Hail, Wind & Tornado Reports on March 3, 2012

Hail Report Description: The public reported nickel sized hail in South Newport.

Hail Report Description: Trained Spotter reported quarter-sized hail 3 miles east southeast of Cox.

Hail Report Description: The public estimated hail up to golf ball size on Bemiss Road north of Moody AFB. Most stones were quarter size but a few were golf ball. This hail occurred with the same supercell that spawned a significant tornado in northeastern Lowndes and Lanier counties.

Hail Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.

Hail Report Description: A thunderstorm dropped penny size hail in Eldora (Dennis Township).

Wind Report Description: Residents near the Jefferson/Brooks county line reported trees down near Highway 221. The report was obtained from a WTXL news article. Monetary damage was estimated.

Wind Report Description: A tree and power line were blown down onto Tram Road. Monetary damage was estimated.

Wind Report Description: A tree was blown down onto a house northwest of Capitola. Monetary damage was estimated.

Wind Report Description: A tree was blown down in the road at 1304 Pinehurst Ct. Monetary damage was estimated.

Wind Report Description: Trees were blown down onto power lines near Sunnyside. The time was based on radar.

Wind Report Description: McIntosh County Law Enforcement reported 1 tree and power lines were blown down onto Blues Reach Road.

Wind Report Description: A tree was blown down at 4800 Block Lori Street. Monetary damage was estimated.

Wind Report Description: Trees were blown down onto power lines near Millwood. The time of damage was based on radar.

Wind Report Description: Medium size tree limbs and street signs were blown down. The time of damage was based on radar.

Wind Report Description: Trees were blown down near Plant Avenue and one large tree fell on a fence of a residence. The time of damage was based on radar imagery. The cost of damage was estimated.

Wind Report Description: Trees were blown down near Trail Road.

Wind Report Description: Numerous trees and power lines were reported blown down about 7 miles north of Dupont in northwest Clinch county on Tomlinson Road near State Road 122 and 168.

Wind Report Description: Trees and street signs were blown down near the Cogdell Highway.

Wind Report Description: A tree was blown down onto a camper at 6941 Pine Circle. Monetary damage was estimated.

Wind Report Description: At least two trees were blown down. Monetary damage was estimated.

Wind Report Description: Effingham County Law Enforcement reported 1 tree down in Rincon.

Wind Report Description: Trained Spotter reported 1 tree down and several branches down in yard.

Wind Report Description: Effingham County Law Enforcement reported 1 tree down near the intersection of Little McCall Road and Mockingbird Lane.

Wind Report Description: Effingham County Fire Department reported 1 tree down on a house and two trees snapped in half along Shirley Drive.

Wind Report Description: A few trees were blown down around Boston. Monetary damage was estimated.

Wind Report Description: Power lines were blown down in West Green.

Wind Report Description: Downburst winds blew a quarter of the roof off of a commercial building. There was some structural damage to homes. Trees and power lines were also reported in the area.

Wind Report Description: A few trees were blown down along Spruce Road. Monetary damage was estimated.

Wind Report Description: A tree was blown down onto a power line near 5437 Strickland Road. Monetary damage was estimated.

Wind Report Description: SCEG reported power outages due to large limbs and trees on powerlines near Neeses.

Wind Report Description: Trees were reported down at 2100 Spence Road. Monetary damage was estimated.

Wind Report Description: Multiple trees were blown down in the area. Monetary damage was estimated.

Wind Report Description: Trees and power lines were blown down. Monetary damage was estimated.

Wind Report Description: Power lines were down around the Eucheeanna community. Monetary damage was estimated.

Wind Report Description: A large tree was blown down across Highway 177. Monetary damage was estimated.

Wind Report Description: Scattered trees were blown down along Spring Head Road, Phillipsburg Road, Highway 91 at Big Drain Creek, and Cooktown Road. Monetary damage was estimated.

Wind Report Description: A tree was reported down along Resting Place Road.

Wind Report Description: A tree was reported down at the intersection of Whippoorwill Road and New Market Road.

Wind Report Description: A tree was reported down along East Old Camden Road.

Wind Report Description: Sheriff reported trees down at Beatty road and Morningside Drive.

Wind Report Description: Dispatch reported trees down on Lee State Park road North Northwest of Bishopville.

Wind Report Description: A tree was reported down across Whippoorwill Road.

Wind Report Description: Sheriff reported trees down on Calks Ferry road near Pond Branch road.

Wind Report Description: Sheriff reoprted trees down at Broad River road and Haviland Circle.

Wind Report Description: Dispatch reported a couple of trees and powerlines down on Mill Street and alson Hwy 97 near the land fill.

Wind Report Description: Sheriff reported trees blocking the road on Burning tree road and near Bush River road.

Wind Report Description: Dispatch reported trees down in Elgin and areas east toward Camden.

Wind Report Description: SKYWARN spotter reported some trees down in the Forest Acres area.

Wind Report Description: Sheriff reported trees blocking the roadway near Goodsprings road and Hwy 19.

Wind Report Description: Sheriff reported trees down along the 1500 block of Corley Mill road.

Wind Report Description: SKYWARN Spotters reoprted antennas and trees down across northern Richland county from southeast of Irmo to the Kershaw county line.

Wind Report Description: Dispatch reported a several trees down on Hwy 34 and Hwy 69.

Wind Report Description: Dispatch reported trees down around the Jenkinsville area.

Wind Report Description: Disparch reported trees and powerlines down from Newberry to Pomeria.

Wind Report Description: Dispatch reported trees and powerlines down countywide.

Wind Report Description: Dispatch reported a couple of trees down on the west end of the county on Garret road.

Wind Report Description: Dispatch reported a couple of trees down on Hwy 221.

Wind Report Description: Trees were blown down around the Ninety Six community, including along Louden Rd about 3 miles southwest of town, Gervais St in town and Watts Bridge Rd 2.5 miles north of town.

Wind Report Description: Dispatch reported a couple of trees down on Augusta Hwy southeast of Lincolnton.

Wind Report Description: Multiple trees were blown down in the Callison area, mainly along Callison Rd and County Line Rd.

Wind Report Description: Multiple trees were blown down along a swath from several miles southeast of Coleridge to several miles northwest of Harpers Crossroads. Also, a small section of tin was blown off of a barn roof and one a home on Glovers Church Road sustained minor damage from a downed tree. No damage estimate was available.

Wind Report Description: Several trees were uprooted and blown down along a swath from near Seagrove to near Coleridge. Also, a tree was blown down onto a home on Emmanuel Church Road near Seagrove. No damage estimate was available.

Wind Report Description: Two old barns were blown down and one home on Substation Road sustained minor damage.

Wind Report Description: The DeKalb County 911 Center reported that several power lines were downed on DeKalb Industrial Way and Lawrenceville Highway.

Tornado Report Description: This is a continuation of the tornado that occurred in Lowndes county. This tornado strengthened to EF3 status while in Lanier county with maximum winds estimated around 140 mph. The tornado entered Lanier county along Highway 122 near Barber Road and then impacted a property just north of 122 along Boyette Road. As the tornado approached Boyette Road, it was likely reaching maximum intensity. Radar reflectivity showed a signature known as a debris ball and gave forecasters high confidence that a tornado was in progress, despite an actual tornado not having been reported yet. The damage at the aforementioned location was severe. A mobile home was completely destroyed with debris scattered for hundreds of yards in many directions. This site was originally unrecognizable as a mobile home to the survey team. A few trees at the location were almost totally debarked. A one story residence also had some roof and window damage, a small grain silo was completely destroyed, and a large shed structure was completely destroyed with debris swept well away from the original location. Other things were noted around this location. There were quite a few instances of objects driven into the ground, including metal bars, gutters, branches, and other debris. There was some ground scouring noted, and many of the shrubs were ripped out of their original spots. Large debris was lofted for hundreds of yards including what appeared to be a hatch door from the missing grain silo, a door off of a chest freezer, and a mower and propane tank. The main part of the chest freezer was found across the street. Near the location of the large shed structure that was swept away, an electric meter was ripped out of the ground, and additional deep gouges were found in the ground. The tornado continued to the east-northeast, cutting a clear path through some dense forest in the swampland to the south of Highway 122 and to the west of Banks Lake. Around that time, the damage path began to narrow as the tornado approached the town of Lakeland. Once in Lakeland, the tornado largely caused damage to trees and vegetation, although some structures were impacted. A mobile home was completely destroyed, a nearby full shipping container was rolled about 50 feet, and some debris was driven through metal. Near the end of the tornado path it impacted the hospital in Lakeland, pushing a trailer away from its original location and damaging the ambulance station. Some antennas were also snapped at the hospital, and some damage was reported to the AC units on the roof. Damage in Lanier county was estimated at around $500,000.

Tornado Report Description: An NWS Storm Survey confirmed that an EF2 tornado occurred in Lowndes county, then moved into Lanier county where it strengthened into an EF3 with maximum winds around 140 mph. The path width was estimated to be around 390 yards wide with a path length in Lowndes county of slightly over 4 miles long. In Lowndes county, the tornado likely initially developed along Cat Creek Road. Several reports were received of funnels from this location while the event was ongoing. There was a house near Cat Creek Road that had uprooted trees on the property with one or two impacting the house. Trees were generally blown down to the northeast, although a street sign was bent to the ground facing to the northwest. A few trees were also blown down along a tree line across the road. At that point, the tornado entered a more heavily forested area with no access roads. However, an aerial flyover by emergency management confirmed sporadic tree damage and a continuous damage path in that area. After the tornado cleared this forested area, the damage path began to widen and the tornado damage increased in intensity. Along Arapaho Trail, about a half mile south of Highway 122, the first instance of EF2 damage occurred as a mobile home was completely destroyed with debris blown downstream, mainly into fencing on the property. Also in this location, a shed was completely destroyed, a camper was flipped, part of the roof of a house was removed, and a silo was destroyed with the debris found resting on the opposite side of the house from where it started. Debris from locations along Arapaho Trail were found well downstream, in some cases at least one third of a mile. Along the next cross street - Peters Road - mostly EF1 damage was observed with snapped and uprooted trees and some broken windows in houses. The survey team found a tree sitting on the ground with a root ball at the end, but could not locate the hole or source of the tree within at least several hundred yards. Along Peters Road gouges were observed in the ground as some debris began to impact the ground. As the tornado crossed Bemiss Road (Highway 125) near Walkers Crossing, the damage path began to reach its widest phase. The maximum width of the tornado was estimated to be around 390 yards or 0.22 miles based on the damage survey. Additional EF2 damage was observed on both sides of the road with wooden power poles snapped, hardwood trees snapped or uprooted, and several homes damaged. A second abandoned home was pushed six feet off the concrete foundation. Maximum winds along this part of Bemiss Road were estimated to be around 125 mph based on damage. Also near these homes, there were deep gouges in the ground, including this one that was close to 1 foot deep and 6 feet long. Large debris also continued to be found along the damage path, including strips of metal that were twisted around damaged trees. The tornado then continued east-northeast, crossing Highway 122 near Barber Road into Lanier county. The Lowndes county emergency manager estimated property damage for Lowndes county at around $250,000 with an additional $100,000 in crop damage from fallen pecan trees.

Tornado Report Description: Between 20 and 25 trees were blown down in a small area near the Bear Creek Educational Forest. The damage was consistent with an EF0 with maximum winds around 80 mph. A witness claims he saw the tornado. The tornado touched down in a rural area and no structural damage occurred.

Tornado Report Description: An NWS Storm Survey confirmed that an EF0 tornado touched down near Vada Road and moved northeastward with intermittent damage before lifting about 5 minutes later. An attached garage of a home was destroyed along with a farm equipment shed. A car was also flipped. Maximum winds were estimated around 80 mph. Monetary damage was estimated.

Tornado Report Description: An NWS storm survey confirms that an EF0 briefly touched down on Cooktown Road. Damage occurred to one home with the tin roof and front porch torn off. Several pine trees were also snapped and uprooted. Maximum winds were estimated around 85 mph with a width estimated around 25 yards. The path length was estimated to be approximately 0.25-0.30 miles. Monetary damage was estimated.

Tornado Report Description: An EF0 tornado touched down just west of Monticello road on the back end of Columbia International University then crossed the intersection of Houston Street and Bishopville Ave. Theo tornado continued with intermittent touchdown east to Patton Lane. Many trees and large branches were down, some which fell on a mobile home doing minor damage.

Tornado Report Description: This tornado moved into Cabarrus County from Mecklenburg County, south of Harrisburg and west of the Robinson Church Rd and Peach Orchard Rd intersection. The tornado affected several residential areas, damaging around 30 homes and destroying two homes which slid off their foundations. The tornado crossed Robinson Church Rd and Peach Orchard Rd, lifting just short of Hickory Ridge Rd.

Tornado Report Description: An NWS Storm Survey found the path of a strong tornado that developed rapidly over eastern portions of the Charlotte metro area during the early morning hours of March 3rd. The tornado touched down near the intersection of Dulin Creek Rd and Little Whiteoak Rd, moving just south of Plaza Rd extension. The tornado affected two subdivisions in Mecklenburg County. Four homes slid off their foundations and were completely destroyed. Twenty-nine homes were rendered uninhabitable from collapsed exterior walls. A total of 162 homes were damaged in the county. Four people were injured in this area. The tornado crossed I-485, just south of Plaza Rd Extension before moving into Cabarrus County. The total path length in Mecklenburg County was a little over 1.5 miles, while the maximum width was 200 yards.