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Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Charleston SC
435 PM EDT Wed Apr 15 2020


...NWS DAMAGE SURVEY FOR APRIL 13, 2020 TORNADO EVENT...

.Eastern Screven County, GA Tornado...

Start Location...3 ENE Middleground in Screven County GA
End Location...5 ENE Middleground in Screven County GA
Date...04/13/2020
Estimated Time...05:58 AM EDT
Maximum EF-Scale Rating...EF1
Estimated Maximum Wind Speed...105 mph
Maximum Path Width...200.0 yards
Path Length...2.83 miles
Beginning Lat/Lon...32.6516 / -81.487
Ending Lat/Lon...32.6615 / -81.4399
* Fatalities...0
* Injuries...0

...Summary...
This tornado began on Weisman Road resulting in snapping and uprooting of many trees. The
tornado moved eastward and crossed Newington Highway, where it did some damage to a
mobile home and small cabin. The mobile home had trees down on it and the roof was removed.
The cabin had a portion of the roof removed. The tornado then continued over a wooded
area, with more snapping and uprooting of trees, finally dissipating in the marsh region
just west of the Savannah River, Georgia.  

.Long Track Tornado in Hampton County, SC...

Start Location...3 WNW Scotia in Hampton County SC
End Location...5 NNE Fechtig in Hampton County SC
Date...04/13/2020
Estimated Time...06:10 AM EDT
Maximum EF-Scale Rating...EF3
Estimated Maximum Wind Speed...165 mph
Maximum Path Width...1300.0 yards
Path Length...24.04 miles
Beginning Lat/Lon...32.7034 / -81.2896
Ending Lat/Lon...32.829 / -80.9092
* Fatalities...5
* Injuries...60

...Summary...
This unusually long track and wide tornado damaged and destroyed many residences, 
including mobile and single family homes. In addition, the tornado, which reached a 
maximum width of about 0.75 mile, caused extensive damage to trees and powerlines
along its path, which stretched more than 24 miles from southwest of Estill, 
to near the Colleton County line. The most significant structural damage occurred just 
south of Estill and over Nixville. At least six residences were destroyed in the hardest
hit areas, but there were many others that sustained various levels of damage along the
entire path. Tragically, five people lost their lives in the hardest hit areas just 
south of Estill and in Nixville. The damage pattern suggested that this tornado may have
consisted of multiple vortices, which can occur with stronger tornadoes. 

.Southwest Colleton County, SC Tornado...

Start Location...7 SE Islandton in Colleton County SC
End Location...7 WNW Hendersonville in Colleton County SC
Date...04/13/2020
Estimated Time...06:39 AM EDT
Maximum EF-Scale Rating...EF1
Estimated Maximum Wind Speed...90 mph
Maximum Path Width...50.0 yards
Path Length...1.43 miles
Beginning Lat/Lon...32.8359 / -80.8539
Ending Lat/Lon...32.8454 / -80.8319
* Fatalities...0
* Injuries...0

...Summary...
The tornado formed just west of Route 21 in southwest Colleton 
County and traveled about 1.5 miles northeast before dissipating. 
The tornado snapped of a couple dozen pine trees and broke off some 
tree branches along the path. 

.West Walterboro, SC Tornado...

Start Location...5 WSW Walterboro in Colleton County SC
End Location...2 W Walterboro in Colleton County SC
Date...04/13/2020
Estimated Time...06:46 AM EDT
Maximum EF-Scale Rating...EF1
Estimated Maximum Wind Speed...105 mph
Maximum Path Width...100.0 yards
Path Length...3.16 miles
Beginning Lat/Lon...32.8768 / -80.7459
Ending Lat/Lon...32.9098 / -80.7086
* Fatalities...0
* Injuries...0

...Summary...
The tornado formed along Route 63 west of Interstate 95 and traveled 
northeast a little over 3 miles before dissipating in or near the 
Ashepoo River/Jones Swamp area just west of Interstate 95. The 
tornado produced extensive tree damage in the vicinity of Beach 
Road. The tornado overturned a tractor trailer near mile marker 55 
on Interstate 95. Hundreds of trees were snapped off or uprooted 
along the path. 

.Walterboro, SC...

Start Location...4 SW Walterboro in Colleton County SC
End Location...4 WSW Round O in Colleton County SC
Date...04/13/2020
Estimated Time...06:47 AM EDT
Maximum EF-Scale Rating...EF1
Estimated Maximum Wind Speed...110 mph
Maximum Path Width...500.0 yards
Path Length...8.1 miles
Beginning Lat/Lon...32.8791 / -80.7305
Ending Lat/Lon...32.9356 / -80.6083
* Fatalities...1
* Injuries...1

...Summary...
The tornado formed near Route 63 about a mile east of the West 
Walterboro tornado. This tornado grew in size as it tracked through 
Walterboro and then tracked northeastward through the Low Country 
Regional Airport and then further northeast with a preliminary 
length of about 8 miles. Further investigation needs to be done to 
determine if the path continued farther to the northeast and if so 
how far. This tornado produced extensive tree damage along the path 
across northwestern portions of Walterboro with many hundreds of 
trees snapped off or uprooted. Trees falling on houses or the wind 
associated with the tornado produced mainly minor damage to hundreds 
of residences and some businesses. 

Inflow winds into the tornado produced significant tree and some 
structural damage across the central and southeastern portions of 
Walterboro. In this area a large pine tree fell through a section of 
a home killing a person and injuring another. 

At the Low Country Regional Airport, winds associated with the 
tornado or winds flowing into the tornado damaged or destroyed most 
hangers and damaged or destroyed nearly two dozen aircraft.

EF Scale: The Enhanced Fujita Scale classifies tornadoes into the
following categories:

EF0...Weak......65 to 85 mph
EF1...Weak......86 to 110 mph
EF2...Strong....111 to 135 mph
EF3...Strong....136 to 165 mph
EF4...Violent...166 to 200 mph
EF5...Violent...>200 mph

* The information in this statement is preliminary and subject to
change pending final review of the events and publication in NWS
Storm Data.

$$