Alert archive / Georgia / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026

Flash Flood Warning 7, NWS Columbia, SC

May 31, 2026Burke County, Georgia

NWS Columbia, SC issued this flash flood warning at May 31, 2026, 7:40 AM EDT for Burke County, Georgia. It was in force for 2 hr. 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 31, 2026, 7:40 AM EDT (11:40 UTC)
Expired
May 31, 2026, 9:57 AM EDT
In force
2 hr
Issued by
NWS Columbia, SC
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

County Burke County, GA

The radar

The Charleston,SC radar (KCLX), 79 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 11:44 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 00:00Z, 11.7 hours before the alert went out and 169 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 00:00Z on 2026-05-31Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 957 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 00:00Z on 2026-05-31The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 64 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
957 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-14 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
979 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
31 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
64 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
109 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.3
Supercell composite
3.5

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

950 
WGUS52 KCAE 311140
FFWCAE
GAC033-311445-
/O.NEW.KCAE.FF.W.0007.260531T1140Z-260531T1445Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Columbia SC
740 AM EDT Sun May 31 2026

The National Weather Service in Columbia has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Southeastern Burke County in east central Georgia...

* Until 1045 AM EDT.

* At 740 AM EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing 
  heavy rain across the warned area. Between 2 and 4 inches of rain 
  have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of 2 to 3 inches are 
  possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected 
  to begin shortly.

  HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.

  SOURCE...Radar.

  IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban
           areas, highways, streets as well as other poor
           drainage and low-lying areas.

* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Sardis.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Most flooding deaths occur in vehicles. Never drive through a 
flooded roadway or around barricades. Turn around, don't drown.

Be aware of your surroundings and do not drive on flooded roads.

&&

LAT...LON 3300 8183 3299 8176 3296 8169 3291 8177
      3293 8178 3294 8181 3295 8182 3294 8183
      3295 8186 3294 8189 3299 8188

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED

$$

CAL
1 follow-up statement
747 
WGUS72 KCAE 311357
FFSCAE

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Columbia SC
957 AM EDT Sun May 31 2026

GAC033-311407-
/O.CAN.KCAE.FF.W.0007.000000T0000Z-260531T1445Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Burke GA-
957 AM EDT Sun May 31 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR SOUTHEASTERN BURKE COUNTY...

The heavy rain has ended. Flash Flooding is no longer expected to 
pose a threat. Please continue to heed remaining road closures.  An 
Urban and Small Stream Flood Advisory does still remain in effect 
through 1030 am EDT.

&&

LAT...LON 3300 8183 3299 8176 3296 8169 3291 8177
      3293 8178 3294 8181 3295 8182 3294 8183
      3295 8186 3294 8189 3299 8188

$$

CAL

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 Columbia, SC wrote its last area forecast discussion before this flash flood warning went out at May 31, 6:51 AM EDT, 49 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • 1. Daily chances for showers and storms continue through Tuesday, with locally heavy rain possible.
  • 2. Relatively cool temps expected today and early this week, followed by a warming trend.
Area forecast discussion, May 31, 6:51 AM EDT, 49 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Columbia SC
651 AM EDT Sun May 31 2026

.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
Aviation discussion updated for 12z TAF issuance.

&&

.KEY MESSAGES...
- 1. Daily chances for showers and storms continue through
  Tuesday, with locally heavy rain possible.

- 2. Relatively cool temps expected today and early this
  week, followed by a warming trend.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Key Message 1: Daily chances for showers and storms continue through
Tuesday, with locally heavy rain possible.

The cold front is very slowly shifting into the Pee Dee region as of
writing this with surface dewpoints down into mid to upper 50s seen
just across the SC/NC border. South of the front, PWAT's remain
between 1.7-1.9" with isolated to widely scattered showers and a
couple weak storms on going. This activity is exhibiting very slow
storm motions and at times, backbuilding, as 0-6km shear vectors are
almost perfectly parallel to the front. Minor nuisance flooding in
isolated spots cannot be ruled out into the morning hours mainly
toward the CSRA and far southeastern Midlands as the front continues
to slowly sag southward. The front is expected to nearly stall
near/just south of the CSRA where drier air (PWAT's dropping to 1.30-
1.50) behind the front may aid in limiting PoP's, especially east of
the I-26 corridor. With the front lingering near the southern FA
and multiple weak shortwave impulses moving through the troughing
pattern over the eastern CONUS, Slight chance to chance PoP's are
expected mainly across the CSRA this afternoon/evening where the
threat for locally heavy rainfall and spots of flash flooding will
remain as forecast soundings continue to indicate long/skinny CAPE
profiles coinciding with PWAT's over 1.75" and warm cloud layer
depths that exceed 12,500 to 13,500 ft. A stronger shortwave is
expected to move through tonight into Monday, and deeper moisture
may return northward as the front becomes increasingly diffuse,
increasing shower/storm chances across the FA. Some uncertainty
remains in these chances as the greatest moisture convergence may
end up just south of the FA.

The diffuse front is expected to meander through the FA Monday and
Tuesday with multiple shortwaves working into the region as an Omega
blocking pattern remains in place over the CONUS. A more robust cold
front is expected to work through the area late Monday into Tuesday
and ahead of this stronger front, more scattered shower/storm
chances should exist each day as deep moisture remains in place. A
push of drier air behind the front along with developing low
pressure off the coast should bring dry conditions to the CWA by
Wednesday.

Key Message 2: Relatively cool temps expected today and early this
week, followed by a warming trend.

There has been little change to the temperature forecast in the
coming days. Depending how widespread cloud cover is through the day
today, temperatures may trend a bit lower. The latest run of the
NBM brings temperatures in the mid to upper 70s across the FA, but
some MOS data favors temperatures closer to the low to mid 70s so
cloud cover trends will need to continue to be monitored through the
day today. After this, temperatures are expected to remain just
below normal with continuing rain chances and increased cloud cover
through Tuesday. The aforementioned Omega block is expected to begin
breaking down by the mid week with the upper ridge positioned over
the Plains gradually shifting eastward, before fully moving overhead
late in the week. Besides drier conditions under the ridge,
temperatures are expected to warm Wednesday onward as shown in
recent ensemble and cluster guidance.

&&

.AVIATION /12Z SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
Brief IFR ceilings possible this morning, otherwise MVFR
ceilings expected through the day with showers possible.

A front is moving through the area early this morning, allowing
for scattered showers along it but with some drier air moving in
from the northeast with somewhat gusty NE winds, shifting more
easterly. This drier air aloft will lead to decreasing rain
shower coverage over the next few hours. While mostly MVFR
ceilings have been observed a brief period of IFR ceilings
remains possible for the AGS/DNL/AIK/OGB. Guidance has been
fairly consistent in keeping MVFR ceilings throughout much of
the day as the front will stall near the southern forecast area.
Confidence remains highest in continued restrictions in the
southern terminals closer to the front. With lingering low level
moisture and the front in the area, rain showers may redevelop
later today into this evening. Ceilings likely lower further
into tonight, although uncertainty as to whether they will be
low MVFR or IFR.

EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK...Unsettled weather should continue
into early next week until drier air moves into the region mid-
week.

&&

.CAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
SC...None.
GA...None.

&&

DISCUSSION...DH
AVIATION...96

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 31, 7:20 AM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryCAEBurke3 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Georgia, 2026Every flash flood warning in 2026

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.