Public Information Statement
Issued by NWS Columbia, SC
Issued by NWS Columbia, SC
785 NOUS42 KCAE 011303 CCA PNSCAE GAZ040-063>065-077-SCZ016-018-020>022-025>031-035-037-038-041-115- 116-135>137-011215- Public Information Statement...Corrected National Weather Service Columbia SC 802 PM EDT Mon Sep 30 2024 Statement corrected to include some missing path widths. ...NWS Damage Survey Summary for Hurricane Helene (9/26-27/2024) Tornadoes... This is a summary of all confirmed tornadoes by NWS Columbia in association with Hurricane Helene. In total, there were 11 confirmed tornadoes in the NWS Columbia forecast area. ...Vidette, GA EF0 Tornado... Rating: EF0 Estimated Peak Wind: 80 mph Path Length /statute/: 2.27 miles Path Width /maximum/: 50 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 09/26/2024 Start Time: 05:53 AM EDT Start Location: Vidette / Burke County / GA Start Lat/Lon: 33.0368 / -82.2431 End Date: 09/29/2024 End Time: 05:57 AM EDT End Location: 2 N Vidette / Burke County / GA End Lat/Lon: 33.0697 / -82.2422 Survey Summary: A brief tornado touched down just east of Vidette, GA on 9/26/24. This was in association with the initial outer bands of Hurricane Helene. The tornado is radar/EM confirmed as the widespread damage to trees and infrastructure in Burke County, GA made it impossible to survey this tornado after the fact. The tornado produced tree and powerline damage along its path before lifting just north of State Route 305. We`d like to thank Burke County Emergency Management for the timely reports shortly after this tornado touched down. && ...Rowland, SC EF0 Tornado... Rating: EF0 Estimated Peak Wind: 80 mph Path Length /statute/: 1.31 miles Path Width /maximum/: 50 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 09/26/2024 Start Time: 10:17 PM EDT Start Location: 7 ESE Summerton / Clarendon County / SC Start Lat/Lon: 33.5577 / -80.2287 End Date: 09/26/2024 End Time: 10:18 PM EDT End Location: 6 E Summerton / Clarendon County / SC End Lat/Lon: 33.5694 / -80.2466 Survey Summary: A brief, EF0 tornado touched down along the northeastern side of Lake Marion on Sept 27, 2024. The tornado began its life near Russel Dr and produced minor tree damage along its path before lifting north of Pearson Rd. && ...Cordova, SC EF1 Tornado... Rating: EF1 Estimated Peak Wind: 95 mph Path Length /statute/: 13.36 miles Path Width /maximum/: 1100 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 09/26/2024 Start Time: 10:39 AM EDT Start Location: 5 SW Rowesville / Orangeburg County / SC Start Lat/Lon: 33.3231 / -80.915 End Date: 09/26/2024 End Time: 11:03 AM EDT End Location: 6 W Edisto / Orangeburg County / SC End Lat/Lon: 33.4957 / -81.0022 Survey Summary: A long-track, EF1 tornado touched down east of Canaan, SC on 9/26/24. It produced widespread tree damage along its path northwestward, producing EF1 damage to trees in multiple spots west of Cordova, SC. The tornado initially moved north before crossing Blewer Road and Elder Branch Road, causing EF-1 tree damage in the area. The tornado then turned northwest near Cordova and caused additional EF-1 tree damage along Leraleigh Road. It finally lifted near Gravel Hill, SC after producing mostly minor tree damage near the town. && ...Lodge, SC EF1 Tornado... Rating: EF1 Estimated Peak Wind: 90 mph Path Length /statute/: 7.81 miles Path Width /maximum/: 150 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 09/26/2024 Start Time: 12:52 PM EDT Start Location: 1 NE Ashton / Colleton County / SC Start Lat/Lon: 33.0207 / -80.9629 End Date: 09/26/2024 End Time: 01:11 PM EDT End Location: 2 N Ehrhardt / Bamberg County / SC End Lat/Lon: 33.1243 / -81.0118 Survey Summary: A short lived tornado ahead of Hurricane Helene touched down near Gabriel Road in northern Colleton County with a few tree limbs down and a tree snapped at the trunk. As the tornado approached 641, multiple trees were snapped at the trunk on the northern side, facing Ashton Branch of Willow Swamp. The tornado continued to the northwest where multiple tree branches were broken along Ashton Road, with additional tree branch and limb damage persisting along Ralphs Road as well. The tornado then turned more northward and passed to the east of Ehrhardt, SC in Bamberg County, where several trees were noted snapped at the trunk along Bells Highway and Morningstar Lane. The tornado then lifted near or just east of 601, near Baucham Road. Thanks to Colleton County Emergency Management Agency for providing damage reports for this storm. Finally, thanks to the NWS Charleston office for their effort to perform this storm damage survey. && ...Orangeburg/Calhoun County Long-Tracked EF1 Tornado... Rating: EF1 Estimated Peak Wind: 90 mph Path Length /statute/: 33.11 miles Path Width /maximum/: 800 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 09/27/2024 Start Time: 12:33 AM EDT Start Location: 6 NNW Duncan Chapel / Orangeburg County / SC Start Lat/Lon: 33.388 / -80.5684 End Date: 09/27/2024 End Time: 01:17 AM EDT End Location: 9 WNW St. Matthews / Calhoun County / SC End Lat/Lon: 33.7588 / -80.908 Survey Summary: A long track EF-1 tornado occurred in eastern Orangeburg and western Calhoun counties from an outer band of Tropical Storm Helene. The tornado began west of Providence near Little Bull Swamp and then continued northwest crossing Five Chop Road. Moving northwest, EF-1 tree damage was observed along Wild Hearts Road, Whisperwood Road, and Sleepy Hollow Road. The tornado then crossed Cameron Road northeast of Orangeburg. Scattered EF-0 tree was then observed northwest all along Highway 176. The tornado lifted along Highway 176 near Big Beaver Creek. && ...Southeast Branchville, SC EF0 Tornado... Rating: EF0 Estimated Peak Wind: 84 mph Path Length /statute/: 13.77 miles Path Width /maximum/: 500 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 09/27/2024 Start Time: 01:15 AM EDT Start Location: 4 W Reevesville / Orangeburg County / SC Start Lat/Lon: 33.223 / -80.7256 End Date: 09/27/2024 End Time: 01:28 AM EDT End Location: 2 N Rowesville / Orangeburg County / SC End Lat/Lon: 33.4 / -80.8347 Survey Summary: A weak tornado developed early on 9/27/24 in association with Hurricane Helene`s outer rain bands. Weak, EF0 tree damage began near Highway 78 just inside the Orangeburg county and then moved north-northwestward. The tornado crossed Cattle Creek Road, then turned slightly more northerly before crossing Bowman Branch Highway. Continuing north, the tornado caused damage along Funchess Rd and continued north-northwestward before ending near Garland Road north of Rowesville. && ...Staley Crossroads, SC EF1... Rating: EF1 Estimated Peak Wind: 90 mph Path Length /statute/: 13.97 miles Path Width /maximum/: 710 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 09/27/2024 Start Time: 01:51 AM EDT Start Location: 9 ENE North / Orangeburg County / SC Start Lat/Lon: 33.6398 / -80.942 End Date: 09/27/2024 End Time: 02:06 AM EDT End Location: 2 E Gaston / Lexington County / SC End Lat/Lon: 33.8118 / -81.0653 Survey Summary: An EF1 tornado touched down early on 9/27/24 as Hurricane Helene`s outer bands worked through the region. The tornado touched down south of Stanley Crossroads, producing EF1 damage to trees along Bull Swamp Rd. The tornado quickly continued northwestward, producing EF0 tree damage along its path into Lexington and Calhoun counties, crossing Saint Matthews Road east of Swansea. The tornado lifted southeast of Gaston, SC after producing some EF0 tree damage near Enos, SC along Mack Street. && ...West Bowman, SC EF0 Tornado... Rating: EF0 Estimated Peak Wind: 80 mph Path Length /statute/: 17.04 miles Path Width /maximum/: 800 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 09/27/2024 Start Time: 04:17 AM EDT Start Location: 3 NNW Reevesville / Orangeburg County / SC Start Lat/Lon: 33.2558 / -80.6651 End Date: 09/27/2024 End Time: 04:29 AM EDT End Location: 3 ESE Wilkinson Heights / Orangeburg County / SC End Lat/Lon: 33.4723 / -80.7921 Survey Summary: A weak tornado occurred on 9/27/24 in association with Hurricane Helene`s outer rain bands. This tornado began just inside the Orangeburg county line along Reevesville Rd near Rigby Rd. EF0 tree damage was most common along the path as the tornado moved northward, crossing Wayside Dr and Highway 210. The tornado then turned northwestward along Highway 178 then veering back north before dissipating on the north side of Highway 301. && ...Eutaw Springs, SC EF0 Tornado... Rating: EF0 Estimated Peak Wind: 77 mph Path Length /statute/: 1.53 miles Path Width /maximum/: 180 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 09/27/2024 Start Time: 04:56 AM EDT Start Location: 2 ENE Eutawville / Orangeburg County / SC Start Lat/Lon: 33.4088 / -80.3067 End Date: 09/27/2024 End Time: 04:56 AM EDT End Location: 2 NNE Eutawville / Orangeburg County / SC End Lat/Lon: 33.4201 / -80.3292 Survey Summary: A brief, EF0 tornado touched down northwest of the town of Eutaw Springs on Sept 27, 2024. It began along Sinkler Avenue and produced minor tree damage along its path before lifting along Belvedere Dr near Fountain Lake. && ...West of Shaw AFB, SC EF0 Tornado... Rating: EF0 Estimated Peak Wind: 75 mph Path Length /statute/: 4.56 miles Path Width /maximum/: 1000 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 09/27/2024 Start Time: 05:32 AM EDT Start Location: 2 SW Cherryvale / Sumter County / SC Start Lat/Lon: 33.9291 / -80.4901 End Date: 09/27/2024 End Time: 05:38 AM EDT End Location: 1 WSW Stateburg / Sumter County / SC End Lat/Lon: 33.9774 / -80.5436 Survey Summary: A brief, but wide, EF-0 tornado associated with Hurricane Helene began near Squaw Valley Road north of Wedgefield in Sumter County at 532 AM. The tornado uprooted multiple trees and snapped large branches as it moved north across Cane Savannah Rd and eventually Route 76/378. It continued into a neighborhood causing additional large tree damage, with a tree falling across Brookland Drive. One home on Brookland Drive suffered damage from a large tree falling on it, while other yards had multiple large limbs snapped and/or trees uprooted. The tornado continued northwest causing a large tree to uproot and fall across powerlines and North Kings Highway which caused traffic delays. The tornado turned slightly more northward where it uprooted trees and snapped large limbs near the Beech Creek Golf Club before it lifted around 538 AM. && ...North Santee, SC EF0 Tornado... Rating: EF0 Estimated Peak Wind: 75 mph Path Length /statute/: 0.29 miles Path Width /maximum/: 50 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 09/27/2024 Start Time: 05:36 AM EDT Start Location: 4 NE Santee / Clarendon County / SC Start Lat/Lon: 33.5197 / -80.4321 End Date: 09/27/2024 End Time: 05:37 AM EDT End Location: 4 NE Santee / Clarendon County / SC End Lat/Lon: 33.5236 / -80.4342 Survey Summary: A brief tornado touched down on the east side of I95, crossing over and doing minor tree damage along Saint Paul Rd and Cooper Lane. && EF Scale: The Enhanced Fujita Scale classifies tornadoes into the following categories: EF0.....65 to 85 mph EF1.....86 to 110 mph EF2.....111 to 135 mph EF3.....136 to 165 mph EF4.....166 to 200 mph EF5.....>200 mph NOTE: The information in this statement is preliminary and subject to change pending final review of the event and publication in NWS Storm Data. $$ JAQ/RJO/GPL/MG/HC/EC/CJR