2019 Lexington Halloween Tornado

Areas of Excessive Rainfall and Severe Thunderstorms for Friday

Heavy to excessive rainfall may produce areas of flooding Friday and Friday night from central Texas into the lower Mississippi Valley. Scattered strong to severe thunderstorms are expected from central Texas to middle Tennessee and central Kentucky Friday afternoon into early Friday night. Large hail and damaging winds are the main threats. Read More >

Public Information Statement... National Weather Service Columbia SC 504 PM EDT Fri Nov 1 2019 ...NWS DAMAGE SURVEY FOR 10/31/2019 TORNADO EVENT... ...Multiple Touchdowns EF1 Tornado Lexington County... ...Tornadoes Touch Down Three Times In Just Over 8 Miles from Same Supercell... ...Touchdown near Roy Steele Road and Crosby Road... Start Location...2 NE Gilbert in Lexington County SC End Location...3 NE Gilbert in Lexington County SC Date...10/31/2019 Estimated Time...05:59 PM EDT Maximum EF-Scale Rating...EF1 Estimated Maximum Wind Speed...95 mph Maximum Path Width...50 yards Path Length...1.14 miles Beginning Lat/Lon...33.9355 / -81.3702 Ending Lat/Lon...33.9427 / -81.3526 * Fatalities...0 * Injuries...0 ...Summary... A tornado touched down near the intersection of Roy Steele Road and Crosby Road just northeast of the town of Gilbert. It moved quickly to the northeast at nearly 50 mph. It ended near the intersection of Drawbill Road and Austin McCartha Road. Much of the damage was confined to trees that were both hardwood and softwood. The tornado downed large tree limbs, uprooted a tree and snapped a couple of soft wood trees approximately 20 to 30 feet off the ground. The strong winds blew a piece of sheet metal that wrapped itself around a tree trunk. ..Touchdown between Olde Farm Road and Rabbit Road... Start Location...5 WNW Red Bank in Lexington County SC End Location...4 WSW Lexington in Lexington County SC Date...10/31/2019 Estimated Time...06:02 PM EDT Maximum EF-Scale Rating...EF1 Estimated Maximum Wind Speed...95 mph Maximum Path Width...100.0 yards Path Length...0.47 miles Beginning Lat/Lon...33.9596 / -81.3109 Ending Lat/Lon...33.9634 / -81.3041 * Fatalities...0 * Injuries...0 ...Summary... This is the location of the most widespread tree damage and strongest winds. The tornado once again touched down near Clinton Sease Farms along Olde Farm Road. The tornado continued northeast and uprooted and snapped nearly two dozen trees between Olde Farm Road and Rabbit Road. A small wood building at the farm lost a good portion of its metal roof. The tornado ended just as it crossed Rabbit Road. ..Brief Touchdown near the intersection of Dreher Street and Harmon Street... Start Location...Lexington in Lexington County SC End Location...Lexington in Lexington County SC Date...10/31/2019 Estimated Time...06:09 PM EDT Maximum EF-Scale Rating...EF0 Estimated Maximum Wind Speed...85 mph Maximum Path Width...50.0 yards Path Length...0.07 miles Beginning Lat/Lon...33.9873 / -81.2306 Ending Lat/Lon...33.9879 / -81.2297 * Fatalities...0 * Injuries...0 ...Summary... The final touchdown occurred near the Lexington Middle School near the intersection of Dreher Street and Harmon Street. A large hardwood tree broke and took down a power line. A small hardwood tree was snapped about 30 feet off the ground. There were several large limbs that came down on a power line along Harmon Street. Portions of a wooden fence were blown over behind a home along Dreher Street. EF Scale: The Enhanced Fujita Scale classifies tornadoes into the following categories: EF0...Weak......65 to 85 mph EF1...Weak......86 to 110 mph EF2...Strong....111 to 135 mph EF3...Strong....136 to 165 mph EF4...Violent...166 to 200 mph EF5...Violent...>200 mph * The information in this statement is preliminary and subject to change pending final review of the events and publication in NWS Storm Data. $$ LCV/CL