South Carolina, 2017

Damaging Winds in South Carolina, March 21, 2017

March 21, 2017 · NWS ILM · 3 events in 1 county or zone

A cold front stalled out to the north of the area during the evening as an eastward moving and potent mid-level shortwave trough helped to sustain a prolonged period of severe weather to our west. Widespread large hail to our west transitioned to damaging winds as the thunderstorms approached Interstate-95 with no severe weather being reported as the thunderstorms moved further east.

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
$3,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
3

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.

A cold front stalled out to the north of the area during the evening as an eastward moving and potent mid-level shortwave trough helped to sustain a prolonged period of severe weather to our west. Widespread large hail to our west transitioned to damaging winds as the thunderstorms approached Interstate-95 with no severe weather being reported as the thunderstorms moved further east.

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 Mar 21, 9:35 AM EST, 45 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 21, 9:35 AM EST, 45 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, Mar 21, 2:48 AM EST, 7 hours 32 minutes before
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The radar

The Columbia radar (KCAE), 100 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 15:23 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Darlington

When
March 21, 10:20 AM EST to 10:21 AM EST
Where
Darlington County, 0.92 mi NE of Lydia
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$1,000
Reported by
Department of Highways
Coordinates
34.289, -80.108

A tree was reported down on W Lydia Hwy near the Lydia Fire Department. The time was estimated based on radar data.

Thunderstorm Wind, Darlington

When
March 21, 10:21 AM EST to 10:22 AM EST
Where
Darlington County, 1.51 mi N of Oats
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$1,000
Reported by
Department of Highways
Coordinates
34.272, -80.083

A tree was reported down at the intersection of Oates Hwy and Indian Branch Rd. The time was estimated based on radar data.

Thunderstorm Wind, Darlington

When
March 21, 10:33 AM EST to 10:34 AM EST
Where
Darlington County, 2.9 mi ENE of Lees Xrds
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$1,000
Reported by
Department of Highways
Coordinates
34.313, -80.032

A tree was reported down at the intersection of Bethel Rd. and Cottonwood Dr. The time was estimated based on radar data.

What these are

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 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyWarnings in South Carolina, March 2017

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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 689334, 689333, 689335.