Alert archive / South Carolina / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2005

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 117, NWS Charleston, SC

August 18, 2005Charleston County, Colleton County, South Carolina

NWS Charleston, SC issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Aug 18, 2005, 5:38 PM EDT for Charleston County, Colleton County, South Carolina. It was in force for 37 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Aug 18, 2005, 5:38 PM EDT (21:38 UTC)
Expired
Aug 18, 2005, 6:15 PM EDT
In force
37 min
Issued by
NWS Charleston, SC
Area
Counties, with a storm outline in the text

Counties Charleston County, SC, Colleton County, SC

The radar

The Charleston,SC radar (KCLX), 72 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:40 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.

The nearest sounding before it

Charleston AFB, SC (KCHS), launched 12:00Z, 9.6 hours before the alert went out and 30 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.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Charleston AFB, SC at 12:00Z on 2005-08-18Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1014 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Charleston AFB, SC at 12:00Z on 2005-08-18The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 37 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
1014 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-56 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
766 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
16 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
37 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
56 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm 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 severe thunderstorm warning went out at Aug 18, 3:40 PM EDT, 1 hour 58 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 18, 3:40 PM EDT, 1 hour 58 minutes before
<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="utf-8">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
  <title>Service Notice</title>
  <link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
  <main class="wrap">
    <section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
      <div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
      <h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
      <p id="message1">
        The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
      </p>
      <p id="message2">
        Please try again in a few minutes.
      </p>
      <p class="small" id="detail">
        If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
      </p>
    </section>
  </main>
  <script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html>
Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 18, 4:50 AM EDT, 12 hours 48 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
450 AM EDT THU AUG 18 2005

AMZ330-350-352-354-374-GAZ087-088-099>101-114>119-137>141-SCZ040-
042>045-047>051-191000-
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-
450 AM EDT THU AUG 18 2005

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.
.HEAT INDICES...HIGHS IN THE 90S WITH HIGH HUMIDITY WILL RESULT IN
HEAT INDEX VALUES OF 105 TO 110 ACROSS SOUTHEAST GEORGIA AND EXTREME
SOUTHERN SOUTH CAROLINA THIS AFTERNOON. THEREFORE...A HEAT ADVISORY
IS IN EFFECT FOR THOSE AREAS. REFER TO THE LATEST NON-PRECIPITATION
STATEMENT FOR DETAILS.

.STRONG THUNDERSTORMS...A FRONTAL BOUNDARY ACROSS THE AREA AND
AFTERNOON HEATING WILL PROVIDE A FOCUS FOR CLUSTERS OF
THUNDERSTORMS. A FEW OF THESE STORMS COULD BECOME STRONG WITH GUSTY
WINDS TO 40 MPH...EXCESSIVE CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING...SMALL HAIL
AND TORRENTIAL RAINS.

.RIVER FLOODING...RIVER FLOOD WARNINGS ARE IN EFFECT FOR THE
SAVANNAH RIVER AT CLYO AND BURTONS FERRY...AND FOR THE OHOOPEE RIVER
AT REIDSVILLE. PLEASE REFER TO THE LATEST RIVER FLOOD STATEMENT FOR
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY.
.HEAT INDICES...ANOTHER HEAT ADVISORY MAY BE REQUIRED FOR PORTIONS
OF THE AREA ON FRIDAY DUE TO HIGHS IN THE LOWER 90S AND HIGH
HUMIDITY VALUES. REFER TO THE LATEST FORECAST FOR DETAILS.

.RIVER FLOODING...MINOR FLOODING WILL CONTINUE ALONG THE SAVANNAH
RIVER AT CLYO AND BURTONS FERRY...AND FOR THE OHOOPEE RIVER AT
REIDSVILLE. REFER TO THE LATEST RIVER FLOOD STATEMENT FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

JRL

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Aug 18, 4:33 PM EDT, 1 hour 5 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
433 PM EDT THU AUG 18 2005

SCZ048-049-182100-
BEAUFORT-COASTAL COLLETON-
433 PM EDT THU AUG 18 2005

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT BEAUFORT COUNTY AND COLLETON
COUNTY THROUGH 500 PM EDT...

AT 433 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
CLUSTER OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CENTERED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM
10 MILES NORTHEAST OF HUNTING ISLAND TO 4 MILES EAST OF FROGMORE...OR
ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM EDISTO BEACH TO 9 MILES EAST OF
BEAUFORT...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 10 MPH.

THIS CLUSTER OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT AREAS IN AND AROUND
FROGMORE...FRIPP ISLAND AND HUNTING ISLAND THROUGH 500 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. IN
ADDITION...VERY HEAVY RAINS WILL ALSO OCCUR...WITH UP TO 1 INCH OF
RAIN IN LESS THAN AN HOURS TIME. MINOR FLOODING WILL RESULT.

MOVE INSIDE A SAFE LOCATION IF STORMS APPROACH WHILE YOU ARE OUTSIDE.

33
Special weather statement, Aug 18, 4:36 PM EDT, 1 hour 2 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
436 PM EDT THU AUG 18 2005

SCZ044-050-182100-
CHARLESTON-DORCHESTER-
436 PM EDT THU AUG 18 2005

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT DORCHESTER COUNTY AND CHARLESTON
COUNTY THROUGH 500 PM EDT...

AT 436 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
CLUSTER OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CENTERED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM
2 MILES EAST OF NORTH CHARLESTON TO GREGGS LANDING...OR ALONG A LINE
EXTENDING FROM 5 MILES NORTH OF CHARLESTON TO 6 MILES SOUTH OF
SUMMERVILLE...MOVING SOUTHWEST AT 10 MPH.

THIS CLUSTER OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT AREAS IN AND AROUND
WILSONVILLE...WILDWOOD...SCANLONVILLE...REMLEYS POINT...NORTH
CHARLESTON...OAKBROOK...NORTHWOODS MALL...WEST ASHLEY...MIDLAND
PARK...HOBCAW POINT AND HANAHAN THROUGH 500 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. IN
ADDITION...VERY HEAVY RAINS WILL ALSO OCCUR...WITH UP TO 1 INCH OF
RAIN IN LESS THAN AN HOURS TIME. MINOR FLOODING WILL RESULT.

MOVE INSIDE A SAFE LOCATION IF STORMS APPROACH WHILE YOU ARE OUTSIDE.

33
Special weather statement, Aug 18, 4:39 PM EDT, 59 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
439 PM EDT THU AUG 18 2005

GAZ117-137>141-182130-
COASTAL BRYAN-COASTAL LIBERTY-COASTAL MCINTOSH-INLAND LIBERTY-INLAND
MCINTOSH-LONG-
439 PM EDT THU AUG 18 2005

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT LONG COUNTY...MCINTOSH COUNTY...
BRYAN COUNTY AND LIBERTY COUNTY THROUGH 530 PM EDT...

AT 439 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
CLUSTER OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CENTERED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM
7 MILES EAST OF SUNBURY TO 7 MILES SOUTHWEST OF LUDOWICI...OR ALONG A
LINE EXTENDING FROM 13 MILES SOUTHEAST OF RICHMOND HILL TO 5 MILES
EAST OF JESUP...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 10 MPH.

THIS CLUSTER OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT AREAS IN AND AROUND
SUNBURY...SCREVEN FORK...RICEBORO...LUDOWICI...CROSSROADS...
SEABROOK...RETREAT...LECOUNT...HALFMOON LANDING AND JONES 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. IN
ADDITION...VERY HEAVY RAINS MAY ALSO OCCUR...WITH UP TO 1 INCH OF
RAIN IN LESS THAN AN HOURS TIME. MINOR FLOODING WILL RESULT.

MOVE INSIDE A SAFE LOCATION IF STORMS APPROACH WHILE YOU ARE OUTSIDE.

33
Special weather statement, Aug 18, 4:56 PM EDT, 42 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
456 PM EDT THU AUG 18 2005

SCZ044-050-182130-
CHARLESTON-DORCHESTER-
456 PM EDT THU AUG 18 2005

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT DORCHESTER COUNTY AND CHARLESTON
COUNTY THROUGH 530 PM EDT...

AT 456 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
CLUSTER OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CENTERED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM
6 MILES NORTHEAST OF DELEMAR CROSSROADS TO WEST ASHLEY...OR ALONG A
LINE EXTENDING FROM 9 MILES SOUTH OF SUMMERVILLE TO 5 MILES NORTHWEST
OF CHARLESTON...MOVING SOUTHWEST AT 5 MPH.

THIS CLUSTER OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT AREAS IN AND AROUND
SOUTH WINDERMERE...SHADOWMOSS...SAINT ANDREWS...WEST ASHLEY...
CITADEL MALL...STONO...CLUBHOUSE CROSSROADS...RED TOP AND RANTOWLES
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. IN
ADDITION...VERY HEAVY RAINS WILL ALSO OCCUR...WITH UP TO 1 INCH OF
RAIN IN LESS THAN AN HOURS TIME. MINOR FLOODING WILL RESULT.

MOVE INSIDE A SAFE LOCATION IF STORMS APPROACH WHILE YOU ARE OUTSIDE.

33
Special weather statement, Aug 18, 4:56 PM EDT, 42 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
456 PM EDT THU AUG 18 2005

SCZ044-050-182130-
CHARLESTON-DORCHESTER-
456 PM EDT THU AUG 18 2005

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT DORCHESTER COUNTY AND CHARLESTON
COUNTY THROUGH 530 PM EDT...

AT 456 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
CLUSTER OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CENTERED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM
6 MILES NORTHEAST OF DELEMAR CROSSROADS TO WEST ASHLEY...OR ALONG A
LINE EXTENDING FROM 9 MILES SOUTH OF SUMMERVILLE TO 5 MILES NORTHWEST
OF CHARLESTON...MOVING SOUTHWEST AT 5 MPH.

THIS CLUSTER OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT AREAS IN AND AROUND
SOUTH WINDERMERE...SHADOWMOSS...SAINT ANDREWS...WEST
ASHLEY...CITADEL MALL...STONO...CLUBHOUSE CROSSROADS...RED
TOP...RAVENEL...YONGES ISLAND AND RANTOWLES 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. IN
ADDITION...VERY HEAVY RAINS WILL ALSO OCCUR...WITH UP TO 1 INCH OF
RAIN IN LESS THAN AN HOURS TIME. MINOR FLOODING WILL RESULT.

MOVE INSIDE A SAFE LOCATION IF STORMS APPROACH WHILE YOU ARE OUTSIDE.

33
Special weather statement, Aug 18, 5:27 PM EDT, 11 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
527 PM EDT THU AUG 18 2005

SCZ050-182200-
CHARLESTON-
527 PM EDT THU AUG 18 2005

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT CHARLESTON COUNTY THROUGH 600 PM
EDT...

AT 527 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
CLUSTER OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CENTERED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM
2 MILES NORTHEAST OF CAPWELLS CROSSROADS TO 3 MILES SOUTHEAST OF
RANTOWLES...OR ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 15 MILES SOUTH OF
SUMMERVILLE TO 11 MILES WEST OF CHARLESTON...MOVING SOUTHWEST AT 5
MPH.

THIS CLUSTER OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT AREAS IN AND
AROUND RANTOWLES...BERRY HILL...JOHNS ISLAND...FENWICK
CROSSROADS...ADAMS RUN...CAPWELLS CROSSROADS...RAVENEL...JERICHO...
HOLLYWOOD...BAPTIST HILL AND YONGES ISLAND THROUGH 600 PM EDT.

HAIL UP TO ONE HALF INCH IN DIAMETER...EXCESSIVE CLOUD-TO-GROUND
LIGHTNING AND GUSTY WINDS OF 45 TO 55 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED.

IN ADDITION...VERY HEAVY RAINS WILL ALSO OCCUR...WITH UP TO 1 INCH
OF RAIN IN LESS THAN AN HOURS TIME. MINOR FLOODING WILL RESULT.

MOVE INSIDE A SAFE LOCATION IF STORMS APPROACH WHILE YOU ARE OUTSIDE.

33

The office that day

Everything else NWS Charleston, SC issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 18, 4:34 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningCHS56 min
Aug 18, 4:55 PM EDTHeat AdvisoryCHSBulloch, Candler, Effingham, Evans, Jenkins, Long and 2 more27 hr
Aug 18, 6:21 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningCHS40 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in South Carolina, 2005Every severe thunderstorm 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.