Tornado and Hail in South Carolina, March 19, 2011

Name: Tornado and Hail in South Carolina, March 19, 2011
Start: 2011-03-19T14:20
End: 2011-03-19T19:05
Location: South Carolina

March 19, 2011 · NWS GSP · 14 events in 3 counties and zones

Thunderstorms developed during the afternoon hours over the southeast slopes of the North Carolina Blue Ridge. The storms intensified and consolidated into a single, large supercell thunderstorm that moved southward across Upstate 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: 14

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.

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 Mar 19, 1:32 PM EST, 48 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 19, 1:32 PM EST, 48 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
232 PM EDT SAT MAR 19 2011

.SYNOPSIS...
A COLD FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH THE AREA REACHING THE COAST BY
TONIGHT. A WEDGE OF COOLER AIR WILL SETTLE IN BEHIND THE FRONT ON
SUNDAY. WEAK HIGH PRESSURE WILL THEN DOMINATE THE PATTERN THROUGH
MID WEEK. LOW PRESSURE WILL CROSS THE MOUNTAINS FROM THE WEST LATE
ON WEDNESDAY BRINGING A TRAILING COLD FRONT THROUGH THE REGION
WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH SUNDAY/...
AS OF 200 PM...ACCORDING TO THE LATEST LAPS ANALYSIS...MUCH OF THE
SW HALF OF THE CWA HAS DESTABILIZED...WITH SBCAPE VALUES GENERALLY
500-1000 J/KG. HWVR...THE LAPS SNDGS SHOW A CAPPING INVERSION ARND
750 MB. SOME OF THE PEAKS OF THE THE SW/CENTRAL NC MTNS ARE HIGH
ENUF SUCH THAT THE CAP HAS ERODED AND EVEN A COUPLE OF TOWERING CU
HAVE DEVELOPED. THE LIMITING FACTOR FOR CONVECTION IS LACK OF UPPER
SUPPORT AS LARGE ANTICYCLONE STILL DOMINATING THE SOUTHEAST STATES.
LLVL CONVERGENCE IS MAINLY MTN-VLY WNDS ACRS THOSE MTNS. THE OP
MODELS AND MESOSCALE MODELS ARE ALL DEVELOPING CONVECTION IN SW
CORNER OF NC...BUT DISAGREE ON PRETTY MUCH ALL OTHER ASPECTS OF
CONVECTION. FOR NOW...I THINK MAXING OUT A MID CHC POP OVR THAT AREA
AND HAVING SOME OF THAT ACTIVITY PROPAGATE ALONG A GRAD OF BEST
INSTBY ACRS THE UPR SAVANNAH VLY LOOKS GOOD (WHICH IS WHAT I
INHERITED). THE STEERING FLOW FOR DEEPER CONVECTION IS ACTUALLY
TOWARD THE ESE. BUT GIVEN THE STABLE BL ACRS THE PIEDMONT...WILL
KEEP POP UNDER 15% EAST OF I-26. THIS EVE...ONCE THERE IS A LOSS OF
DAYTIME HEATING...CONVECTION SHUD WANE.  ANOTHER FCST CHALLENGE
TODAY IS DUE TO VERY DRY BL AIR THAT HAS BEEN MIXING/FILTERING IN
FROM THE NE...WITH RH VALUES PLUMMETING INTO THE 20S ACRS THE NRN
FOOTHILLS AND NW PIEDMONT. A FIRE DANGER STATEMENT WAS REQUESTED FOR
THESE AREAS DUE TO RH BELOW 30% AND NE WND GUSTING OVR 20 MPH AT
TIMES. THAT SPS IS OUT TILL 7 PM EDT.

LATER TNGT...850 MB HIGH SHIFTS EAST...RESULTING IN FLOW VEERING TO
SELY THEN SLY BY DAYBREAK SUNDAY. MEANWHILE...A 1038 MB SFC HIGH
WILL SLOWLY SHIFT EAST TO THE ST LAWRENCE VLY BY 18Z
SUNDAY...RESULTING IN COLD AIR DAMMING (CAD). THE NAM AND GFS
DISAGREE ON AMT OF MOISTURE AND ISENTROPIC LIFT OVER THE WEDGE. I
DON/T KNOW HOW MUCH ANY CONVECTION OVR NE GA WILL HAVE MUCH EFFECT
ON LOW CLOUD DEVELOPMENT...BUT THE GFS IS ACTUALLY FAIRLY DRY AND
HENCE THE MAV IS ABOUT 2 CATEGORIES WARMER FOR SUNDAY/S MAX TEMPS
THAN THE MET. EVEN THE NAM AND SREF ARE LOW ON POP ALONG UPSLOPE
AREAS OF THE BLUE RIDGE AND THE PIEDMONT. SO I DON/T THINK THE CAD
WILL BE ABLE TO LOCK IN REAL COOL AIR. HAVE TAKEN A BLEND OF MOS
KEEPING MOST OF THE AREA DRY (BUT STILL ON THE MOSTLY CLOUDY
SIDE). THERE IS BUST POTENTIAL EITHER WAY.

&&

.SHORT TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY/...
AS OF 230 PM SAT...UPPER RIDGING WILL DOMINATE THE SE STATES
THROUGH THE SHORT TERM. AT THE SURFACE...EXPECT THAT THE WEAK
WEDGE WILL PERSIST INTO MON NIGHT PER THE PREFERRED NAM.
HOWEVER...EVEN THE NAM TIME SECTION SHOWS BOUNDARY LAYER FLOW
TURNING TO THE SW BY 12Z MON. HENCE...EXPECT CONSIDERABLE CLOUDINESS
WILL CONTINUE MON NIGHT...ESPECIALLY IN THE UPSLOPE AREAS ALONG THE
BLUE RIDGE. CAN'T RULE OUT SOME SCATTERED LIGHT SHOWERS ALONG THE
BLUE RDIGE MON NIGHT WITH WEAK UPSLOPE/ISENT LIFT...BUT ANY PRECIP
WILL BE VERY LIGHT. ON MON...MODELS IN AGREEMENT THAT WEDGE BOUNDARY
WILL WASH OUT WITH A MILD/SW FLOW DEVELOPING ACROSS THE AREA.
THEREFORE...WILL DISSIPATE CLOUD COVER ON MON AND FORECAST MAX TEMPS
TO CLIMB INTO THE LOWER TO MID 70S OUTSIDE OF THE MOUNTAINS...WITH
MAINLY 60S MOUNTAINS. LOW LEVEL THICKNESS IS FORECAST TO CONTINUE TO
INCREASE THROUGH TUE ALONG WITH WEAK DOWNSLOPE FLOW. THIS WILL
SUPPORT WELL ABOVE AVERAGE TEMPS. MAX TEMPS EXPECTED TO BE ABOUT 15
DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL ON TUE WITH 80S OUTSIDE THE MOUNTAINS...AND 70S
MANY MOUNTAIN LOCATIONS.

&&

.LONG TERM /TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY/...
AS OF 230 PM SAT...MEDIUM RANGE MODELS AGREE THAT THE UPPER AIR
PATTERN OVER THE SE STATES NEXT WEEK WILL TRANSITION FROM AN UPPER
RIDGE EARLY IN THE WEEK...TO AN EAST COAST TROUGH BY LATE IN THE
WEEK. THIS WILL PORTEND AN END TO THE UNSEASONABLY WARM WEATHER AND
A CHANGE TO MUCH COOLER CONDITIONS BY FRI. TUE NIGHT AND WED WILL
STILL BE DOMINATED BY THE UPPER RIDGE...SO DRY AND WARM WX WILL
CONTINUE THEN. AS AN UPPER TROUGH MOVES INTO THE GREAT LAKES BY 12Z
THU A SURFACE COLD FRONT IS FORECAST TO MOVE THROUGH THE SOUTHERN
APPALACHIANS WED NIGHT. BEST DYNAMICS WILL BE NORTH OF THE AREA...SO
ATTENDANT SHOWERS WILL BE MOST NUMEROUS OVER THE MOUNTAINS WITH THE
COVERAGE DECREASING AS THE FRONT MOVES SE INTO THE PIEDMONT.
HENCE...HIGHEST POPS WILL BE FEATURED IN THE MOUNTAINS...WITH ONLY A
LOW CHANCE ELSEWHERE LATE WED NIGHT. FORECAST CAPE NOT IMPRESSIVE SO
THUNDER SHOULD BE MINIMAL IF ANY. GENERALLY DRY WEATHER RETURNS FOR
THU THROUGH SAT...WITH MILD TEMPS CONTINUING OUTSIDE THE MOUNTAINS
ON THU THANKS TO DOWNSLOPE WARMING. COLDER TEMPS ARRIVE THU NIGHT.
NW FLOW MOISTURE MAY BE SUFFICIENT TO GENERATE SCATTERED RAIN/SNOW
SHOWERS IN FAVORED UPSLOPE AREAS THU NIGHT INTO FRI. STAYED CLOSE TO
HPC TEMPS WHICH FEATURE TEMPS COOLING TO BELOW AVERAGE BY FRI.

&&

.AVIATION /19Z SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
AT KCLT...CONTINUED NE WND AND VARYING DEGREES OF MAINLY SCT VFR LVL
CLOUDS THIS AFTN. LIGHTER NE WINDS WL LOSE THE GUSTINESS THIS EVE.
LOW CONFIDENCE ON CLOUD COVER OVRNGT THRU SUN MRNG. WENT CLOSER TO
THE CLOUDIER NAM...BUT IT MAY BE MORE SCT. IN ANY CASE...NO
RESTRICTIONS EXPECTED THRU 18Z SUN.

ELSEWHERE...CONVECTIVE CUMULUS ARE INCREASING IN COVERAGE THIS
AFTN...WITH A FAIR AMT OF MID LVL CLOUDS AS WELL. SCATTERED SHOWERS
AND A FEW TSTMS FORMING ACRS THE MTNS WEST OF KAVL/KAND. SOME OF
THIS ACTIVITY MAY PUSH SSE INTO THE WRN UPSTATE...SO HAVE ADDED A CB
FOR THE LATE AFTN HRS. THE SHWRS/TSTMS SHUD DIMINISH LATE THIS EVE.
CLOUD CVR EXPECTED TO STEADILY BECOME MORE EXPANSIVE TONIGHT.
GUIDANCE NOT IN AGREEMENT ON THE EXTENT OF SKY COVER. MOISTURE
AVAILABLE FOR CLOUDS WILL BE SOMEWHAT DEPENDENT ON AMOUNT OF SHWRS.
IF COVERAGE IS GREATER THAN EXPECTED...MAY SEE SOME RESTRICTIONS OVR
WRN UPSTATE AND KAVL OVRNGT INTO SUN MRNG.

OUTLOOK...CONSIDERABLE CLOUDS AND SMALL PCPN CHANCES WILL BE SEEN ON
SUNDAY...BUT BEST CHANCES FOR FLIGHT RESTRICTIONS WILL OCCUR ACRS
THE MOUNTAINS. CLEARING ON TAP FOR MONDAY WITH A DRY FCST THRU
TUESDAY AND SHOWERS FCST FOR WEDNESDAY.

&&

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

&&

SYNOPSIS...PAT
NEAR TERM...ARK
SHORT TERM...LG
LONG TERM...LG
AVIATION...ARK

Hazardous weather outlook, Mar 19, 4:12 AM EST, 10 hours 8 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
512 AM EDT SAT MAR 19 2011

NCZ033-035>037-048>053-056>059-065-068>072-082-501>510-SCZ006>009-
012>014-019-200915-
AVERY-ALEXANDER-IREDELL-DAVIE-MADISON-YANCEY-MITCHELL-SWAIN-HAYWOOD-
BUNCOMBE-CATAWBA-ROWAN-GRAHAM-NORTHERN JACKSON-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-GREATER GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG-CHEROKEE-
YORK-LAURENS-UNION SC-CHESTER-GREENWOOD-
512 AM EDT SAT MAR 19 2011

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

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND 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...

NONE.

GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029-NCZ062>064-SCZ001>005-010-011-200915-
RABUN-HABERSHAM-STEPHENS-FRANKLIN-HART-ELBERT-MACON-SOUTHERN JACKSON-
TRANSYLVANIA-OCONEE MOUNTAINS-PICKENS MOUNTAINS-GREENVILLE MOUNTAINS-
GREATER OCONEE-GREATER PICKENS-ANDERSON-ABBEVILLE-
512 AM EDT SAT MAR 19 2011

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

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

ISOLATED TO SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP AHEAD
OF A PASSING COLD FRONT ACROSS THE WESTERN UPSTATE OF SOUTH
CAROLINA...NORTHEAST GEORGIA...AND THE EXTREME SOUTHERN MOUNTAINS
OF NORTH CAROLINA THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING. THE MAIN
THREATS WITH ANY THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE OCCASIONAL CLOUD TO GROUND
LIGHTNING STRIKES...BRIEFLY HEAVY RAINFALL...AND LOCALLY GUSTY
WINDS.

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

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

NONE.

HG

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Mar 19, 11:05 AM EST, 3 hours 15 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
1205 PM EDT SAT MAR 19 2011

NCZ035>037-056-057-068>072-082-502-504-506-508-510-192300-
ALEXANDER-IREDELL-DAVIE-CATAWBA-ROWAN-CLEVELAND-LINCOLN-GASTON-
MECKLENBURG-CABARRUS-UNION NC-GREATER CALDWELL-GREATER BURKE-
EASTERN MCDOWELL-GREATER RUTHERFORD-EASTERN POLK-
1205 PM EDT SAT MAR 19 2011

...INCREASED FIRE DANGER UNTIL 7 PM EDT THIS EVENING...

DRY AIR BEHIND A BACK DOOR COLD FRONT WILL CONTINUE TO PUSH INTO
THE NORTH CAROLINA PIEDMONT AND FOOTHILLS FROM THE NORTHEAST THIS
AFTERNOON. RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES WILL SHARPLY DROP INTO THE 20
TO 25 PERCENT RANGE ACROSS MOST OF THE AREA. MEANWHILE...NORTHEASTERLY
WINDS SHOULD REMAIN IN THE 8 TO 15 MPH RANGE...WITH GUSTS OF 18
TO 25 MPH POSSIBLE.

PLEASE REFER TO YOUR LOCAL BURN PERMITTING AUTHORITIES ON WHETHER
YOU CAN BURN TODAY. IF YOU DO BURN...USE CAUTION SINCE FIRES CAN
GET OUT OF HAND UNDER THESE CONDITIONS.

ARK

Special weather statement, Mar 19, 1:40 PM EST, 40 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
240 PM EDT SAT MAR 19 2011

NCZ064-SCZ002-003-191930-
GREENVILLE MOUNTAINS-PICKENS MOUNTAINS-TRANSYLVANIA-
240 PM EDT SAT MAR 19 2011

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHWESTERN GREENVILLE...
NORTHWESTERN PICKENS AND SOUTHERN TRANSYLVANIA COUNTIES THROUGH 330
PM EDT...

AT 236 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 3 MILES NORTHWEST OF LAKE JOCASSEE...OR 18 MILES
SOUTHWEST OF BREVARD...MOVING EAST AT 5 MPH.

THIS STORM WILL BE NEAR...
  ROSMAN...
  ROCKY BOTTOM...

PEA SIZE HAIL...AND WIND GUSTS OF 30 TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS
STORM.

LAT...LON 3515 8294 3514 8259 3493 8263 3491 8270
      3496 8291 3497 8291 3498 8293 3500 8291
      3504 8290 3505 8291 3504 8296

JPT

Special weather statement, Mar 19, 2:03 PM EST, 17 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
303 PM EDT SAT MAR 19 2011

SCZ001-002-004-005-191945-
GREATER OCONEE-GREATER PICKENS-OCONEE MOUNTAINS-PICKENS MOUNTAINS-
303 PM EDT SAT MAR 19 2011

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHERN OCONEE AND WESTERN
PICKENS COUNTIES THROUGH 345 PM EDT...

AT 254 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR MOUNTAIN REST...OR 7 MILES NORTHWEST OF
WALHALLA...MOVING EAST AT 5 MPH.

THIS STORM WILL BE NEAR...
  WALHALLA...

PEA SIZE HAIL...AND WIND GUSTS OF 30 TO 40 MPH ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS
STORM.

LAT...LON 3494 8312 3494 8311 3490 8279 3468 8286
      3477 8318

JPT

Special weather statement, Mar 19, 2:07 PM EST, 13 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
307 PM EDT SAT MAR 19 2011

SCZ002-003-006-007-191945-
GREATER GREENVILLE-GREENVILLE MOUNTAINS-PICKENS
MOUNTAINS-SPARTANBURG-
307 PM EDT SAT MAR 19 2011

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHEASTERN PICKENS...NORTHERN
GREENVILLE AND WESTERN SPARTANBURG COUNTIES THROUGH 345 PM EDT...

AT 300 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 4 MILES SOUTHWEST OF CLEVELAND...OR 13 MILES
NORTHEAST OF PICKENS...MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH.

THIS STORM WILL BE NEAR...
  MARIETTA...
  TRAVELERS REST...
  LAKE ROBINSON...

SMALL HAIL...AND WIND GUSTS OF 30 TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS
STORM.

LAT...LON 3491 8251 3497 8254 3494 8262 3494 8263
      3514 8261 3515 8258 3514 8213 3488 8216

JPT

The radar

The Greer radar (KGSP), 30 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:19 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

10 hail, 3 thunderstorm wind, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Greenville

When: March 19, 2:20 PM EST
Where: Greenville County, 1.79 mi SW of Marietta
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 35.000, -82.520

Penny size hail was reported on highway 186 near the Pickens County line.

Hail, Greenville

When: March 19, 2:33 PM EST
Where: Greenville County, 0.89 mi NW of Furman University
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 34.930, -82.480

Hail, Greenville

When: March 19, 3:04 PM EST
Where: Greenville County, 2.92 mi ESE of Greenville Downtown
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 34.840, -82.300

Hail, Greenville

When: March 19, 3:07 PM EST
Where: Greenville County, 1.33 mi ESE of Conestee
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates: 34.760, -82.330

Hail up to the size of quarters covered the ground.

Hail, Greenville

When: March 19, 3:20 PM EST to 3:25 PM EST
Where: Greenville County, 1.49 mi SSE of Conestee to 0.56 mi NNW of Simpsonville
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 34.750, -82.340

Penny size hail was reported from near Mauldin to Simpsonville.

Thunderstorm Wind, Greenville

When: March 19, 3:44 PM EST
Where: Greenville County, 2.19 mi SE of Golden Grove
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 34.710, -82.400

Large tree limbs were broken off.

Hail, Laurens

When: March 19, 4:12 PM EST
Where: Laurens County, 2.2 mi SW of Gray Court
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 34.580, -82.150

Hail up to the size of golf balls covered the ground about 2 miles southwest of Gray Court. Other reports of penny to quarter size hail were received over to the Gray Court town limits.

Thunderstorm Wind, Laurens

When: March 19, 4:47 PM EST
Where: Laurens County, 1.14 mi E of Ekom
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 34.430, -82.110

Two trees were blown down in the Ekom community.

Hail, Laurens

When: March 19, 4:47 PM EST
Where: Laurens County, 1.14 mi E of Ekom
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 34.430, -82.110

Hail, Laurens

When: March 19, 4:53 PM EST
Where: Laurens County, 0.57 mi E of Waterloo
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates: 34.350, -82.060

Hail up to the size of pennies covered the ground up to 2 inches deep.

Thunderstorm Wind, Laurens

When: March 19, 4:55 PM EST to 5:15 PM EST
Where: Laurens County, 1.49 mi NNE of Waterloo to 3.14 mi S of Cross Hill
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 34.370, -82.060

Numerous trees were blown down from the Waterloo area to Cross Hill. A car port was also lifted and tossed 4 S Cross Hill.

Hail, Laurens

When: March 19, 5:06 PM EST
Where: Laurens County, Cross Hill
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 34.300, -81.980

Tornado, Laurens

When: March 19, 5:15 PM EST to 5:16 PM EST
Where: Laurens County, 3.46 mi SSW of Cross Hill to 3.64 mi SSW of Cross Hill
Rating: EF0
Path length: 0.2 mi
Path width: 30 yd
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 34.251, -81.993

An area of weak tornado damage was embedded within downburst damage near Lake Greenwood off Amber Hill Circle. Damage was mainly limited to several trees knocked down and some windows blown out of a home due to flying debris. However, some siding was stripped off a couple of homes. Parts of trees also fell on two homes. A pontoon boat was also tossed.

Hail, Oconee

When: March 19, 7:05 PM EST
Where: Oconee County, 0.57 mi W of Fair Play
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 34.520, -82.990

Hail covered the road.

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 2011 Every state in 2011 This day in weather history The tornado archive for South Carolina, 2011 Warnings in South Carolina, March 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: 292789, 292791, 292792, 292793, 292795, 292796, 292797, 292798, 292799, 292800, 292802, 292803, 292900, 292905.