News Summary
On June 9, a powerful EF-1 tornado hit Lake Murray, South Carolina, with peak winds of 95 mph. The tornado, which lasted approximately six minutes and traveled six miles, uprooted numerous trees but thankfully resulted in no injuries. A follow-up tornado was confirmed on June 11, further highlighting the region’s severe weather history. Local officials are assessing the damage and reinforcing preparedness among residents as they monitor for more severe weather.
Lake Murray, South Carolina experienced an EF-1 tornado on June 9, 2025, with peak wind speeds reaching 95 mph. The tornado touched down shortly after 8:40 p.m. and was on the ground for approximately six minutes, traveling a distance of six miles before dissipating.
The tornado’s path began just north of Lake Murray near Caro Lane. It then moved northeastward, crossing Chapin Road and U.S. Highway 76 before dissipating south of Interstate 26. Fortunately, no injuries were reported due to the tornado, which uprooted and snapped several dozen trees along its path.
On the evening of June 9, social media was abuzz with sightings of a potential tornado, prompting the National Weather Service to issue warnings for the region. Meteorologist Steve LaVoie reported that tornadoes of this scale are not uncommon in the Lake Murray area, typically occurring several times each year. The June 9 event was part of a series of severe weather occurrences that affected the region in the days leading up to the tornado.
Following the incident, the National Weather Service began an investigation to determine if additional damage from the storms was tornado-related. Thankfully, forecasts for the following days did not indicate any severe thunderstorms, apart from typical summer storm activity.
The area had experienced severe weather previously, including a significant waterspout generated by a similar storm system in July 2024. This history of severe weather adds context to the recent tornado activity.
Further compounding the situation, a second tornado was confirmed over Lake Murray on June 11, 2025, with estimated wind speeds of 90 mph. This tornado originated near Dreher Island and caused similar tree damage in the vicinity of Lake Estate Drive in Chapin. Its path extended northeast into the Timberlake community, where EF-0 to low-end EF-1 damage was recorded. The most concentrated damage appeared near Isle of Pines Road, indicating the tornado was approximately 125 yards wide at its largest point.
As this tornado traveled, it caused tree damage from Indian Cove Road to Wessinger Road, dissipating before it could reach Indian Fork Road. The length of this tornado’s path was documented at 5.8 miles. Despite the destruction caused by these tornadoes, thankfully, there have been no reported injuries following either event.
The presence of these tornadoes underscores the importance of preparedness and awareness for residents in and around Lake Murray, especially given the region’s propensity for such severe weather occurrences. As investigations continue, local officials and meteorologists will monitor the situation closely to ensure community safety and to provide information about any potentially related weather developments.
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Confirmed EF-1 Tornado Causes Damage Along Lake Murray
Chapin Tornado Causes Significant Damage to Local Areas
Chapin, SC Prepares for Cleanup After EF-1 Tornado
Chapin, SC Struck by EF-1 Tornado: A Night to Remember
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Additional Resources
- WLTX
- Wikipedia: Tornado
- WACH
- Google Search: Lake Murray tornado
- The State
- Google Scholar: tornado Lake Murray
- KOCO
- Encyclopedia Britannica: tornadoes
- Fox Carolina
- Google News: tornado South Carolina
Author: STAFF HERE Chapin
CHAPIN STAFF WRITER The CHAPIN STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREchapin.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Chapin, Lexington County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Chapin Christmas Parade, Fourth of July Celebration, and the Chapin Fall Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Chapin Chamber of Commerce and the Lexington School District One, plus leading businesses in retail and recreation that power the local economy such as Lake Murray Tourism and the Chapin Visitor Information. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREaiken.com, HEREbeaufort.com, HEREchapin.com, HEREcharleston.com, HEREclinton.com, HEREcolumbia.com, HEREgeorgetown.com, HEREgreenwood.com, HEREgreenville.com, HEREhiltonhead.com, HEREirmo.com, HEREmyrtlebeach.com, HEREnewberry.com, HERErockhill.com, HEREspartanburg.com, HEREaustin.com, HEREcollegestation.com, HEREdallas.com, HEREhouston.com, and HEREsanantonio.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into South Carolina's dynamic landscape.
