EF1 Tornado — Fairfield, South Carolina

2024-05-09 · near Smallwood, Fairfield, South Carolina

Event narrative

A National Weather Service storm survey team confirmed an EF-1 tornado with peak winds of 100 mph in southeastern Fairfield County during the early morning hours of May 9th. The tornado likely began west of Interstate 77 near Exit 32. The tornado

moved generally southeast producing downed large limbs along

Cook Road and Boney Road, intensifying as it moved into a

wooded area along Cedar Rock Road. The area of most significant

tree damage was observed along a creek bed north of Cedar

Rock Road with numerous uprooted and snapped trees. One tree

landed on a home on Cedar Rock Road causing roof, siding, and

gutter damage. The tornado continued along Cedar Rock Road causing

intermittent tree damage. The tornado continued beyond the road and

into a wooded area behind The Farm at Ridgeway where additional

tree damage occurred near a pond on the property. The tornado likely

lifted on the property prior to reaching Highway 21.

Wider weather episode

A significant severe weather event featuring multiple rounds of thunderstorms occurred on May 9th, 2024. The first round, a QLCS, produced three tornadoes in the Midlands of South Carolina.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (34.2700, -81.0000)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1170111. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.