolina in 2011Every state in 2011This day in weather historyWarnings 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: 283493, 283494, 283495, 283496, 283497, 283536, 283498, 283499, 283500, 283501, 283502, 283503, 283504, 283505, 285463, 283535, 283506, 283507, 283508, 283509, 283510, 283513, 283518, 283511, 283520, 283512, 283672, 283514, 283517, 283515, 283521, 283519, 283528, 283522, 283526, 283529, 283531, 283533, 283524, 283523, and more.