EF0 Tornado — Barnwell, South Carolina

2025-03-16 · near Barnwell Co Arpt, Barnwell, South Carolina

Event narrative

A National Weather Service storm survey determined that an EF-0 tornado touched down between Snelling and Barnwell, SC with peak winds of 80 mph. The short-lived tornado began in the Sweetwater Country Club, between Fairway Lane and Club House Lane, and moved to the northeast. The tornado uprooted at least 5 large pine trees and snapped several large branches before dissipating around Dunbarton Blvd.

Wider weather episode

A surface low drifted into Great Lakes region with a cold front and line of convection nearing the forecast area by the early morning hours. Very strong shear dominated throughout the event with instability rather meager. The line of convection moved across the area from the west between 11z and 18-19z, bringing multiple reports of straight line wind damage, an EF-0 tornado in Barnwell County and an EF-1 tornado near Lake Murray in Lexington County.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (33.2373, -81.4195)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1232783. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.