Hail and Damaging Winds in South Carolina, August 17, 2019

Name: Hail and Damaging Winds in South Carolina, August 17, 2019
Start: 2019-08-17T19:20
End: 2019-08-17T20:55
Location: South Carolina

August 17, 2019 · NWS CAE · 6 events in 1 county or zone

A severe thunderstorm tracked south across Newberry Co SC on the evening of August 17, 2019, producing widespread wind damage. Some reports of large hail were also received.

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: $10
Crop damage: $10
Events: 6

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 severe thunderstorm tracked south across Newberry Co SC on the evening of August 17, 2019, producing widespread wind damage. Some reports of large hail were also received.

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 Aug 17, 6:28 PM EST, 52 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 17, 6:28 PM EST, 52 minutes before

<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="utf-8">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
  <title>Service Notice</title>
  <link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
  <main class="wrap">
    <section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
      <div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
      <h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
      <p id="message1">
        The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
      </p>
      <p id="message2">
        Please try again in a few minutes.
      </p>
      <p class="small" id="detail">
        If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
      </p>
    </section>
  </main>
  <script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html>

Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 17, 2:27 AM EST, 16 hours 53 minutes before

<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="utf-8">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
  <title>Service Notice</title>
  <link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
  <main class="wrap">
    <section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
      <div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
      <h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
      <p id="message1">
        The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
      </p>
      <p id="message2">
        Please try again in a few minutes.
      </p>
      <p class="small" id="detail">
        If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
      </p>
    </section>
  </main>
  <script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html>

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Aug 17, 2:46 PM EST, 4 hours 34 minutes before

<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="utf-8">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
  <title>Service Notice</title>
  <link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
  <main class="wrap">
    <section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
      <div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
      <h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
      <p id="message1">
        The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
      </p>
      <p id="message2">
        Please try again in a few minutes.
      </p>
      <p class="small" id="detail">
        If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
      </p>
    </section>
  </main>
  <script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html>

Special weather statement, Aug 17, 3:08 PM EST, 4 hours 12 minutes before

<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="utf-8">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
  <title>Service Notice</title>
  <link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
  <main class="wrap">
    <section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
      <div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
      <h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
      <p id="message1">
        The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
      </p>
      <p id="message2">
        Please try again in a few minutes.
      </p>
      <p class="small" id="detail">
        If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
      </p>
    </section>
  </main>
  <script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html>

Special weather statement, Aug 17, 3:59 PM EST, 3 hours 21 minutes before

<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="utf-8">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
  <title>Service Notice</title>
  <link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
  <main class="wrap">
    <section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
      <div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
      <h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
      <p id="message1">
        The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
      </p>
      <p id="message2">
        Please try again in a few minutes.
      </p>
      <p class="small" id="detail">
        If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
      </p>
    </section>
  </main>
  <script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html>

Special weather statement, Aug 17, 6:56 PM EST, 24 minutes before

<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="utf-8">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
  <title>Service Notice</title>
  <link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
  <main class="wrap">
    <section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
      <div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
      <h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
      <p id="message1">
        The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
      </p>
      <p id="message2">
        Please try again in a few minutes.
      </p>
      <p class="small" id="detail">
        If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
      </p>
    </section>
  </main>
  <script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html>

Special weather statement, Aug 17, 6:59 PM EST, 21 minutes before

<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="utf-8">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
  <title>Service Notice</title>
  <link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
  <main class="wrap">
    <section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
      <div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
      <h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
      <p id="message1">
        The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
      </p>
      <p id="message2">
        Please try again in a few minutes.
      </p>
      <p class="small" id="detail">
        If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
      </p>
    </section>
  </main>
  <script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html>

The radar

The Greer radar (KGSP), 68 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:19 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

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

Thunderstorm Wind, Newberry

When: August 17, 7:20 PM EST to 8:15 PM EST
Where: Newberry County, 0.86 mi NW of Whitmire to 1.89 mi SSW of Boyds
Measured: 78 kt (90 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 34.510, -81.629

A National Weather Service Storm Survey Team determined that a long-lived downburst produced widespread straight-line wind damage. Numerous trees and power lines were downed from Whitmire south through Newberry. Much of the damage was concentrated in the city of Newberry. The most extensive damage occurred from near the intersection of Airport Rd and US Hwy 76 and continued south to McSwain and Mollohan Parks. There were numerous large hardwood trees that were uprooted along with a few hardwood and softwood trees that were snapped. Some of the largest oak trees were estimated to be from 75 to 150 years old. There were also numerous large limbs down across the city. Many of the trees fell on power lines, damaging street lighting and traffic signals. Several trees and large branches fell on homes and cars. A family was trapped in their home near the intersection of Langford Mill Rd and Boundary St when a tree fell on their home. An elderly woman was trapped in her home along Bush River Rd when a tree fell on her home. Damage occurred in McSwain Park and Mollohon Park due to trees that fell on playfield equipment.

Hail, Newberry

When: August 17, 7:40 PM EST to 7:45 PM EST
Where: Newberry County, 0.57 mi W of Jalapa
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Property damage: $10
Crop damage: $10
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 34.350, -81.690

Public reported penny size hail near Boyd Rd and Jalapa Rd. Time estimated.

Hail, Newberry

When: August 17, 7:57 PM EST to 8:00 PM EST
Where: Newberry County, 1.79 mi NE of Newberry
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: 911 Call Center
Coordinates: 34.300, -81.600

Multiple hail reports received, the largest of which being golf ball size, reported by Newberry Co dispatch. Time estimated.

Hail, Newberry

When: August 17, 8:00 PM EST to 8:05 PM EST
Where: Newberry County, 0.69 mi S of Newberry
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 34.270, -81.620

Public reported quarter size hail in downtown Newberry. Time estimated.

Thunderstorm Wind, Newberry

When: August 17, 8:10 PM EST
Where: Newberry County, 0.63 mi ENE of Boyds
Measured: 59 kt (68 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 34.272, -81.589

A peak wind gust of 68 MPH was measured at the Newberry Co Sheriff's Office in Newberry.

Thunderstorm Wind, Newberry

When: August 17, 8:15 PM EST to 8:55 PM EST
Where: Newberry County, 2.86 mi SSW of Southeast Newberry to 2.61 mi W of Macedonia
Measured: 70 kt (81 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 34.211, -81.587

A severe thunderstorm downburst continued south of Newberry, across southern Newberry Co SC, downing numerous trees from west of Prosperity, southeast across SR 391, and southeast to near the shore of Lake Murray.

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.
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 2019 Every state in 2019 This day in weather history Warnings in South Carolina, August 2019

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: 847703, 846025, 846020, 846021, 847715, 847712.