Alert archive / South Carolina / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2024

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 37, NWS Charleston, SC

May 24, 2024Charleston County, Colleton County, South Carolina

NWS Charleston, SC issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 24, 2024, 5:31 PM EDT for Charleston County, Colleton County, South Carolina. It was in force for 46 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
May 24, 2024, 5:31 PM EDT (21:31 UTC)
Expired
May 24, 2024, 6:17 PM EDT
In force
46 min
Issued by
NWS Charleston, SC
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
1.0 in
Wind
60.0 mph

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 21:34 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, 9.5 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 2024-05-24Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 397 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 2024-05-24The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 85 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
397 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-75 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1063 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
25 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
85 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
84 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.2

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 May 24, 5:06 PM EDT, 25 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 24, 5:06 PM EDT, 25 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Charleston SC
506 PM EDT Fri May 24 2024

.SYNOPSIS...
A series of weak disturbances will move through the area
through Saturday. Hot conditions expected for Sunday and
Memorial Day. A cold front could bring impacts to the region
Monday night into Tuesday.

&&

.NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM SATURDAY MORNING/...
Convection continues to develop along an east-west oriented
boundary developing along a PWat and MLCAPE axis. The steering
flow is toward the east, and now that the sea breeze has made
some headway inland (roughly near or inland from US-17, there
will be a further increase in both the coverage and the
strength of t-storms. An MCV will continue to approach from the
west-northwest, which will further aid in the forcing for
ascent.

The overall thermodynamics are quite favorable for strong to
severe weather, and many of the convective parameters are
conducive as well. This includes a K-Index of 38; Total Totals
Index of 52; Lifted Index of -7. The DCAPE is around 900-1100
J/kg, suggesting that damaging winds are likely in the
strongest storms. The hail potential is lower due to a Wet Bulb
Zero that is only around 11-12K feet. However, local radars
have shown small hail in the taller storms, while SPC
mesoanalysis of SARS Hail Size does have some 1 inch values in
and near the local counties. We maintain mention of isolated
severe through 9 PM, with the highest chances still looking to
be north of I-16 in Georgia and through the counties of South
Carolina. This is also where the greatest coverage will exist,
with PoPs having been increased to 70% due to the interaction of
the activity from inland interacting with the sea breeze.

There is some risk for heavy rains and at least a minor to
perhaps moderate flooding concern in a few areas. The 12Z HREF
shows high enough probabilities of 1" or greater in the 3 hour
period from 21-24Z that Flood Advisories are possible. This
includes the areas in and near Charleston, Beaufort, and
Savannah. Despite the steering flow to the east, convection will
get hung up on the sea breeze, and this too can enhance the
flooding rain potential. The latest QPF for this event has as
much as 0-75 to 1.50 inches, greatest along parts of the
coastal counties. It is also certainly plausible that if the
heavier rains are slower in ending this evening, that there is
an additional concern about the 930 PM high tide in Charleston,
as we are currently showing 6.8 ft MLLW around that time.

Convection fades during the mid and late evening with the loss
of heating and the passage of the MCV. However, within the
west-northwest flow aloft some of the guidance has been
implying that at least isolated to scattered activity will
persist through the overnight. This seems plausible since there
will be lingering outflow boundaries, sufficient moisture, and
modest CAPE. This activity though does not look to be severe.

There is an outside chance of some stratus and/or fog late at
night due to the wet grounds. But this is dependent upon how
much clearing takes place. Since most guidance does not have any
reductions in visibilities, we do not have any mention in the
forecast.

The hourly temperatures have been altered to show an atypical
curve to account for convection early on. But actually lows will
be down only into the upper 60s and lower 70s due to similar
dew points.

&&

.SHORT TERM /6 AM SATURDAY MORNING THROUGH MONDAY/...
Saturday: The broad mid-level trough will ripple over the Atlantic
during the morning, with heights beginning to rise during the
afternoon. Short term guidance indicates that a small disturbance
could track SE across the region Saturday afternoon. Surface
conditions should feature high temperatures in the low 90s with
dewpoints in the low 70s. Model guidance indicates that a field of
CAPE of 1500-2000 J/kg with shallow CIN should develop by the heat
of the afternoon. Isolated to scattered thunderstorms should develop
across the forecast area, especially along a sea breeze. Once again,
some areas could see pockets of heavy rainfall given weak shear and
PW values in excess of 1.6 inches.

Sunday: GFS indicates that a broad H5 ridge will build across the
region. Conditions should become hot and humid during the
afternoon. High temperatures are expected to range in the mid 90s
with dewpoints in the low 70s along the coast. Heat index values may
exceed 100 degrees across the coastal counties, especially across SE
GA. Given poor mid-level lapse rates, convection will be limited to
a SCHC.

Memorial Day: The mid-level ridge axis is expected to shift east,
but is expected to remain near the region. A cold front is expected
to sweep across the Southern Appalachians Monday afternoon. Winds
will remain from the southwest through the day. Temperatures should
warm similar to values reached on Sunday, generally in the low to
mid 90s. A few pockets across the coastal counties may see heat
index values rise to around 100 degrees.

&&

.LONG TERM /MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/...
Monday night: During the evening, short term guidance indicates that
an MCS may develop over the Midlands of SC ahead of the front. This
system may track towards the coast with the cold front Monday night.
Given a wide field of instability and weak shear, it is possible
that these storms could arrive with damaging wind gusts. This
activity may remain into Tuesday morning.

Wednesday through Friday: Conditions for the rest of the week should
remain dry. High temperatures are forecast to range in the upper 80s
each day.

&&

.AVIATION /20Z FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
Showers and thunderstorms will impact the terminals late this
afternoon and early evening, and produce flight restrictions.
This is mainly between 20Z and 01Z. Convection diminishes
thereafter, although some additional convection might advance
back into the region late overnight. However, confidence is too
low to add any mention to the current terminal forecast. Also,
there might be a low end risk for stratus and/or fog closer to
daybreak Saturday, dependent on how much clearing can occur.

Extended Aviation Outlook: Brief flight restrictions are possible
due to showers/thunderstorms each afternoon/evening.

&&

.MARINE...
This evening and tonight: The synoptic pattern will become
muddled due to convection, as a few strong or severe t-storms
will occur through late evening as they move offshore. Wind
gusts could be enough to produce Special Marine Warnings for
winds of 35 kt or greater. Outside of convection winds will be S
or SW at 15 kt or less, with seas around 2 feet.

Saturday through Wednesday: The forecast area will remain between
high pressure across the western Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico and a
series of low pressure tracking over the Mid West. This pattern
should result in a sea breeze to develop each afternoon. A cold
front should sweep across the coastal waters Monday night into
Tuesday. Wind and sea conditions should remain below Small Craft
Advisory conditions.

&&

.CHS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
GA...None.
SC...None.
MARINE...None.

&&

NEAR TERM...
SHORT TERM...
LONG TERM...
AVIATION...
MARINE...
Hazardous weather outlook, May 24, 10:09 AM EDT, 7 hours 22 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Charleston SC
1009 AM EDT Fri May 24 2024

GAZ114>117-137>141-251415-
Tattnall-Evans-Inland Bryan-Coastal Bryan-Long-Inland Liberty-
Coastal Liberty-Inland McIntosh-Coastal McIntosh-
1009 AM EDT Fri May 24 2024

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southeast Georgia.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday.

The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter assistance is not anticipated at this time.

AMZ330-350-352-354-374-251415-
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 from 20 to 60 NM-
1009 AM EDT Fri May 24 2024

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for Atlantic coastal waters.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

Severe Thunderstorms: Clusters of thunderstorms will develop over
portions of southeast South Carolina and southeast Georgia this
afternoon and evening and move through parts of the coastal waters.
A few of these thunderstorms may produce damaging wind gusts, mainly
between 4 PM and 10 PM.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday.

The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter assistance is not anticipated at this time.

GAZ087-088-099>101-118-119-SCZ040-042>045-047>052-251415-
Jenkins-Screven-Candler-Bulloch-Effingham-Inland Chatham-
Coastal Chatham-Allendale-Hampton-Inland Colleton-Dorchester-
Inland Berkeley-Inland Jasper-Beaufort-Coastal Colleton-Charleston-
Coastal Jasper-Tidal Berkeley-
1009 AM EDT Fri May 24 2024

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southeast Georgia and
southeast South Carolina.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

Severe Thunderstorms and Heavy Rainfall: Clusters of thunderstorms
will develop over portions of southeast South Carolina and southeast
Georgia this afternoon and evening. A few of these thunderstorms may
produce damaging wind gusts and large hail, mainly between 3 PM and
9 PM. In addition, these storms could produce locally heavy downpours
and flooding in poor drainage areas.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday.

The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter assistance is not anticipated at this time.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 24, 4:30 PM EDT, 1 hour 1 minute before
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Local storm report, May 24, 4:45 PM EDT, 46 minutes before
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Special weather statement, May 24, 5:03 PM EDT, 28 minutes before
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Special weather statement, May 24, 5:17 PM EDT, 14 minutes before
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Local storm report, May 24, 5:20 PM EDT, 11 minutes before
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Local storm report, May 24, 5:25 PM EDT, 6 minutes before
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The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 24, 2:33 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCHSBulloch27 min
May 24, 2:58 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCHSBulloch, Candler, Effingham32 min
May 24, 3:32 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCHSBulloch, Effingham, Jenkins, Screven28 min
May 24, 4:41 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningCHS94 min
May 24, 4:58 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningCHS92 min
May 24, 5:03 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCHSChatham27 min
May 24, 5:10 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCHSChatham65 min
May 24, 5:18 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningCHS87 min
May 24, 5:38 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryCHSChatham44 min
May 24, 6:07 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningCHS49 min
May 24, 6:33 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningCHS69 min
May 24, 7:38 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCHSLiberty, McIntosh67 min
May 24, 7:58 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningCHS88 min
May 24, 4:02 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCHSBeaufort28 min
May 24, 4:04 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCHSHampton26 min
May 24, 4:30 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCHSJasper30 min
May 24, 4:33 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCHSBeaufort, Jasper57 min
May 24, 4:36 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCHSBeaufort, Colleton, Hampton, Jasper54 min
May 24, 5:17 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCHSCharleston28 min
May 24, 6:42 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCHSBerkeley63 min
May 24, 6:59 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCHSBerkeley31 min
May 24, 7:43 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCHSBerkeley47 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in South Carolina, 2024Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2024

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.