Thousands of turkeys killed after storm hits SC farm near Clover in possible tornado
York County officials are looking at farm damage from Monday near Clover to determine if the area was hit by a tornado or straight line winds.
The damage to the farm off S.C. 55 near Clover left at least 2,000 turkeys dead, according to WBTV, The Herald’s news partner.
A tornado warning was issued for York County by the National Weather Service around 12:45 p.m. Monday. York County tornado warning sirens were activated around 12:50 p.m.
Members of the Biggers family that own the farm told WBTV they heard the sirens, then saw the storm clouds before the barns were damaged. The family lost a few thousand turkeys out of about 24,000 birds on the farm, WBTV reported.
The damage happened south of the North Carolina state line.
Damage video pic.twitter.com/3uESJwndjz
— Brad Panovich (@wxbrad) May 4, 2021
York County Emergency Management Director Chuck Haynes said Tuesday night county officials received information on the farm damage early Tuesday but still had not met with the farm’s owners.
No one was hurt, Haynes said.
“It is clear there was damage but it is not clear if there was a tornado or straight line winds,” Haynes said.
Straight line winds come out of thunderstorms, according to the National Weather Service.
The weather service told York County officials Tuesday morning they may send a team to survey the damage Wednesday. Weather service teams were in western South Carolina near Georgia Tuesday for a confirmed tornado that touched down near Abbeville, Haynes said Tuesday night.
more video from tornado damage Clover, SC pic.twitter.com/QBIVbc9lvu
— Brad Panovich (@wxbrad) May 4, 2021
Video and pictures posted on the National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg office Twitter account show the damage at the farm near Clover.
Before and after tornado damage west of Clover, sc yesterday. pic.twitter.com/viGyLQ1CmY
— Brad Panovich (@wxbrad) May 4, 2021
WCNC-TV meteorologist Brad Panovich reported on Twitter Tuesday that the damage may have been a tornado but he did not confirm there was a tornado.
Likely tornado hitting a farm on the west side of Clover, SC today around 1pm. The farm had lots of damage. #scwx @NWSGSP via Robby Glenn pic.twitter.com/jeaZagnrhx
— Brad Panovich (@wxbrad) May 4, 2021
Tuesday had storms again, power out
More than 2,700 customers in York County lost power for periods of time Tuesday afternoon, after a second set of storms passed through Rock Hill, Fort Mill, Tega Cay, and York, officials said.
Check back for updates on this developing story.
