Upper energy and a surface wave of low pressure moved east and interacted with a nearly stationary surface front, which combined with strong atmospheric instability and shear, led to a band of supercells that tracked east across the northern Midlands of SC producing large hail and a tornado.
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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.
Upper energy and a surface wave of low pressure moved east and interacted with a nearly stationary surface front, which combined with strong atmospheric instability and shear, led to a band of supercells that tracked east across the northern Midlands of SC producing large hail and a tornado.
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 5, 2:07 AM EST, 1 hour 37 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Columbia SC 307 AM EDT Tue May 5 2020 .SYNOPSIS... Front stalled from the Upstate southeast to the coast, just south, but paralleling I-26 will begin to gradually nudge northward overnight. This boundary will lift to the NC/SC line on Tuesday with severe threat again Tuesday evening. A cold front push through Tuesday night. A much cooler and drier airmass expect behind this system late week. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... A boundary is currently draped over the forecast area with scattered storms developing mainly to the north producing some hail. While discrete storm activity has diminished in the northern forecast area, a MCS continues to move through the SC Upstate enhanced by shortwave energy and upper level divergence. While some HiRes models do indicate a weakening trend, the line of storms is bowing as it moves due east. While this system remains strong enough to continue to propagate on its own, there is some ML CAPE exceeding 1000 J/KG in central SC. Do expect this line to continue its eastern movement with the main threat damaging wind gusts, although hail and downpours will be possible, mainly across the northern Midlands. After this system moves through, the front is expected to lift north of the area which should lead to another unseasonably warm day with highs in the 80s and low 90s with breezy southwest winds allowing for additional warm air advection through the day. With the front stalling once again another chance for storms to develop along it, although again the best upper level forcing looks to be in the northern forecast area as shortwave energy moves along the NC/SC border. HiRes ensemble mean keeps significant instability in the northern FA, which makes sense with temps well above average and moisture more than sufficient. Shear will remain significant with forecast soundings for Lancaster also indicating steep mid level lapse rates. As a result, strong winds, large hail will be possible and even isolated tornadoes cannot be completed ruled out. This is very dependent on where exactly the front sets up but will have to keep a close eye on areas in the northern Midlands. Cold front will push through tonight with winds remaining elevated, keeping temperatures in the upper 50s and 60s overnight, although this front will usher in a much drier and cooler airmass behind it. && .SHORT TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT/... Models remain fairly consistent that the cold front will push through the forecast area by Wednesday morning, keeping the area dry through the day. The models show a deep trough developing across the eastern portion of the country Wednesday night into Thursday. It will be breezy overnight as the pressure gradient will still be fairly tight between the strengthening area of low pressure along the New England coast and high pressure building in from the Plains. On Thursday, high pressure will continue settle southward to the Gulf coast and Southeast by Thursday night. The weather looks dry through the period with temperatures below normal for the period. Expect highs in the upper 60s to lower 70s with overnight lows in the 40s && .LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... Deep trough remains across the eastern CONUS into the weekend, with temperatures below normal through the period. Friday night into Saturday will see the next chance for rainfall as the next system moves through the region. Moisture will once again be somewhat limited ahead of the front which will also limit instability along the front. Will carry chance pops Friday night with the frontal passage. Cooler and drier weather is again expected Saturday and Sunday behind the exiting cold front as high pressure settles in over the region. High temperatures will generally be in the 70s with lows in the 40s to lower 50s. && .AVIATION /07Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... VFR Conditions expected to continue over the next 24 hours. A boundary is currently draped over the forecast area but looks to be north of the terminals, nearest to CAE/CUB. Some storms have developed to the north where there has also been an upper level shortwave pushing through. A second batch of storms will push into the SC Upstate later tonight but continues to exhibit a easterly motion, which should keep the bulk of storm activity north of the terminals through the night. Kept VCSH in CAE/CUB but think convective activity should remain further north. Some stratus may develop around sunrise this morning, especially in areas that receive significantly rainfall overnight but at this point, kept the cloud deck scattered at all the terminals, keeping VFR conditions. With the boundary lifting further north today, expect WSW winds with gusts as high as 15 to 20 knots. A cold front will move through the area tonight which may lead to some lower CIGs but VFR conditions still expected to continue. EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK...A cold front will move into the area Friday into Friday night with possible restrictions in showers and thunderstorms. && .CAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... GA...None. SC...None. &&
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Columbia SC
1229 AM EDT Tue May 5 2020
SCZ016-022-116-050500-
Chesterfield SC-Southern Lancaster SC-Kershaw SC-
1229 AM EDT Tue May 5 2020
...Strong Thunderstorms Will Impact Portions of northwestern
Chesterfield...Southern Lancaster and northern Kershaw Counties Until
100 AM EDT....
At 1228 AM EDT...National Weather Service doppler radar indicated a
strong thunderstorm near Buford, or 13 miles east of Lancaster,
moving east at 35 mph.
HAZARD...gusty winds 35 to 45 mph and pea sized hail.
IMPACT...expect minor damage to tree limbs and blowing around of
light, unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to plants,
trees and crops is possible. Damage to windshields is
unlikely.
Some locations in the path of this storm include...
Pageland, Carolina Sandhills Wildlife Refuge, Buford, Jefferson,
Ruby, Mount Croghan, Chesterfield Ruby Middle School, High Point Fire
Station, Tradesville, Bay Springs Fire Station, Forty Acre Rock
Preserve, Taxahaw and Central High School.
LAT...LON 3481 8012 3455 8014 3464 8066 3482 8062
TIME...MOT...LOC 0428Z 273DEG 30KT 3471 8055
HCSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Columbia SC
117 AM EDT Tue May 5 2020
SCZ016-050545-
Chesterfield SC-
117 AM EDT Tue May 5 2020
...Strong Thunderstorms Will Impact Portions of east central
Chesterfield County Until 145 AM EDT....
At 117 AM EDT...National Weather Service doppler radar indicated a
strong thunderstorm 9 miles east of Carolina Sandhills Wildlife
Refuge, or 12 miles southwest of Cheraw, moving east at 35 mph.
HAZARD...gusty winds 40 to 50 mph and up to penny sized hail.
IMPACT...expect minor damage to tree limbs and blowing around of
light, unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to plants,
trees and crops is possible. Damage to windshields is
unlikely.
Some locations in the path of this storm include...
Cheraw, Cheraw State Park, Society Hill, Patrick and Cheraw Fish
Hatchery.
LAT...LON 3460 7981 3453 7983 3453 7984 3451 7986
3449 7990 3450 7991 3449 7993 3453 8015
3469 8014 3470 7987 3467 7985 3465 7980
3464 7980 3461 7978
TIME...MOT...LOC 0517Z 271DEG 32KT 3459 8007
HCSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Columbia SC
428 AM EDT Tue May 5 2020
SCZ020-050845-
Newberry SC-
428 AM EDT Tue May 5 2020
...Strong Thunderstorms Will Impact Portions of central Newberry
County Until 445 AM EDT....
At 427 AM EDT...National Weather Service doppler radar indicated a
strong thunderstorm over Newberry, moving east at 50 mph.
HAZARD...strong winds up to 50 mph.
IMPACT...expect minor damage to tree limbs and blowing around of
light, unsecured objects.
Some locations in the path of this storm include...
Newberry, Prosperity, Newberry College, Newberry County Airport,
Little Mountain, Pomaria, Silverstreet, Newberry County Detention
Center, US-176 and SC-34 Crossroads and Mid-Carolina High School.
This includes Interstate 26 between mile markers 68 and 84.
LAT...LON 3437 8138 3424 8142 3420 8142 3416 8168
3418 8170 3417 8171 3419 8173 3418 8174
3436 8169 3441 8141
TIME...MOT...LOC 0827Z 276DEG 45KT 3425 8163
HCThe Columbia radar (KCAE), 110 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 08:44 UTC.
6 thunderstorm wind, 6 hail, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
Chesterfield Co SC dispatch reported multiple trees down on SC 207 between Pageland and the NC border. Time estimated.
Public reported ping pong ball size hail in the Edgewater community SW of Lancaster. The report was submitted via social media with a video.
A tornado touched down west of Great Falls in Chester Co SC (see Storm Data for South Carolina, Northwest, for more information on the tornado in Chester Co). The tornado moved to the SE and crossed into Lancaster Co SC at the Catawba River near Pickett Island. The tornado strengthened as it crossed the Catawba River and entered SW Lancaster County. The tornado moved to the SE, producing significant tree damage, with numerous large hardwood and softwood trees uprooted or snapped. The most significant damage occurred between Green Rd and Cedar Creek Rd near Mount Carmel Rd where estimated winds were up to 115 mph. A tree also fell on a vehicle on Cedar Creek Rd. The tornado then crossed Cunningham Quarters Rd, before dissipating near Mable Anthony Rd.
This supercell thunderstorm also produced large hail in Chester Co SC (see Storm Data for South Carolina, Northwest) and in Lancaster Co and N Kershaw Co (See Storm Data for South Carolina, Central for additional hail information).
A trained spotter reported a large swath of downed trees near Green Rd and Cedar Creek Rd in SW Lancaster Co SC.
A large tree was downed on Kershaw Camden Hwy (US Hwy 521) between the towns of Heath Springs and Kershaw.
An NWS Storm Survey determined that a very strong downburst occurred just east of the town of Kershaw along Arbor Dr, just before Woodhaven Rd. The damage was primarily to trees between Arbor Dr and Woodhaven Rd, with many trees uprooted and some snapped. Peak wind gusts were estimated to be near 105 MPH.
A tree fell on a house along Matson Rd in the town of Kershaw.
Kershaw Co SC Emergency Manager reported tennis ball size hail near Bethune.
Public reported egg size hail via social media, along with a video and a photo.
Trained spotter reported, via social media with photos included, hail slightly larger than a quarter at 2300 Union Church Rd in McBee. Time estimated.
Public reported, via social media, a photo indicating penny size hail near the town of Kershaw.
Trained spotter reported golf ball size hail along Neds Creek Rd in N Kershaw Co. Time estimated.
SCHP reported tree in roadway on Bush River Rd near Hwy 560 near the Laurens Co line SW of Kinards. Time estimated.
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 historyThe tornado archive for South Carolina, 2020Warnings 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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 887859, 887863, 887879, 887864, 887865, 887868, 887866, 887882, 887884, 887887, 887888, 887889, 887890.