EF3 tornado in Bamberg County, South Carolina

A National Weather Service survey team confirmed a EF3 tornado that began in eastern Allendale County and then moved into Bamberg County near the intersection of Hwy 321 and Hwy 301. The tornado then crossed into Orangeburg county just north of Hwy 78. In Bamberg county the tornado moved through a large forest of mostly softwood pine, with hardwood oaks in the forest for some stretch. As it approached Popeye Rd, the tornado strengthened into a strong EF3 with winds

estimated at 160 mph. Remarkable damage was done to both softwoods and

hardwoods in this forest, with an estimated 2 miles of 80-100% forest

blowdown. In a particularly intense section, the tornado scoured the

ground and stripped pine needles off of young pine trees. Additionally,

many younger pine trees in this area were debarked and delimbed. On

either side of this were sections of pine and oak that had been snapped

low, at or below 5 feet, to the ground. Strong EF3 damage is estimated

to have continued from Popeye Road across Kirkland Creek and then

towards Wild Flower Road in Bamberg County. From here, the tornado

weakened a bit as it approached Alligator road. The tornado was near

its peak width at this time, then striking a more residential area along

Carver road. Here, one mobile home was completely destroyed, with a home

having its roof completely removed and some partial wall collapses. On

either side of the center of the track, other homes sustained different

degrees of damage to their roofs and siding. The tornado continued

northeastward and maintained EF2 strength, primarily causing damage

to trees. Much of the damage on Macedonia Church Rd was from trees

falling on homes. The tornado showed signs of weakening by this point

as it approached Orangeburg county, and it is distinctly possible that

there were multiple weak vortexes impacting only the tops of trees. EF0

and weak EF1 damage was noted until the county line with Orangeburg.

An upper level disturbance and the interaction of surface boundaries, along with increasing moisture, led to thunderstorms that developed and moved east across the region during the afternoon. Sufficient atmospheric instability and shear led some of the thunderstorms to produce damaging wind and tornadoes, along with locally heavy rain.