EF3 Tornado — Barnwell, South Carolina

2020-04-13 · near Snelling, Barnwell, South Carolina

Event narrative

Sentinel Satellite Data from April 13, 2020 clearly showed a damage scar beginning at the western edge of Parr Pond in the Savannah River Site and ending near the intersection of Highway 278 and State Road 21. A tornadic debris signature detected by the KCAE radar aligns with the damage scar. A ground survey also indicated a few trees down just off a field on the eastern side of Fellowship Road as the tornado dissipated. Based off of the above information and correspondence with a Savannah River Site official, it is estimated that winds reached EF-3 strength, with speeds up to 138 mph.

Wider weather episode

A squall line rolled through the region during the early morning hours of April 13, 2020. Strong instability and shear led to numerous severe thunderstorm wind gusts along with several tornadoes. In total, across central SC, there were 5 EF-3 tornadoes, 1 EF-2 tornadoes, and 1 EF-1 tornado. Two fatalities, and several injuries, occurred with the tornadoes.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (33.2754, -81.5438)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 884325. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.