Alert archive / South Carolina / Flash Flood Warnings in 2005
Flash Flood Warning 6, NWS Charleston, SC
NWS Charleston, SC issued this flash flood warning at May 17, 2005, 4:47 PM EDT for Beaufort County, South Carolina. It was in force for 88 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The outline as issued.
The facts
- Issued
- May 17, 2005, 4:47 PM EDT (20:47 UTC)
- Expired
- May 17, 2005, 6:15 PM EDT
- In force
- 88 min
- Issued by
- NWS Charleston, SC
- Area
- Counties, with a storm outline in the text
County Beaufort County, SC
The radar
The Charleston,SC radar (KCLX), 163 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:48 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.
Open the radar archive at this moment
The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.
Did it verify
Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this flash flood warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.
Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.
The nearest sounding before it
Charleston AFB, SC (KCHS), launched 12:00Z, 8.8 hours before the alert went out and 109 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 1363 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -5 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 622 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 22 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 45 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 95 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.9
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
000 WGUS52 KCHS 172048 FFWCHS SCC013-172215- BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED FLASH FLOOD WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC 447 PM EDT TUE MAY 17 2005 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CHARLESTON HAS ISSUED A * FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR... BEAUFORT COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA * UNTIL 615 PM EDT * AT 444 PM EDT...RADAR INDICATED VERY HEAVY RAIN OCCURRING FROM A THUNDERSTORMS HAD ALREADY PRODUCED 2 TO 4 INCHES OF RAIN ACROSS PARTS OF BEAUFORT COUNTY. AN ADDITIONAL 2 INCHES OF RAIN IS EXPECTED OVER THE NEXT HOUR WHICH COMBINED WITH HIGH TIDE MAY PRODUCE FLOODING. * FLASH FLOODING IS EXPECTED IN AND AROUND... FOLLY FIELD AND HILTON HEAD ISLAND... EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM THESE STORMS WILL CAUSE RAPID FLOODING OF ROADWAYS...SMALL CREEKS AND STREAMS...LOW-LYING AREAS AND DITCHES. TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT FLOODING...PLEASE CONTACT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CHARLESTON TOLL FREE AT 1-888-383-2024. LAT...LON 3235 8082 3217 8086 3142 7748 3186 7736 $$
1 follow-up statement
000 WGUS72 KCHS 172145 FFSCHS FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC 545 PM EDT TUE MAY 17 2005 SCC013-172215- BEAUFORT- 545 PM EDT TUE MAY 17 2005 ...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 615 PM EDT FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY... AT 538 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED THAT THE HEAVIEST RAIN WAS PUSHING OFF THE BEAUFORT COUNTY COAST. SEVERAL REPORTS OF FLOODING HAVE BEEN RECEIVED FROM AN ESTIMATED 3 TO 5 INCHES OF RAIN THIS AFTERNOON. A GENERAL DECREASING TREND IN THE RAIN WILL CONTINUE AND THE WARNING SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO EXPIRE AS SCHEDULED AT 615 PM EDT. TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT FLOODING...PLEASE CONTACT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CHARLESTON TOLL FREE AT 1-888-383-2024 OR EMAIL YOUR REPORTS TO CHS.SKYWARN@NOAA.GOV. LAT...LON 3235 8082 3217 8086 3142 7748 3186 7736 $$ SCW
What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this flash flood warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Charleston, SC wrote its last area forecast discussion before this flash flood warning went out at May 17, 4:03 PM EDT, 44 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, May 17, 4:03 PM EDT, 44 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC 403 PM EDT TUE MAY 17 2005 .SHORT TERM /TONIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/...CURRENTLY AT THE SURFACE...COASTAL TROUGH REMAINS IN PLACE ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA...WITH NUMEROUS OTHER BOUNDARIES INTERACTING TO KEEP CONVECTION GOING. MAIN SHORT TERM CONCERNS FOR THE OVERNIGHT REVOLVE AROUND POPS...AND FOG POTENTIAL. TONIGHT...EXPECT CONVECTION WILL DWINDLE SHORTLY AFTER SUNSET WITH LOSS OF DIURNAL HEATING. WILL KEEP HIGHEST POPS ACROSS INTERIOR SC ZONES...AND LOWEST POPS ALONG THE IMMEDIATE COAST WHERE SEA BREEZE PASSAGE WILL STABILIZE THE ENVIRONMENT. STILL SOME WEAK FORCING AROUND AFTER MIDNIGHT...AND PER COORDINATION WITH SURROUNDING OFFICES WILL INCLUDE SLIGHT CHANCE POPS. AS FOR FOG POTENTIAL...MODEL SOUNDINGS AND TIME SECTIONS INDICATE ABUNDANT LOW LEVEL MOISTURE AND POTENTIAL FOR FOG/STRATUS FORMATION. GEOSTROPHIC WINDS REMAIN 10 KT OR LESS OVERNIGHT...AND WITH SKIES GRADUALLY CLEARING OUT AND RAIN THAT FELL TODAY...FOG LOOKS LIKE A PRETTY GOOD BET. WILL INCLUDE AREAS OF FOG IN THE FORECAST AFTER MIDNIGHT. WEDNESDAY...SEA BREEZE DEVELOPMENT EXPECTED ONCE AGAIN IN THE AFTERNOON...WITH PLENTY OF INSTABILITY IN PLACE FOR CONVECTIVE DEVELOPMENT. BELIEVE WITH LINGERING COASTAL TROUGH IN PLACE AND SEA BREEZE AIDING CONVERGENCE...THAT CHANCE POPS ARE WARRANTED FOR ENTIRE CWA. WITH ONSHORE FLOW DEVELOPING BY LATE MORNING/EARLY AFTERNOON...COULD SEE BETTER DEVELOPMENT ACROSS INTERIOR ZONES AND LESS ACTIVITY ALONG THE COAST. WILL KEEP HIGHEST CHANCE POPS ACROSS INTERIOR ZONES...WITH SMALLER CHANCE POPS ALONG THE IMMEDIATE COAST. WEDNESDAY NIGHT...SHOULD SEE CONVECTION END IN THE EVENING WITH LOSS OF DIURNAL HEATING. WILL KEEP CHANCE POPS GOING IN THE EVENING...AND GO DRY AFTER MIDNIGHT AS HIGH PRESSURE FINALLY BEGINS TO BUILD INTO THE FORECAST AREA...SHIFTING COASTAL TROUGH OUT TO SEA. && .LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE SOUTHEAST WILL DOMINATE THE WEATHER UNTIL FRIDAY WHEN ANOTHER BACKDOOR COLD FRONT PUSHES INTO THE CAROLINAS. FRONT IS EXPECTED TO LINGER JUST NORTH OF THE AREA THROUGH LATE SATURDAY BEFORE MOVING SOUTH OF THE CWFA SUNDAY. THIS WILL BRING AN INCREASED CHANCE OF CONVECTION ALONG THE FRONT...ESPECIALLY FRIDAY AND SATURDAY. HAVE TAPERED POPS BACK BY SUNDAY AFTERNOON AS FRONT CLEARS THE AREA AND MEAN FLOW BECOMES LIGHT. COLD FRONT APPROACHES THE AREA MONDAY NIGHT...SO WILL KEEP CHANCE POPS STARTING MONDAY. KEPT TEMPS CLOSE TO HPC GUIDANCE. && .MARINE /TONIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/...COASTAL TROUGH WILL CONTINUE TO MEANDER ACROSS COASTAL SC AND GA THROUGH THE PERIOD. EXPECT LIGHT WINDS 10 KT OR LESS THROUGH THE PERIOD...WITH SEAS AROUND 2 FT ACROSS THE COASTAL WATERS AND 2 TO 3 FT ACROSS THE OUTER GA WATERS. THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY...RELATIVELY WEAK PRESSURE PATTERN TO START THE PERIOD BUT INCREASING FLOW FROM THE NORTHEAST BY FRIDAY NIGHT AS RIDGE BUILDS DOWN THE COAST AND COASTAL GRADIENT INCREASES. A BRIEF BOUT OF 15-20 KTS IS POSSIBLE SATURDAY AFTERNOON...THEN AS RIDGE AXIS SHIFTS OVER THE WATERS...WINDS AND SEAS WILL AGAIN BE LOW. WITH APPROACH OF TUESDAY/S COLD FRONT...WILL SEE A TIGHTER GRADIENT WITH SWLY FLOW...BUT LITTLE FETCH FOR INCREASED SEAS. && .AVIATION...SHOULD SEE CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY END THIS EVENING WITH LOSS OF DIURNAL HEATING. WILL KEEP CB IN THE FORECAST AND BKN035 CIGS THROUGH AROUND 00Z...WHEN THINGS SHOULD SCATTER OUT. ATTENTION THEN TURNS TO FOG POTENTIAL FOR THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. MODEL SOUNDINGS AND TIME SECTIONS INDICATE ABUNDANT LOW LEVEL MOISTURE AND POTENTIAL FOR FOG/STRATUS FORMATION. GEOSTROPHIC WINDS REMAIN 10 KT OR LESS OVERNIGHT...AND WITH SKIES CLEARING OUT AND PLENTY OF RAIN TODAY...FOG LOOKS LIKE A PRETTY GOOD BET. WILL INCLUDE AREAS OF FOG IN THE FORECAST AFTER MIDNIGHT. COULD ALSO SEE SOME ADVECTION OF STRATUS OFF THE ATLANTIC OVERNIGHT AS WINDS SHIFT TO THE NORTHEAST...BRINGING WARMER AIR IN OFF THE GULF STREAM OVER COOLER ATLANTIC WATERS. && .CHS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... GA...NONE. SC...NONE. MARINE...NONE. && JRJ/JRL
Hazardous weather outlook, May 17, 11:23 AM EDT, 5 hours 24 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC 1123 AM EDT TUE MAY 17 2005 AMZ330-350-352-354-374-GAZ087-088-099>101-114>119-137>141-SCZ040- 042>045-047>051-181000- CHARLESTON HARBOR- WATERS FROM SOUTH SANTEE RIVER TO EDISTO BEACH SC OUT 20 NM- WATERS FROM EDISTO BEACH SC TO SAVANNAH GA OUT 20 NM- WATERS FROM SAVANNAH GA TO ALTAMAHA SOUND GA OUT 20 NM...INCLUDING GRAYS REEF NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY- WATERS FROM SAVANNAH GA TO ALTAMAHA SOUND GA EXTENDING FROM 20 TO 60 NM-JENKINS-SCREVEN-CANDLER-BULLOCH-EFFINGHAM-TATTNALL-EVANS- INLAND BRYAN-COASTAL BRYAN-INLAND CHATHAM-COASTAL CHATHAM-LONG- INLAND LIBERTY-COASTAL LIBERTY-INLAND MCINTOSH-COASTAL MCINTOSH- ALLENDALE-HAMPTON-INLAND COLLETON-DORCHESTER-BERKELEY-INLAND JASPER-BEAUFORT-COASTAL COLLETON-CHARLESTON-COASTAL JASPER- 1123 AM EDT TUE MAY 17 2005 UPDATED FOR HEAVY RAIN AND SEVERE POTENTIAL THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA... SOUTHEAST GEORGIA AND THE ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS FROM THE SOUTH SANTEE RIVER SOUTH CAROLINA TO ALTAMAHA SOUND GEORGIA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. .SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS...A WEAKENING COLD FRONT AND THE AFTERNOON SEA BREEZE WILL PROVIDE THE FOCUS FOR THUNDERSTORMS TODAY. THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK FOR A FEW STORMS TO BECOME SEVERE AND PRODUCE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING. THE STRONGEST STORMS ARE EXPECTED ACROSS MOST OF SOUTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA AND INTERIOR PORTIONS OF GEORGIA. REFER TO THE DAY ONE CONVECTIVE OUTLOOK FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. .HEAVY RAIN...NUMEROUS BOUNDARIES DRAPED ACROSS THE AREA THIS MORNING WILL PROVIDE AN ENHANCED FOCUS FOR EXTREMELY HEAVY RAIN ACROSS SOUTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA. FLASH FLOODING COULD BECOME A PROBLEM ACROSS AREAS THAT RECEIVE CONSECUTIVE SHOWERS OR THUNDERSTORMS...ESPECIALLY BY MID-AFTERNOON. REFER TO THE SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT FOR DETAILS ON THIS HAZARD. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT REQUIRED TONIGHT. JRL
In the hours before
Special weather statement, May 17, 2:59 PM EDT, 1 hour 48 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC 259 PM EDT TUE MAY 17 2005 SCZ049-050-172000- CHARLESTON-COASTAL COLLETON- 259 PM EDT TUE MAY 17 2005 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT WESTERN CHARLESTON COUNTY AND SOUTHERN COLLETON COUNTY THROUGH 400 PM EDT... AT 258 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A CLUSTER OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CENTERED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM NORTH CHARLESTON SOUTHWEST TO SOUTHERN COLLETON COUNTY. THESE STORMS WERE MOVING SLOWLY SOUTHEAST AND WILL AFFECT CHARLESTON...NORTH CHARLESTON...RAVENEL...HOLLYWOOD...EDISTO ISLAND...BENNETTS POINT AND EDISTO BEACH. HAIL UP TO ONE HALF INCH IN DIAMETER...EXCESSIVE CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING AND GUSTY WINDS OF 35 TO 45 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED.
Special weather statement, May 17, 3:09 PM EDT, 1 hour 38 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC 309 PM EDT TUE MAY 17 2005 SCZ048-172000- BEAUFORT- 309 PM EDT TUE MAY 17 2005 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT BEAUFORT COUNTY THROUGH 400 PM EDT... AT 309 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM CENTERED OVER CHISOLM...OR ABOUT 9 MILES NORTH OF BEAUFORT...NEARLY STATIONARY. THIS STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT AREAS IN AND AROUND WILKINS...WALLING GROVE...LOBECO...GARDENS CORNER...DANIELS...DALE...CHISOLMS...BRIARS...ATTAWAY AND CHISOLM THROUGH 400 PM EDT. HAIL UP TO ONE HALF INCH IN DIAMETER...EXCESSIVE CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING AND HEAVY RAINFALL CAN BE EXPECTED. RB
Special weather statement, May 17, 3:30 PM EDT, 1 hour 17 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC 330 PM EDT TUE MAY 17 2005 GAZ140-141-172015- COASTAL MCINTOSH-INLAND MCINTOSH- 330 PM EDT TUE MAY 17 2005 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT MCINTOSH COUNTY THROUGH 415 PM EDT... AT 330 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A CLUSTER OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CENTERED OVER FAIRHOPE...OR ABOUT 13 MILES NORTH OF DARIEN...MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH. THIS CLUSTER OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT AREAS IN AND AROUND WARSAW...JONES... EULONIA...BRICKSTON...FAIRHOPE...SOUTH NEWPORT...CRESCENT...PINE HARBOR...VALONA AND SHELLMAN BLUFF THROUGH 415 PM EDT. HAIL UP TO ONE HALF INCH IN DIAMETER...EXCESSIVE CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING AND GUSTY WINDS OF 35 TO 45 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED. SCW
Special weather statement, May 17, 4:26 PM EDT, 21 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC 426 PM EDT TUE MAY 17 2005 GAZ116-117-138-139-172130- COASTAL BRYAN-COASTAL LIBERTY-INLAND BRYAN-INLAND LIBERTY- 426 PM EDT TUE MAY 17 2005 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT BRYAN COUNTY AND LIBERTY COUNTY THROUGH 530 PM EDT... AT 426 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A CLUSTER OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CENTERED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM FORT MCALLISTER TO 2 MILES SOUTHWEST OF MCINTOSH...OR ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 8 MILES EAST OF RICHMOND HILL TO 4 MILES SOUTHEAST OF HINESVILLE...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 10 MPH. THIS CLUSTER OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT AREAS IN AND AROUND WILDWOOD... WALTHOURVILLE...RICHMOND HILL...RABBIT HILL...PORT ROYAL...MILL CREEK...MCINTOSH...LIVE OAK...HINESVILLE AND FORT STEWART THROUGH 530 PM EDT. HAIL UP TO ONE HALF INCH IN DIAMETER...EXCESSIVE CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING AND GUSTY WINDS OF 35 TO 45 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED. SCW
Local storm report, May 17, 4:27 PM EDT, 20 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
427 PM EDT TUE MAY 17 2005
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0417 PM HAIL SAVANNAH 32.08N 81.10W
05/17/2005 0.88 INCH CHATHAM GA TRAINED SPOTTER
0415 PM HAIL SAVANNAH 32.08N 81.10W
05/17/2005 0.75 INCH CHATHAM GA PUBLIC
&&
MTESpecial weather statement, May 17, 4:47 PM EDT, 0 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC 447 PM EDT TUE MAY 17 2005 SCZ048-051-172130- BEAUFORT-COASTAL JASPER- 447 PM EDT TUE MAY 17 2005 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT JASPER COUNTY AND BEAUFORT COUNTY THROUGH 530 PM EDT... AT 447 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM CENTERED 3 MILES SOUTHEAST OF JASPER...OR ABOUT 11 MILES NORTHWEST OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND...MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH. THIS STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT AREAS IN AND AROUND PRITCHARDVILLE...PRITCHARD...BRIGHTON BEACH...BLUFFTON...RIVERDALE...JASPER AND CHELSEA THROUGH 530 PM EDT. HAIL UP TO ONE HALF INCH IN DIAMETER...EXCESSIVE CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING AND HEAVY RAINFALL CAN BE EXPECTED. RB
The office that day
Everything else NWS Charleston, SC issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 17, 12:44 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CHS | Hampton | 31 min |
| May 17, 1:46 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | CHS | Charleston | 3 hr |
| May 17, 4:07 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CHS | Beaufort | 23 min |
| May 17, 4:19 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CHS | Jasper | 41 min |
Nearby
Flash Flood Warnings in South Carolina, 2005Every flash flood warning in 2005
Sources
The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.