Hail and Damaging Wind in South Carolina, July 16, 2012

Name: Hail and Damaging Wind in South Carolina, July 16, 2012
Start: 2012-07-16T13:35
End: 2012-07-16T14:30
Location: South Carolina

July 16, 2012 · NWS ILM · 2 events in 2 counties and zones

Significant surface instability and good heating allowed thunderstorms to develop along the Piedmont trough. The thunderstorms were enhanced by an approaching upper level disturbance from the north.

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: $20,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 2

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 ILM wrote it up.

Significant surface instability and good heating allowed thunderstorms to develop along the Piedmont trough. The thunderstorms were enhanced by an approaching upper level disturbance from the north.

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 Wilmington, NC wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jul 16, 12:44 PM EST, 51 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 16, 12:44 PM EST, 51 minutes before

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Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 16, 9:39 AM EST, 3 hours 56 minutes before

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In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 16, 12:52 PM EST, 43 minutes before

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Special weather statement, Jul 16, 1:22 PM EST, 13 minutes before

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The radar

The Wilmington radar (KLTX), 136 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:35 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 hail, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Marlboro

When: July 16, 1:35 PM EST to 1:37 PM EST
Where: Marlboro County, 0.93 mi NW of Bennettsville
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Property damage: $250
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 34.630, -79.691

Hail to the size of nickels was reported.

Thunderstorm Wind, Darlington

When: July 16, 2:26 PM EST to 2:30 PM EST
Where: Darlington County, 0.3 mi NNW of Hartsville to 0.24 mi ENE of Hartsville
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $20,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 34.374, -80.073

A dozen trees were reportedly uprooted and two other trees were snapped near the intersection of U.S. 15 and Carolina Avenue. Several trees were also reported down near the Governor's School including one tree which fell onto a house at the corner of Evans Street and Millikin Avenue. No structural damage was reported. The damage was likely the result of a microburst. A storm spotter estimated a wind gust to 70 mph.

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

Every storm in South Carolina in 2012 Every state in 2012 This day in weather history Warnings in South Carolina, July 2012

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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 396353, 396367.