Thunderstorm Wind — Dorchester, South Carolina

2024-06-10 · near Slandsville, Dorchester, South Carolina

Event narrative

A National Weather Service Storm Survey Team confirmed straight-line thunderstorm wind damage with an estimated maximum wind speed of 80 to 85 mph along a path approximately 8.75 miles long and 3.5 miles wide beginning in east-central Dorchester County at 642 PM, then tracking across extreme western Charleston County starting at 645 PM, before ending across west-central Berkeley County at 658 PM.

In Dorchester County, the survey team found isolated to scattered damage across areas starting around Bacons Bridge Road to Old Trolley Road, following a general path east-northeast through southern and eastern portions of Summerville. Most of this damage consisted of large softwood trees snapped and uprooted and some hardwood tree limbs snapped. One area of extensive damage occurred around the Quail Arbor Neighborhood off Old Trolley Road, where both soft and hardwood trees were observed to have snapped near the trunks, some of which fell on residences and vehicles. Further east along the path of damage, a Dorchester County emergency manager indicated numerous trees snapped off or blown down within four neighborhoods between Old Trolley Road and Miles Jamison Road. The path of damage then continued into the extreme western portion of Charleston County starting at 645 PM. Based on the uniform damage direction (north to northeast), a strong downburst producing straight-line winds was determined to be the cause of the event.

Wider weather episode

Mid-level shortwave energy approaching the region along with a nearly stationary cold front across the area provided ample forcing within an environment displaying strong instability, deep moisture, ample shear and very strong downdraft CAPE, leading to strong and severe thunderstorms capable of producing large hail and damaging winds across Southeast South Carolina. A notable supercell thunderstorm developed near the Savannah River during the afternoon and tracked northeast through the Tri-County Area during early evening hours, producing a long and wide swath of damaging winds and large hail across inland portions of the Charleston Metro Area.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (32.9792, -80.1973)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1197189. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.