An upper level disturbance moved east and interacted with a stationary front, producing a mesoscale convective system (MCS) which moved east across the northern Midlands of SC, producing widespread wind damage, with additional scattered severe thunderstorms developing across the Central Midlands of SC which produced hail and some wind damage. A fatality occurred in Lancaster Co SC when winds…
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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.
The episode as NWS CAE wrote it up.
An upper level disturbance moved east and interacted with a stationary front, producing a mesoscale convective system (MCS) which moved east across the northern Midlands of SC, producing widespread wind damage, with additional scattered severe thunderstorms developing across the Central Midlands of SC which produced hail and some wind damage. A fatality occurred in Lancaster Co SC when winds toppled a tree and a power pole which fell onto a vehicle.
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 May 22, 1:46 PM EST, 1 hour 28 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Columbia SC 246 PM EDT Fri May 22 2020 .SYNOPSIS... A nearly stationary front and an upper level disturbance will result in scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms through much of the evening. The air mass will remain moist and unstable through the weekend and scattered afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms are expected. Temperatures will be above normal. Temperatures will be more seasonable early next week. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... Water vapor imagery this afternoon depicts a closed upper level low over the Ohio Valley, with a west-southwest flow in place aloft over the region. Meanwhile, a surface analysis shows that a front has lifted north into the area, but has become nearly stationary and is rather diffuse. The atmosphere continues to destabilize this afternoon as temperatures warm into the 80s in many areas. These warm temperatures along with dew point values in the upper 60s to around 70 will result in strong surface-based instability, with CAPE values rising above 2000 J/kg in many places by late this afternoon. Moisture is also plentiful, with the high dew points and PWAT values of 1.50-1.75". The instability, moisture, and forcing provided by a potent short wave moving across eastern TN and northern GA will result in the development of scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms late this afternoon and evening. There is increasing concern for severe thunderstorms, mainly late this afternoon and early this evening, as a strengthening upstream MCV moves across the northern and central Midlands where conditions continue to destabilize. Additional more discrete storms are possible ahead of the line. As a result, a Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued for the northern and portions of the central Midlands through 8 pm this evening. The primary threat is damaging winds, especially with any bowing segments that develop. However, some large hail and even a tornado could occur. While locally heavy rainfall will occur, the storms should be rather progressive so the overall flash flood threat will be minimal. The strongest storms should move east of the area by late evening, but models suggest the potential for some lingering convection into the early overnight hours, especially across northern areas. There could be some breaks in the clouds overnight, but guidance is suggesting that patchy fog could form in many areas toward daybreak Saturday and have added mention to the forecast. Temperatures will be mild, with lows in the mid and upper 60s. && .SHORT TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/... Saturday and Saturday night...Upper level ridge will build across the southeastern states over the weekend. The airmass will remain moist and moderately to strongly unstable with steep low to mid level lapse rates. With 850mb west flow/warm advection expect temps around 90 degrees in the afternoon. Weak surface trough across area. There may be a weak short wave trough trigger moving to the southeast in northwest flow aloft. CAM models support scattered convection/pulse severe mainly across the north Midlands and Pee Dee in the afternoon and evening. Min temps above normal near 70. Sunday and Sunday night...Surface ridge over the Northeastern States builds down the eastern seaboard and appears a back door front will be approaching from eastern North Carolina late in the day or in the evening. A sea breeze front is also possible as low level flow becomes east. The air mass remains at least moderately unstable with steep low to mid level lapse rates. Scattered convection...isolated pulse severe...mainly in the late afternoon and evening. The convection may continue overnight but diminish as more stable air/front moves into the area. Blended temperature guidance supports max temps near 90 again with min temps above normal. && .LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... Front moving southwest through the area early monday and weak shallow isentropic lift may result in considerable clouds and showers mainly across the CSRA and south Midlands. The ridge will build in from the northeast with drier air for Monday night and Tuesday. Temperatures a little cooler/seasonable especially Monday. Surface ridge extending from offshore Mid Atlantic states through late week with building ridge aloft over the eastern CONUS as deep low moves into the southern Plains. Persistent east to southeast deep-layer flow for most of next week. Low chance convection through the period. Temperatures warm under ridge but with east flow should result in near normal values in the mid to upper 80s. && .AVIATION /18Z FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... A line of strong to severe thunderstorms should move across much of central SC late this afternoon into early this evening and impact CAE/CUB/OGB. However, additional scattered thunderstorms could also develop and impact AGS/DNL. As a result, have included vicinity thunderstorms at all terminals during this time period, and a tempo group lasting for a couple of hours mainly from 21-00Z. Gusty/erratic winds are likely, along with brief restrictions, with any thunderstorms. Conditions should improve late this evening and overnight, with VFR conditions at all terminals. There is the potential for some low stratus and/or fog to develop toward daybreak Saturday, but confidence is not great enough to indicate anything lower than MVFR conditions at this time. EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK...Restrictions possible in mainly diurnal showers and thunderstorms are possible through the weekend with improvement early next week. && .HYDROLOGY... Rainfall amounts over the past 48 hours have ranged from 3 to 8 inches across much of the upper and central portions of the river basins. This will lead to considerable river flooding on many of the area rivers through the holiday weekend. && .CAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... GA...None. SC...None. &&
Hazardous Weather Outlook...UPDATED National Weather Service Columbia SC 900 AM EDT Fri May 22 2020 GAZ040-063>065-077-SCZ016-018-020>022-025>031-035>038-041-115-116- 231300- Lincoln-McDuffie-Columbia-Richmond-Burke-Chesterfield-McCormick- Newberry-Fairfield-Kershaw-Edgefield-Saluda-Lexington-Richland-Lee- Aiken-Sumter-Barnwell-Orangeburg-Calhoun-Clarendon-Bamberg- Northern Lancaster-Southern Lancaster- 900 AM EDT Fri May 22 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the Midlands of South Carolina and the Central Savannah River area of Georgia. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. Isolated severe thunderstorms this afternoon and evening. Damaging winds and large hail are the primary threats. Locally heavy rainfall is also possible. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
The Columbia radar (KCAE), 60 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:16 UTC.
19 thunderstorm wind, 9 hail, 1 funnel cloud. Local standard time, as filed.
Quarter size hail reported at a convenience store on US Hwy 1 near Exit 22 on Interstate 20.
County dispatch reported trees and power lines down throughout the county.
Broadcast media reported, and was later confirmed by county officials, that strong thunderstorm winds toppled a tree and power pole which fell onto a vehicle traveling on Small St near Springdale Rd, in the town of Springdale, and killed a 57-year-old male.
A power pole and power lines were downed on US Hwy 521 just south of Lancaster. Reported via social media with photo provided. Time estimated.
A trained spotter, who is also an Assistant Fire Chief, reported trees down at Willie Usher Rd and Robert Usher Rd. He estimated wind gusts to be around 60 MPH. Time estimated.
Spotter relayed a report from the public of a tree down on a vehicle on Turnipseed Rd east of Heath Springs. No injuries. Photo shared via social media. Exact location not available. Time estimated.
Trees reported down on Hwy 265 just east of Jefferson, near Fork Creek.
SCHP reported trees down at Evans Mill Rd and Zion Church Rd. Time estimated.
Trees were downed at Big Creek Rd and Morris Rd. Time estimated.
CoCoRaHS observer reported pea size hail, over a 7 minute duration, about 6 miles SW of Saluda.
RAWS unit (JEFS1) located in the Carolina Sandhills NWR measured a peak wind gust of 57 MPH at 1714 EDT (1614 EST).
Public reported quarter size hail north of Dentsville.
Hail, of 1.5 inch diameter, was reported on Riley Rd near Burke Rd.
Trees and power lines were downed near the intersection of Woodlake Circle and Lakemont Dr.
Trees and power lines were downed near Mellow Woods Ln and Pine Meadow Dr.
SCHP reported tree down in roadway at Green Meadow Dr and Amicks Ferry Rd.
A tree was downed on a power line on Heimatsweg Rd at Old Lexington Hwy.
A tree was downed on a power line, and was across the roadway, on Old Forge Rd near Willow Cove Rd.
Spotter reported nickel size hail.
EM reported quarter to ping pong ball size hail along Stumphole Rd. Time estimated.
SCHP reported trees down on Ashland Rd and Gardendale Dr. Time estimated.
SCHP reported downed trees on Elliotts Landing Rd at Old River Rd. Time estimated.
Weather observer at Shaw AFB observed one inch hail.
Several trees down in the town of Elko. Time estimated.
EM reported nickel size hail in the town of Elko. Time estimated.
Trees down near the intersection of Belvedere Dr and Moncks Corner Rd.
Firefighter reported a funnel cloud as the storm moved east of Eutawville. Time estimated.
SCHP reported trees down on Beacon Tree Rd at US Hwy 178 north of Bowman. Time estimated.
EM reported quarter size hail near the community of Wells. Time estimated.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thunderstorm Wind, Lancaster | 2020-05-22 | 57 | Male | Vehicle/Towed Trailer | Direct |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in South Carolina in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in South Carolina, May 2020
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: 888308, 888319, 888317, 888318, 888320, 888321, 888322, 888323, 888326, 888329, 888324, 888338, 888330, 888341, 888343, 888349, 888345, 888346, 888340, 888334, 888350, 888351, 888352, 888353, 888354, 888357, 888356, 888358, 888355.