An isolated long-tracked severe thunderstorm moved east across the Northern Midlands of SC and produced hail and wind damage. The storm moved east into extreme northern Newberry Co, extreme northern Fairfield Co, and across Lancaster Co, producing hail and/or straight-line wind damage along that path.
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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 isolated long-tracked severe thunderstorm moved east across the Northern Midlands of SC and produced hail and wind damage. The storm moved east into extreme northern Newberry Co, extreme northern Fairfield Co, and across Lancaster Co, producing hail and/or straight-line wind damage along that path. The storm originated in Upstate SC and also affected Laurens, Union, and Chester Co SC. For information on those locations, please refer to the South Carolina, Northwest section of Storm Data.
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 25, 1:23 PM EST, 2 hours 38 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Columbia SC 223 PM EDT Thu Mar 25 2021 .SYNOPSIS... A weak cold front will impact the region Friday, bringing a chance of showers and thunderstorms. The front will shift back north as a warm front Saturday, with a continued chance of showers and thunderstorms. Another front will bring a chance of showers and thunderstorms Sunday. Another weather system will bring a chance of rain Monday night and Tuesday, followed by another front Thursday. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... An area of showers and thunderstorms has developed west of the forecast area. The convection will continue moving to the northeast this afternoon, supported by a shortwave lifting out of northern GA. It is likely that this activity will remain north and west of the forecast area. The airmass over the FA remains relatively unsupportive for convective development. The SPC Mesoscale Analysis page indicated the mid-levels are relatively warm with weak mlCAPE values and a capping inversion. It's possible that the current storms in northeast GA/SC Upstate may clip the western most edge of the FA, including the Catawba region, but confidence is low. Moderate warm advection over the region and less cloud cover than previously forecast will allow temperatures to rise into the mid to upper 80s in areas near and south of the I-20 corridor. North of there, convective debris clouds will keep temps cooler, in the mid 70s to low 80s. Tonight, as the main upper level shortwave and low pressure system moves to our northwest, a trailing cold front will approach from the west. Showers and isolated thunderstorms will be ongoing and will also approach the FA from the west early Friday morning. Overnight lows will be well above average, only falling into the mid 60s across the region. && .SHORT TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/... Upper energy and a surface low will move NE into the Midwest and E CAN Friday, with an attendant weak cold front entering our region early in the morning, then only slowly moving through, and eventually stalling through Friday night, as upper flow over our region remains SW. Weak to moderate instability, but considerable deep layer shear, and a moderately strong 850mb jet may provide an isolated severe storm threat. SPC maintains a MRGL risk of severe weather for our region Friday. SW upper flow will continue Saturday with upper ridge center to our south and upper troughiness well to our NW/W. The front is expected to move begin moving north as a warm front Saturday, with some uncertainties on exact position/timing. Convergence along the front, along with sufficient atmospheric moisture will provide a chance of showers and thunderstorms. With moderate instabilities projected, and some deep layer shear still in play, an isolated severe storm will be possible. && .LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... On Sunday, an upper trough will shift into the E CONUS along with a surface front and provide a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Most of the upper dynamics appear will remain just to our N/NE but indications of weak to moderate instability may provide an isolated severe threat. SPC Day 4 outlook (Sunday) has mainly our N/NE FA highlighted in a severe threat. Some promise for cooler and drier air expected to enter the region very briefly behind the front for late Sunday night and early Monday, as surface high pressure builds into the eastern seaboard. Latest guidance indicates upper energy shifting east across the southern tier of states and provides for increasing moisture and a chance of rain to reenter the region by as early as late Monday or Monday night. This appears will set up a weak surface wedge regime Tuesday which may gradually weaken Wednesday, with the next system moving in Wed nt/Thu. && .AVIATION /18Z THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... Mainly VFR conditions are expected for the remainder of the day. Winds will be out of the south to southeast with speeds around 10 knots with gusts 20-25 knots. A strong low level jet will develop over the region tonight as a cold front approaches from the west. Low level wind shear is possible after 26/00z as a 40-45 knot southwesterly low level jet develops. Expect ceilings to lower tonight as the cold front and associated band of showers and thunderstorms move across the region. There may be periods of heavy rain and thunderstorms on Friday morning but the timing is too uncertain at this time to include in the TAFs. Conditions may improve near the end of the 24 hour TAF period. EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK...Expect active weather through Sunday. There may be intermittent visibility and ceiling restrictions. && .CAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... GA...None. SC...None. &&
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Columbia SC 354 AM EDT Thu Mar 25 2021 GAZ040-063>065-077-SCZ016-018-020>022-025>031-035>038-041-115-116- 260800- 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- 354 AM EDT Thu Mar 25 2021 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the Midlands of South Carolina and the Central Savannah River area of Georgia. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. There is a marginal risk for strong to isolated severe thunderstorms Friday as a cold front crosses the area. The main severe threat will be damaging wind gusts and large hail. Another cold front will cross the region on Sunday, bringing the threat of thunderstorms. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
The Greer radar (KGSP), 65 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:02 UTC.
7 thunderstorm wind, 3 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
In northern Newberry Co, just north of Whitmire, three trees were damaged off of Lakestone Dr. A small cedar tree was snapped about half way up the trunk, a small pine tree was uprooted and the trunk of a large pine tree was split near the ground.
In the Sumter National Forest, three trees were damaged near the intersection of Federal Rd and Glovers Rd. The trunk of a weakened cedar tree was split at the ground. There were two medium sized pine trees that were uprooted approximately 200 feet apart.
Public reported, via social media, one inch hail along Old Douglas Rd. Time estimated.
Public reported several trees down on Ashford Rd. Time estimated.
Public reported nickel size hail on Ashford Rd. Time estimated.
Emergency manager reported numerous trees down along Green Rd. Time estimated.
Emergency manager reported dime size hail along Hoke Rd. Time estimated.
Emergency manager reported, and provided photos of, several pine trees that were downed near New Hope Rd and Mt. Carmel Rd. Time estimated.
Emergency manager reported trees down in the Rich Hill community. Time estimated.
Emergency manager reported wind damage on Musket Rd near Heath Springs. Several photos were provided that showed metal roofing peeled off several outbuildings. Time estimated.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in South Carolina in 2021Every state in 2021This day in weather historyWarnings in South Carolina, March 2021
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: 939815, 939817, 939816, 939818, 939819, 939820, 939821, 939826, 939824, 939823.