Hail in South Carolina, March 31, 2012

Name: Hail in South Carolina, March 31, 2012
Start: 2012-03-31T20:48
End: 2012-03-31T20:50
Location: South Carolina

March 31, 2012 · NWS CAE · 1 event in 1 county or zone

A few isolated thunderstorms developed over Edgefield, McCormick, and Aiken counties and produced penny size hail.

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: 1

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.

A few isolated thunderstorms developed over Edgefield, McCormick, and Aiken counties and produced penny size hail.

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 Mar 31, 6:32 PM EST, 2 hours 16 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 31, 6:32 PM EST, 2 hours 16 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBIA SC
732 PM EDT SAT MAR 31 2012

.SYNOPSIS...
A COLD FRONT WILL MOVE EAST OF THE REGION OVERNIGHT INTO SUNDAY.
HIGH PRESSURE WILL BRING DRIER AIR ACROSS THE REGION SUNDAY. HIGH
PRESSURE WILL BEGIN TO WEAKEN MONDAY AS ANOTHER COLD FRONT
APPROACHES FROM THE NORTH. THIS SYSTEM MAY BRING A SLIGHT CHANCE
OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TO THE AREA MONDAY NIGHT.

&&

.NEAR TERM /TONIGHT/...
PRE-FRONTAL SCATTERED CONVECTION AHEAD OF AN APPROACHING COLD
FRONT HAS DEVELOPED EAST OF THE APPALACHIANS IN THE UPSTATE OF SC.
THE MAIN COLD FRONT IS STILL JUST WEST OF THE MOUNTAINS THIS
EVENING...BUT WILL BE CRESTING THE APPALACHIANS AND MOVING
THROUGH THE CAROLINAS OVERNIGHT. THE SCATTERED SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS BEING SHOWN ON REGIONAL RADAR LOOP WILL CONTINUE TO
APPROACH WESTERN COUNTIES THIS EVENING. QUESTIONS STILL REMAIN AS
TO WHETHER THIS WILL HOLD TOGETHER AND MOVE THROUGH THE
MIDLANDS/CSRA TONIGHT. THE NAM AND SPCWRF INDICATE THAT THERE
WILL BE SOME POTENTIAL BETWEEN 00Z AND 06Z TONIGHT. GFS NOT QUITE
AS OPTIMISTIC...ALTHOUGH EVEN IT SHOWS A LITTLE PRECIP ACROSS THE
MIDLANDS BEFORE 06Z. CURRENTLY THE FORECAST HAS CHANCE POPS
THROUGH THIS EVENING ACROSS THE WEST...WITH CONDITIONS DRYING OUT BY
06Z ACROSS THE CWA. STORMS SHOULD WEAKEN SOME AS THEY MOVE INTO
THE WESTERN CWA...BUT WE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE CONVECTION
AHEAD OF THE FRONT.

HIGH PRESSURE WILL BEGIN BUILDING IN BY MORNING. DECIDED TO USE A
MODEL BLEND ON LOW TEMPERATURES...MAINLY IN THE MID 50S.

&&

.SHORT TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT/...
HIGH PRESSURE SHOULD COVER THE REGION SUNDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT.
DRY PLEASANT SPRING-LIKE CONDITIONS. HIGHS FROM THE UPPER 70S
NORTH...LOWER 80S CENTRAL AND MID 80S CSRA. SUNDAY NIGHT LOWS IN
THE MID TO UPPER 50S EXCEPT FOR A FEW LOWER 60S.

MONDAY THE HIGH WEAKENS AS A COLD APPROACHES FROM THE NORTH.
A VERY WARM DAY WITH HIGHS 85-90. THE COLD FRONT IS EXPECTED TO
BRING A SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TO THE REGION
MONDAY NIGHT. PRETTY WARM NIGH WITH LOWS AROUND 60.

&&

.LONG TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
MEDIUM RANGE MODELS BECOME SORT OF UNSETTLED. SO NOT HIGH
CONFIDENCE IN SOLUTIONS. STRENGTHENING UPPER LOW TO THE NORTHEAST
BEGINS TO SUPPRESS UPPER RIDGE IN THE EAST. FRONTAL BOUNDARY THAT
HAS DRIFTED SOUTH INTO THE FORECAST AREA LINGERS TUESDAY THROUGH
FRIDAY WITH ANYWHERE FROM A 20 TO 40 PERCENT CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS. HIGHS IN THE LOWER TO MID 80S TUESDAY AND
WEDNESDAY. GFS FINALLY PUSHES A STRONG SURFACE HIGH TO THE EAST
BUT NORTH OF OUR REGION. BUT APPEARS TO BE STRONG ENOUGH TO HELP
PUSH FRONTAL BOUNDARY SOUTHWARD...GIVING HIGHS IN THE 70S THURSDAY
AND FRIDAY. FRONT LOOKS TO BE FAR ENOUGH SOUTH SATURDAY FOR THE
SURFACE HIGH TO GIVE DRY WEATHER. AGAIN HIGHS IN THE 70S SATURDAY.
OVERNIGHT LOWS START IN THE LOWER 60S BUT COOL TO THE 50S BY THE
END OF THE PERIOD.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
EXPECT VFR CONDITIONS THIS EVENING. SEVERAL WEAK UPPER LEVEL
DISTURBANCES WILL MOVE THROUGH THE AREA THIS EVENING AND
OVERNIGHT...THEN AGAIN SUNDAY AFTERNOON. THEREFORE CANNOT
RULE OUT ISOLATED CONVECTION TONIGHT. THE PROBABILITY OF TS
AT ANY ONE TERMINAL IS LOW...SO WILL NOT INCLUDE IN THE TAFS
AT THIS TIME. GIVEN UPSTREAM CONVECTION...HAVE INDICATED
SHOWERS THIS EVENING AT KCAE/KCUB.

EXPECT HIGH AND MID CLOUDS...WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF MVFR FOG
AT KAGS AND KOGB 08Z-14Z. WEAK COLD FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH
THE AREA DURING THE OVERNIGHT HOURS WITH SURFACE WINDS SHIFTING
NORTHWEST THEN NORTHEAST. WINDS SHIFTING TO THE SOUTHWEST
SUNDAY AFTERNOON AHEAD OF THE NEXT UPPER DISTURBANCE.

EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK...PERIODS OF MVFR OR LOWER CONDITIONS
POSSIBLE MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY.

&&

.CAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
SC...NONE.
GA...NONE.
&&

Hazardous weather outlook, Mar 31, 3:06 AM EST, 17 hours 42 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBIA SC
406 AM EDT SAT MAR 31 2012

GAZ040-063>065-077-SCZ015-016-018-020>022-025>031-035>038-041-010815-
LINCOLN-MCDUFFIE-COLUMBIA-RICHMOND-BURKE-LANCASTER-CHESTERFIELD-
MCCORMICK-NEWBERRY-FAIRFIELD-KERSHAW-EDGEFIELD-SALUDA-LEXINGTON-
RICHLAND-LEE-AIKEN-SUMTER-BARNWELL-ORANGEBURG-CALHOUN-CLARENDON-
BAMBERG-
406 AM EDT SAT MAR 31 2012

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EAST CENTRAL GEORGIA AND
CENTRAL 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...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Mar 31, 6:24 PM EST, 2 hours 24 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBIA SC
724 PM EDT SAT MAR 31 2012

SCZ020-026-010015-
NEWBERRY-SALUDA-
724 PM EDT SAT MAR 31 2012

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT PORTIONS OF NEWBERRY AND SALUDA
COUNTIES THROUGH 815 PM EDT...

AT 721 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM...10 MILES NORTH OF CHAPPELLS...MOVING SOUTHEAST
AT 25 MPH.

SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL BE AFFECTED INCLUDE...
NEWBERRY AND PROSPERITY...

PREPARE NOW FOR THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS...
GUSTY WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH...
DIME SIZE HAIL...
CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

SOME LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM. IF OUTDOORS...STAY
AWAY FROM ISOLATED HIGH OBJECTS SUCH AS TREES. MOVE INDOORS IF
POSSIBLE. WHEN INDOORS...STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND DOORS AND AVOID
USING TELEPHONES UNLESS IT IS AN EMERGENCY.

REPORT LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS OR FLOODING TO YOUR COUNTY
SHERIFF...OR CALL THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOLL FREE AT 1...8 7
7...6 3 3...6 7 7 2.

&&

LAT...LON 3426 8191 3430 8190 3432 8186 3435 8183
      3435 8181 3437 8178 3422 8147 3397 8182
      3409 8192 3413 8188 3415 8190 3419 8192
      3420 8195
TIME...MOT...LOC 2323Z 317DEG 22KT 3431 8191

Special weather statement, Mar 31, 7:18 PM EST, 1 hour 30 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBIA SC
818 PM EDT SAT MAR 31 2012

SCZ025-026-010100-
EDGEFIELD-SALUDA-
818 PM EDT SAT MAR 31 2012

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT PORTIONS OF EDGEFIELD AND SALUDA
COUNTIES THROUGH 900 PM EDT...

AT 814 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM...9 MILES NORTHWEST OF SALUDA...MOVING SOUTHEAST
AT 35 MPH.

SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL BE AFFECTED INCLUDE...
JOHNSTON...RIDGE SPRING AND SALUDA...

PREPARE NOW FOR THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS...
GUSTY WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH...
DIME SIZE HAIL...
CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

INTENSE LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM. IF OUTDOORS...STAY
AWAY FROM ISOLATED HIGH OBJECTS SUCH AS TREES. MOVE INDOORS IF
POSSIBLE. WHEN INDOORS...STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND DOORS AND AVOID
USING TELEPHONES UNLESS IT IS AN EMERGENCY.

REPORT LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS OR FLOODING TO YOUR COUNTY
SHERIFF...OR CALL THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOLL FREE AT 1...8 7
7...6 3 3...6 7 7 2.

&&

LAT...LON 3398 8200 3404 8195 3407 8194 3414 8187
      3417 8188 3418 8186 3417 8179 3418 8177
      3401 8150 3393 8155 3375 8173 3368 8183
      3395 8207
TIME...MOT...LOC 0018Z 321DEG 29KT 3406 8188

Special weather statement, Mar 31, 8:00 PM EST, 48 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBIA SC
900 PM EDT SAT MAR 31 2012

SCZ018-025-026-030-010200-
AIKEN-EDGEFIELD-MCCORMICK-SALUDA-
900 PM EDT SAT MAR 31 2012

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT PORTIONS OF EDGEFIELD...
MCCORMICK...SALUDA AND AIKEN COUNTIES THROUGH 1000 PM EDT...

AT 858 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS...ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 15 MILES NORTHEAST
OF MCCORMICK TO RIDGE SPRING...MOVING SOUTH TO SOUTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL BE AFFECTED INCLUDE...
GLOVERVILLE...AIKEN...BELVEDERE...CLEARWATER...EDGEFIELD...JACKSON...
JOHNSTON...MCCORMICK...NEW ELLENTON...NORTH AUGUSTA AND RIDGE
SPRING...

PREPARE NOW FOR THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS...
GUSTY WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH...
DIME SIZE HAIL...
DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

INTENSE LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM. IF OUTDOORS...STAY
AWAY FROM ISOLATED HIGH OBJECTS SUCH AS TREES. MOVE INDOORS IF
POSSIBLE. WHEN INDOORS...STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND DOORS AND AVOID
USING TELEPHONES UNLESS IT IS AN EMERGENCY.

REPORT LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS OR FLOODING TO YOUR COUNTY
SHERIFF...OR CALL THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOLL FREE AT 1...8 7
7...6 3 3...6 7 7 2.

&&

LAT...LON 3407 8234 3398 8230 3402 8224 3398 8219
      3399 8205 3396 8202 3410 8190 3382 8152
      3356 8146 3325 8178 3341 8193 3341 8191
      3342 8193 3344 8191 3346 8192 3349 8199
      3356 8204 3359 8210 3392 8243
TIME...MOT...LOC 0059Z 323DEG 28KT 3409 8215 3378 8165

The radar

The Columbia radar (KCAE), 73 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 01:46 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Aiken

When: March 31, 8:48 PM EST to 8:50 PM EST
Where: Aiken County, 3.55 mi SW of Montmorenci
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 33.490, -81.680

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.

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, March 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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 363928.