Surprise Tornadoes Strike South Carolina During Hurricane Helene

Last month, the Midlands region of South Carolina experienced a sudden outbreak of tornadoes as Hurricane Helene hit. With at least six twisters confirmed and more possibly on the way, residents were caught off guard. Initially, people expected severe flooding to be the main threat from this storm. Across the state, over 60 tornado warnings were issued. This powerful hurricane made landfall in Florida as a Category 4 storm with wind speeds up to 140 miles per hour. Despite the strong winds and resulting damage, the tornadoes fortunately caused only minor harm.One notable EF-1 tornado was confirmed near Cordova, southwest of Orangeburg, causing damage to trees and homes in its path. Similar tornadoes were also reported in Bamberg and east of Woodford in Calhoun County. In addition, three EF-0 tornadoes were confirmed: one in the Wedgefield/Shaw Air Force Base area, another near Branchville in Orangeburg County, and a third near Bowman. While these tornadoes didn't cause major destruction, they served as a stark reminder that severe weather can be unpredictable. As the storm eased, parts of South Carolina remained under flood warnings due to rising river levels.