S.C. Weekend Storms Damage Estimated at $10M

A series of violent storms that swept through South Carolina last weekend caused at least $10 million damage, according to the South Carolina Insurance News Service.

A survey by the news service, an industry group, shows at least 5,000 insurance claims have been made statewide as a result of rough weather spawned by a storm system that brought small tornadoes, hail and strong winds.

The average claims range between $2,000 and $3,000.

The strongest storms hit in the Lancaster and Rock Hill areas, as well as in Abbeville and the Midlands. There was also storm damage in the Lowcountry in Walterboro where trees and branches were knocked down.

The damages included homes and cars damaged by hail as well as trees down on homes and cars.

A tornado was reported on the ground near Bonneau in Berkeley County on Saturday, while earlier a funnel cloud was reported by police at Catawba in York County, and golf ball-sized hail was reported in Rock Hill, the National Weather Service said.

Winds were recorded at 60 mph and there was dime-sized hail on the east side of Lake Moultrie, while, across the state in Anderson County, several trees were split in half in Belton.