NOUS42 KCHS 162303
PNSCHS
GAZ087-088-099>101-114>119-137>141-SCZ040-042>045-047>051-172300-

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
700 PM EDT MON APR 16 2007

...NWS STORM SURVEY CONFIRMS THREE TORNADOES IN COLLETON COUNTY ON 
SUNDAY MORNING APRIL 15TH...

A TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN 1.5 MILES SOUTH OF ISLANDTON AROUND 938 AM 
AND TRAVELED NORTHEAST 1 MILE BEFORE LIFTING. THE TORNADO WAS UP TO 
60 YARDS WIDE AND SNAPPED OFF OR UPROOTED HUNDREDS OF 
TRESS...DESTROYED A LARGE FRAMED BARN WITH DEBRIS SPREAD OVER A HALF 
MILE TO THE NORTHEAST. SEVERAL LARGE 2X4S AND 4X6S FROM THE BARN 
WERE PROJECTED INTO THE ROOF OF THE HOUSE. A LARGE OBJECT HIT THE 
HOUSE...BREAKING OUT THREE WINDOWS AND KNOCKING SOME OF THE BRICKS 
LOOSE. SIDING WAS ALSO TORN FROM THE HOUSE. THE RESIDENTS OF THE 
HOUSE FOUND REFUGE IN AN INTERIOR BATHROOM. THE RESIDENTS ALSO 
REPORTED THAT ALL WATER FROM THE TOILETS WAS SUCKED OUT. A LARGE 
8000 POUND HORSE TRAILER WAS LIFTED UP AND CARRIED THROUGH THE AIR 
FOR ABOUT 500 FEET BEFORE BEING DEPOSITED INTO A LINE OF TREES. IN 
ADDITION...AN 800 POUND GRAIN WAGON WAS LIFTED UP AND CARRIED 400 
FEET BEFORE LANDING ON THE GROUND. A BASS BOAT WAS FLIPPED OVER AND 
A 4 WHEELER WAS DAMAGED. OTHER TRACTORS AND FARM EQUIPMENT WERE 
DAMAGED. THIS TORNADO TOPPLED A TREE ONTO A MOBILE HOME...DAMAGING 
IT. FLYING DEBRIS SLIGHTLY INJURED TWO HORSES. THE TORNADO HAD 
MAXIMUM WIND SPEED ESTIMATED TO BE NEAR 110 MPH...WHICH PLACES IT AT 
THE UPPER END OF THE F1 CATEGORY USING THE ENHANCED FUJITA SCALE. 
HOWEVER...ONCE IT IS DETERMINED THE WIND SPEEDS NEEDED TO CARRY THE 
HORSE TRAILER AND THE GRAIN WAGON...IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE WIND 
SPEED ESTIMATES AND THE EF SCALE RATING MAY BE RAISED.

THE SAME STORM PRODUCED A SECOND TORNADO THAT TOUCHED DOWN AROUND 
941 AM NEAR ROUTE 63 ABOUT 1.5 MILES EAST SOUTHEAST OF ISLANDTON. 
THIS TORNADO TRAVELED NORTHEAST ABOUT 1/2 MILE AND CARRIED TWO EMPTY 
GRAIN SILOS ABOUT 100 FEET...SNAPPED OFF OR UPROOTED DOZENS OF 
TREES...DESTROYED A LARGE PORTION OF AN OUTBUILDING...AND SEVERELY 
INJURED A DOG. THIS TORNADO WAS ABOUT 30 YARDS WIDE AND HAD MAXIMUM 
WIND SPEEDS ESTIMATED TO BE 95 MPH. USING THE ENHANCED FUJITA 
SCALE...THIS PLACES THIS TORNADO IN THE F1 CATEGORY.

THE SAME STORM PRODUCED A THIRD TORNADO THAT INITIALLY TOUCHED DOWN 
NEAR 944 AM ABOUT 3 MILES SOUTH SOUTHWEST OF RUFFIN AND TRAVELED 
NORTHEAST ABOUT 2 MILES SPORADICALLY TOUCHING DOWN ALONG THE WAY. 
THIS TORNADO OVERTURNED 3 MOBILE HOMES...INJURING 9 PEOPLE...SHIFTED 
ANOTHER 7 MOBILES HOMES OFF THEIR FOUNDATION...TORE THE SKIRTING 
AWAY FROM ANOTHER MOBILE HOME...DESTROYED A STORAGE SHED WITH A GOOD 
PORTION OF IT LANDING 50 YARDS AWAY AND SNAPPED OFF OR UPROOTED 
DOZENS OF TREES. A COUPLE OF TREES FELL ON A HOUSE...DAMAGING IT. A 
VEHICLE AND AN OUTBUILDING WERE ALSO DAMAGED. ALL OF THE INJURIES 
WERE MINOR. THIS TORNADO WAS UP TO 80 YARDS WIDE AND HAD MAXIMUM 
WINDS ESTIMATED TO BE AROUND 100 MPH. USING THE ENHANCED FUJITA 
SCALE...THIS PLACES THIS TORNADO IN THE F1 CATEGORY.

$$

MTE