NEWBERRY COUNTY, S.C. — A storm survey team from the National Weather Service in Columbia has confirmed an EF-2 tornado in northeastern Newberry County, the strongest rating issued from the weekend storms that soaked the county.
The tornado touched down at about 6:05 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 11, near the intersection of Old Blair Road and Henderson Ferry Road, roughly 2 miles west-southwest of Blair. It then followed Old Blair Road toward the northeast, snapping and uprooting hardwood and pine trees along the way.
Surveyors estimated peak winds of 115 mph as the tornado neared the Broad River. Much of the forested area along Old Blair Road was destroyed, and falling trees brought down several power poles. The tornado lifted just before reaching the Broad River.
At one home off Old Blair Road, several large pines were snapped or uprooted around the property and a small camper was flipped. Newberry County Sheriff Lee Foster said the home itself had only minor damage, that no 911 calls came from the area, and that there were no significant injuries.
The sheriff said the area is sparsely populated and includes game-management land and part of the Sumter National Forest. A Department of Natural Resources wildlife officer first reported what looked like tornado damage. County public works crews have cleared trees and branches from county-maintained roads.
Heavy rain fell across the county through the weekend, with 5 to 7 inches in some areas, according to the sheriff. Little Mountain Fire and Rescue pulled one driver from a flooded creek, and that person was not hurt.