Tornado warning expires for Beaufort Co.; tornado in Allendale leaves damage in its wake
Tornado sirens sounded across Beaufort and Jasper counties as severe storms ripped through the area Tuesday evening, with some residents noting high winds, lightning, heavy rain and hail.
By 7 p.m., the tornado warning that had been issued for Beaufort, Port Royal, Burton and Ridgeland expired, according to a National Weather Service report. However, Beaufort County is still under a severe thunderstorm warning until 8 p.m., while parts of Georgia and South Carolina remained under a tornado watch until 9 p.m.
The tornado warning issued earlier for an area including Allendale, Sycamore and Ulmer has also been lifted.
High wind gusts will serve as the source of damage, the agency’s hazardous weather outlook said. Strong winds can inflict consequential damage to trees, mobile homes, roofs and cars. They can also cause widespread power outages.
According to PowerOutage.Us, nearly 8,000 South Carolina customers were without power at 7:15 p.m..
A special marine warning was issued by the National Weather Service for coastal waters from Edisto Beach to Savannah until 8:15 p.m. Severe thunderstorms can force wind gusts and overturn boats and create hazardous seas.
A “tornado emergency” was issued earlier in the day for Allendale County, the National Weather Service announced on its Twitter page. A tornado was spotted on the ground and heading toward Sycamore, South Carolina, the post said. Residents were advised to move to the lowest level of the building they are in away from windows, if possible.
Allendale is located about an hour northwest of Beaufort.
Meteorologists said there’s a destroyed mobile home, a demolished house at St. Marks Road and Bluff Road. Multiple trees and power lines were down in Allendale County Tuesday afternoon, according to a police dispatcher in the area. Multiple houses were “no longer in existence, they are gone,” they said. But there were no immediate reports of injuries.
Rain and thunderstorms were expected to move across the Lowcountry beginning around 1 p.m. and last through 5 p.m., bringing wind gusts of up to 30 mph, according to a National Weather Service report. But the main threat was from severe thunderstorms predicted in the area from 5 to 10 p.m., meteorologist Brittany MacNamara said. Those thunderstorms could bring wind gusts up to 60 mph.
The expected storms forced Beaufort County offices closed at 1 p.m. today, and all County Convenience Center will shut their gates at 2 p.m. Beaufort County schools also closed early, releasing students between 1:45-2:45 p.m.
Beaufort County had a projected 60% chance of rain, with up to a quarter-inch accumulation. By the evening, the chance of rain jumped to 90%. Earlier Tuesday, MacNamara said overall accumulation for the South Carolina southeast region will be between a half-inch and an inch.
On Wednesday, showers and thunderstorms were expected through the evening, with some thunderstorms becoming severe and causing damaging wind gusts and isolated tornadoes.
Tornado Safety
According to the National Weather Service, a tornado watch indicates twisters are possible in and around the area. The Storm Prediction Center issues watches for counties where tornadoes may touch down. Watch areas are generally broad, covering multiple counties and sometimes states.During a watch, the National Weather Service encourages people to discuss emergency plans, check supplies and a safe room.Supplies:
- Water
- Food, and pet food if applicable
- Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert
- Flashlight
- First aid kit
- Extra batteries
- Whistle (to signal for help)
- Dust mask (to help filter contaminated air)
- Plastic sheeting and duct tape (to shelter in place)
- Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties (for personal sanitation)
- Wrench or pliers (to turn off utilities)
- Manual can opener (for food)
- Local maps
- Cell phone with chargers and a backup battery
A tornado warning? Take action. A warning means a twister has been sighted or shown on weather radar, meaning there is imminent danger to life and property, according to the National Weather Service. For safety, move to an interior room on the lowest floor in a sturdy building. Do not go near windows. If a person is in a mobile home, inside a vehicle or outside, seek the closet shelter and find protection against flying debris. Local forecast offices issue warnings, which generally are in small areas –- about the size of a city or small county.
- Get as low as you can.
- Put as many walls between yourself and the outside as possible.
- Avoid windows
- Do not wait to seek shelter until you see or hear the tornado.
- Do not take time to open or close windows and doors. It will not protect the structure.
- In homes or public buildings, go to the basement or a small interior room. Close all doors to the hallway. Get under something sturdy such as a heavy table.
- Protect yourself from flying debris with pillows, heavy coats or blankets.
- Use a helmet to protect your head.
- In mobile homes, leave in advance of the approaching severe weather and go to a strong building. If there is no shelter close, get into the nearest ditch, low spot or underground culvert. Lie flat and cover your head with your hands for protection.
- In vehicles or outdoors, when tornadoes are possible, limit your outdoor plans or finish them early. Stay close to a sturdy shelter.
- If outside, find shelter in a ditch or remain in your vehicle and cover your head for protection.
- Do not take shelter under a highway overpass. Wind speeds can increase due to a tunneling effect.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
This story was originally published April 5, 2022 at 9:41 AM with the headline "Tornado warning expires for Beaufort Co.; tornado in Allendale leaves damage in its wake."
