EF1 Tornado — Laurens, South Carolina

2023-01-12 · near Joanna, Laurens, South Carolina

Event narrative

NWS storm survey found the path of an EF1 tornado that touched down near the center of Joanna, damaging a car wash and fire station garage door. The tornado traveled northeast on a broken path through Joanna, causing sporadic minor damage as it crossed Hawkins Cir, Shady Grove Rd, E Frontage Rd. The tornado intensified around Renno Rd, where numerous large trees were snapped or uprooted, some down on houses. The tornado continued northeast, crossing Highway 72, where additional large trees were downed. The tornado appeared to lift just past Highway 72.

Wider weather episode

A line of heavy rain showers and thunderstorms moved across upstate South Carolina during the afternoon and evening in advance of a cold front. Embedded severe thunderstorms resulted in areas of damaging wind gusts and even a couple of weak tornadoes.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (34.4120, -81.8150)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1079282. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.