A significant severe weather event featuring multiple rounds of thunderstorms occurred on May 9th, 2024. The first round, a QLCS, produced three tornadoes in the Midlands of South Carolina.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
A significant severe weather event featuring multiple rounds of thunderstorms occurred on May 9th, 2024. The first round, a QLCS, produced three tornadoes in the Midlands of South Carolina.
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 9, 1:25 AM EST, 21 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Columbia SC 225 AM EDT Thu May 9 2024 .SYNOPSIS... Potential for strong to severe storms continues through Friday morning. Drier conditions return for the weekend before the next chance of precipitation arrives by midweek. Expect temperatures to be near average for much of the forecast period. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... Latest radar imagery indicates a couple of thunderstorm complexes to our west; one is currently the South Carolina Upstate/northeastern Georgia approaching the CSRA and western Midlands and the other complex is just entering Kentucky and Tennessee. These complexes are expected to affect the forecast area this morning. The first complex should be entering the local forecast area by around 3 am and continue eastward. This complex has had a history of producing severe weather as it has trekked across the southern states. There is some question; however, if this will hold together long enough to continue the severe threat. SPC mesoanalysis indicates there is 500-1000 J/kg of mixed layer CAPE and around 1000 J/kg of most unstable CAPE. Bulk shear values are around 40 kts as well. The hindering factor of reaching the instability is the nocturnal inversion. Despite the inversion, if the cold pool with the main line remains strong enough, severe threat continues through around daybreak, mainly for the northern half of the forecast area. At this time, the highest threat for severe weather is for the western portions of the forecast area. Damaging wind will be the main threat, with hail and tornadoes being a lesser threat. The second complex is forecast to move through the region around midday. There is higher confidence that this complex will make it through our area as this one is more tied to an approaching cold front as well as some daytime heating. Again, damaging winds will be the main threat with any storms that move through the region. SPC keeps an Enhanced Risk (3/5) of severe weather for the lower CSRA and a Slight Risk (2/5) for the rest of the forecast area. After this line passes, relatively quiet weather follows for the rest of the afternoon into the overnight with a slight chance of showers and storms returning late tonight. && .SHORT TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/... One more potentially active convective day Friday ahead of the advancing cold front. Guidance still seems to handle potential MCS moving through south-central GA and into southern SC during the morning hour and into the early afternoon. This may impact the southern CSRA the most if it does develop as forecast and moves through. Damaging winds would be the primary threat, with hail also being possible. Additional thunderstorm development possible late in the day over the northeastern Midlands as the main upper trough axis swings through. By Friday night, the drier air behind the front will finally be getting into the area, ending the rain chances for the weekend. Saturday will be dry and cooler behind the front. && .LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... Conditions look quite nice into Monday with high pressure across the area. Rain chances do increase Monday night through Wednesday ahead of a slow moving, closed mid/upper level low progged to push into the eastern CONUS by the middle of next week. Temperatures remain cooler through Tuesday, then warm back up by the middle of the week. && .AVIATION /06Z THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... VFR conditions expected through the early morning hours with restrictions possible for the morning and early afternoon. Mainly mid to high level clouds have moved over the region. A cluster of showers and storms to the west are expected to move through the northern portions of the area, mainly affecting CAE and CUB. Thunderstorms may be observed at each of those terminals around 10z or so, but confidence is low that the activity will stay together to make it that far east. If it does, expect the typical thunderstorm related restrictions. A second cluster of showers and storms is expected to move through from about 15z through 20z. Confidence is a bit higher that thunderstorms will be nearby all TAF terminals during this time frame, but the exact timing still needs to be worked out. As confidence increases, will add appropriate tempo groups to reflect such. After this cluster moves through, the remainder of the TAF period is expected to remain dry and return to VFR. Background winds are expected to become breezy from the west to southwest from about 14z through 00z before diminishing. EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK...Another day of convection and associated restrictions on Friday is possible. Drier weather with no restrictions likely for this weekend. && .CAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SC...None. GA...None. &&
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Columbia SC 1248 AM EDT Thu May 9 2024 GAZ040-063>065-077-SCZ016-018-020>022-025>031-035-037-038-041-115- 116-135>137-100500- Lincoln-McDuffie-Columbia-Richmond-Burke-Chesterfield-McCormick- Newberry-Fairfield-Kershaw-Edgefield-Saluda-Lexington-Richland-Lee- Aiken-Sumter-Barnwell-Calhoun-Clarendon-Bamberg-Northern Lancaster- Southern Lancaster-Northwestern Orangeburg-Central Orangeburg- Southeastern Orangeburg- 1248 AM EDT Thu May 9 2024 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for east central Georgia and central South Carolina. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Isolated to scattered strong to severe thunderstorms will be possible late tonight. Storms may produce damaging winds, hail, and even a brief tornado. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. Organized thunderstorms will be possible again Thursday into Friday. Storms may produce damaging winds, large hail, and even a brief tornado Thursday and Thursday night. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will likely be needed.
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Columbia SC
932 PM EDT Wed May 8 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0520 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 2 ENE Lancaster Co Apt 34.74N 80.83W
05/08/2024 Lancaster SC Public
Trees and limbs down on power lines on South
Lake Drive.
&&
MJPThe Greer radar (KGSP), 69 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 06:48 UTC.
36 thunderstorm wind, 3 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
Newberry County dispatch reported trees down at Kings Lane and Old Airport Road in Whitmire. Time estimated by radar.
A National Weather Service storm survey team confirmed a brief EF-0 tornado with peak winds of 80 mph in Newberry County south of the town of Whitmire during the early morning hours of May 9th. The tornado began near the intersection of Old Airport Road and Kings Lane causing scattered tree damage as it moved east. The tornado then turned southeast resulting in additional tree damage in and around |Little Egypt Road and Colonial Drive. The tornado likely lifted before |reaching Highway 121.
Newberry County EM reported trees and power lines down at Colonial Dr. and SC-121. Time estimated based on radar.
Newberry County EM reported a tree down at Indian Creek Rifle Range. Time estimated based on radar.
SC Dept. of Public Safety reported a tree in the roadway. Time estimated by radar.
Newberry County dispatch reported trees down at the intersection of Belfast and Spearman Roads. Time estimated by radar.
Saluda County dispatch reported a tree down along Greenwood Highway. Time estimated by radar.
SC Dept. of Public Safety reported a tree in the roadway. Time estimated by radar.
Newberry County dispatch reported trees down at 2nd Street and Digby Street. Time estimated by radar.
Newberry County dispatch reports trees down at Mt. Pleasant Road and Glymphville Road. Time estimated by radar.
Newberry County EM reported a tree down along Broad River Road. Time estimated based on radar.
Fairfield County dispatch reports a tree down along Hwy. 215 at Meadow Lake Road. Time estimated by radar.
Newberry County EM reported a tree down at the intersection of Wheeland and Mill Roads. Time estimated by radar.
A National Weather Service storm survey team confirmed a brief EF-0 tornado with peak winds of 80 mph in Northwestern Fairfield County during the early morning hours of May 9th. The tornado likely began in a wooded area northwest of Clark Bridge Road.|It then crossed the road while moving southeast resulting in multiple downed or snapped trees in and around properties in the 3900 block of Clark Bridge Road. The tornado then likely lifted a short distance beyond Clark Bridge Road in the woods |behind the impacted properties shortly before reaching Crumpton Creek.
Fairfield County dispatch reported trees down in the 7489 block of Highway 213. Time estimated by radar.
SS Department of Public Safety reported a tree down in the roadway. Time estimated based on radar.
SC Dept. of Public Safety reported a tree in the roadway. Time estimated by radar.
SC Dept. of Public Safety reported a tree in the roadway. Time estimated by radar.
A National Weather Service storm survey team confirmed an EF-1 tornado with peak winds of 100 mph in southeastern Fairfield County during the early morning hours of May 9th. The tornado likely began west of Interstate 77 near Exit 32. The tornado|moved generally southeast producing downed large limbs along|Cook Road and Boney Road, intensifying as it moved into a|wooded area along Cedar Rock Road. The area of most significant|tree damage was observed along a creek bed north of Cedar|Rock Road with numerous uprooted and snapped trees. One tree|landed on a home on Cedar Rock Road causing roof, siding, and|gutter damage. The tornado continued along Cedar Rock Road causing|intermittent tree damage. The tornado continued beyond the road and|into a wooded area behind The Farm at Ridgeway where additional|tree damage occurred near a pond on the property. The tornado likely|lifted on the property prior to reaching Highway 21.
Trained spotter reported numerous trees down along Hood Rd. through the intersection with Boney Road. Time estimated from radar.
Report of a tree down and minor damage to a home in Ridgeway. Report via social media. Time estimated by radar.
Trained spotter reported trees down and heavy damage between Ridgeway and the county line. Time estimated by radar.
Emergency Manager reports a downed tree on Singleton Creek Road at Liberty Hill Road blocking the roadway.
SC Dept. of Public Safety reported a tree in the roadway. Time estimated by radar.
Emergency Manager reports a downed tree on Smyrna Church Road at Smyrna Road blocking the roadway.
Kershaw County FD reported a tree down at the intersection of Smyrna Road and Ashley Creek. Time estimated based on radar.
Kershaw County EM reported a tree down blocking Flat Rock Rd. at the Kershaw/Lancaster county line. Time estimated based on radar.
Kershaw County EM reported a tree down blocking the roadway along Flat Rock Road.
Kershaw County FD reports a tree down blocking the roadway. Time estimated based on radar.
Kershaw County FD reports a tree down on a home in Lugoff. Time estimated based on radar.
Kershaw County dispatch reports numerous trees and power lines down throughout the county. Time estimated by radar.
Kershaw County FD reported a tree down blocking the road along Flat Rock Rd. Time estimated based on radar.
Kershaw County FD reports a tree blocking the roadway along Hwy. 261 at Hwy 521. Time estimated based on radar.
Sumter County dispatch reports a tree down along 378 and North Kings Highway. Time estimated by radar.
SCDOT reports a tree in the roadway along I-20. Time estimated by radar.
Reported tree down along Kennedy Road just north of the town of McCormick.
Reported a power line down along Confederate Drive along Lake Thurmond in the Modoc community.
Edgefield County dispatch reports a tree down along Hwy. 430, just outside the city of Edgefield limits. Time estimated based on radar.
Reported trees down near the intersection of Thunder Road and Ehrhardt Road near the town of Govan.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in South Carolina in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for South Carolina, 2024Warnings in South Carolina, May 2024
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: 1170056, 1170057, 1170059, 1170060, 1170062, 1170063, 1170064, 1170066, 1170067, 1170069, 1170072, 1170074, 1170080, 1170082, 1170086, 1170087, 1170089, 1170090, 1170111, 1170091, 1170092, 1170093, 1170094, 1170095, 1170096, 1170097, 1170099, 1170112, 1170100, 1170101, 1170102, 1170103, 1170105, 1170106, 1170107, 1170109, 1170110, 1170114, 1170115.