Alert archive / South Carolina / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 12, NWS Wilmington, NC

May 11, 2026Horry County, South Carolina

NWS Wilmington, NC issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 11, 2026, 1:56 PM EDT for Horry County, South Carolina. It was in force for 44 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 11, 2026, 1:56 PM EDT (17:56 UTC)
Expired
May 11, 2026, 2:40 PM EDT
In force
44 min
Issued by
NWS Wilmington, NC
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
1.0 in
Wind
60.0 mph

County Horry County, SC

The radar

The Wilmington radar (KLTX), 51 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 17:56 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, 5.9 hours before the alert went out and 147 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 2026-05-11Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 459 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 2026-05-11The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 54 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
459 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-57 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
988 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
40 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
54 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
85 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.1
Supercell composite
1.4

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 Wilmington, NC wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at May 11, 6:45 AM EDT, 7 hours 11 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • 1) Convection late this morning through this afternoon could bring the threat of isolated severe storms to the area. 2) Another cold front will bring some more rainfall late Wednesday into early Thursday.
Area forecast discussion, May 11, 6:45 AM EDT, 7 hours 11 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Wilmington NC
645 AM EDT Mon May 11 2026

.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
Aviation discussion updated for the 12Z TAFs.

&&

.KEY MESSAGES...
1) Convection late this morning through this afternoon
could bring the threat of isolated severe storms to the area.

2) Another cold front will bring some more rainfall late
Wednesday into early Thursday.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1: Convection late this morning through this
afternoon could bring the threat of isolated severe storms to
the area.

The afternoon seabreeze and an evening cold front will lead to
showers and thunderstorms today with an isolated severe threat
mainly east of I-95. The environment this afternoon will have 800-
1500 J/kg of CAPE, DCAPE 500-800 J/kg, and bulk shear increasing to
40-50 kts supporting some storm organization, particularly along
boundaries like the seabreeze and front. The main threat will be
damaging winds but hail and an isolated tornado can't be ruled out.
Rainfall totals east of I-95 are ~0.25-0.5" and <0.25" further west.
Isolated higher rainfall totals near 1" in storms are also possible
due to PWATs ~1.5", but storms shouldn't be moving slow enough to
where flash flooding will be an issue. The front should clear the
area this evening with showers and storms moving offshore, a NE
breeze limiting fog formation overnight.

KEY MESSAGE 2: Another cold front will bring some more rainfall
late Wednesday into early Thursday.

A cold front looks to approach Wednesday into Wednesday night but
with limited moisture/forcing we don't expect a blockbuster rain
event. However, up to ~0.5" will be possible, especially in NC which
will be closer to the upper forcing. There is some uncertainty
regarding dewpoints and how much instability will develop but there
could be a few mainly elevated thunderstorms. As usual, there is
plenty of deep layer shear to support organized convection and
severe weather but limited instability will keep this risk very low
at best.

&&

.AVIATION /12Z MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
Restrictions this morning will linger through 13Z but have not
been accounted for in the TAFs due to the complications later in
the day with precip and frontal passage timing. Showers will
likely dip VSBYs <6 SM with storms bringing MVFR/IFR. Isolated
severe storms are possible (mainly damaging wind gusts but
hail/tor also possible) starting late this morning through the
afternoon with the seabreeze. Storm coverage should be better
near the coast. 20-21Z W/NW winds will flip around to the NE
with the frontal passage, winds increasing to 12-15 kts, gusts
near 20 kts. A NE breeze could linger through the majority of
the night, inhibiting fog formation though IFR CIGs may be an
issue.

Extended Forecast...MVFR/IFR ceilings could linger into pre-
dawn Tuesday. VFR should then prevail through early Wednesday.
Potential for flight restrictions increases with another cold
front late Wednesday. VFR should return Thursday and Friday.

&&

.MARINE...
Through Tonight... SW winds ~10 kts through the majority of the day
ahead of a cold front, with a sharp turn to the NE as the front
moves through in the late afternoon/evening. Winds will increase to
20-25 kts from the SE NC waters to the NE SC waters, with a Small
Craft Advisory in place from this evening through the rest of the
period. Similarly, seas 2-3 ft will increase to 4-6 ft tonight, 7-9
ft for the offshore waters.

Tuesday through Friday night...Elevated NE winds/seas will subside
Tue as high pressure builds closer. Winds will subside first but it
will take a bit longer for seas to diminish with SCA conditions
ending latest for the SC waters toward evening.

Offshore high pressure will then prevail until a weak cold front
approaches later Wed and Wed night. The front should finally move
through Thu night but conditions still are likely to stay below SCA
levels.

&&

.ILM WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NC...None.
SC...None.
MARINE...Small Craft Advisory from 6 PM this evening to 5 PM EDT
     Tuesday for AMZ250-252.
     Small Craft Advisory from 9 PM this evening to 8 PM EDT
     Tuesday for AMZ254-256.

&&

WHAT HAS CHANGED...ILM
KEY MESSAGES...RJB/LEW
DISCUSSION...RJB/LEW
AVIATION...LEW
MARINE...RJB/LEW

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 11, 11:26 AM EDT, 2 hours 30 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>
Special weather statement, May 11, 11:55 AM EDT, 2 hours 1 minute 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>
Special weather statement, May 11, 12:49 PM EDT, 1 hour 7 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Wilmington NC
1249 PM EDT Mon May 11 2026

NCZ109-110-111715-
Inland Brunswick NC-Coastal Brunswick NC-
1249 PM EDT Mon May 11 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHEASTERN BRUNSWICK COUNTY
THROUGH 115 PM EDT...

At 1249 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Shallotte, moving northeast at 20 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Shallotte, Civie Town, Russtown, Supply, Brunswick County Community
College Main Campus, Bolivia, and Brunswick Novant Medical Center.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3398 7807 3394 7836 3395 7837 3394 7837
      3393 7842 3400 7846 3415 7822
TIME...MOT...LOC 1649Z 243DEG 16KT 3399 7840

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

21
Special weather statement, May 11, 12:52 PM EDT, 1 hour 4 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Wilmington NC
1252 PM EDT Mon May 11 2026

NCZ105-111730-
Inland Pender NC-
1252 PM EDT Mon May 11 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN PENDER COUNTY
THROUGH 130 PM EDT...

At 1252 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Harrells, or 7 miles west of Wallace, moving east at 40 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Penderlea, Willard, Maple Hill, and Watha.

This includes Interstate 40 between mile markers 388 and 394.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3462 7799 3467 7816 3471 7811 3472 7811
      3473 7802 3471 7798 3472 7794 3472 7768
      3467 7766 3467 7769
TIME...MOT...LOC 1652Z 255DEG 33KT 3475 7812

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

21
Special weather statement, May 11, 1:17 PM EDT, 39 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Wilmington NC
117 PM EDT Mon May 11 2026

SCZ032-033-039-055-058-059-111800-
Marion SC-Northern Horry SC-Williamsburg SC-Florence SC-
Inland Georgetown SC-Central Horry SC-
117 PM EDT Mon May 11 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHEASTERN FLORENCE...NORTH
CENTRAL GEORGETOWN...SOUTHWESTERN HORRY...SOUTHWESTERN MARION AND
NORTHEASTERN WILLIAMSBURG COUNTIES THROUGH 200 PM EDT...

At 117 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Hemingway, or 19 miles southeast of Lake City, moving east at 30 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Horry, Johnsonville, Hemingway, Pee Dee Crossroads, Poston, Brittons
Neck, Dongola, Outland, Gresham, Henry, Kingsburg, Bucksport, Aynor,
and Stuckey.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3368 7952 3390 7955 3406 7912 3367 7907
TIME...MOT...LOC 1717Z 259DEG 24KT 3374 7945

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

21
Special weather statement, May 11, 1:54 PM EDT, 2 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Wilmington NC
154 PM EDT Mon May 11 2026

SCZ054-055-058-111845-
Coastal Horry SC-Inland Georgetown SC-Central Horry SC-
154 PM EDT Mon May 11 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHEASTERN GEORGETOWN AND
SOUTHERN HORRY COUNTIES THROUGH 245 PM EDT...

At 154 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Bucksville, or near Red Hill, moving east at 30 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Myrtle Beach, Conway, North Myrtle Beach, Myrtle Beach Airport,
Socastee, North Myrtle Beach Airport, Red Hill, Horry Georgetown
Technical College Conway Campus, Bucksville, Hand, Barefoot Landing
Area Of North Myrtle Beach, Nixonville, Bucksport, Dongola, Wampee,
Forestbrook, Coastal Carolina University, Briarcliffe Acres, Atlantic
Beach, and Sea Coast Medical Center.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3366 7919 3372 7919 3385 7922 3389 7865
      3382 7867 3375 7881 3362 7896
TIME...MOT...LOC 1754Z 269DEG 27KT 3374 7910

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

21

The office that day

Everything else NWS Wilmington, NC issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 11, 11:26 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementILMBladen49 min
May 11, 11:55 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementILMBrunswick35 min
May 11, 12:33 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILMBrunswick, New Hanover, Pender57 min
May 11, 12:49 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementILMBrunswick26 min
May 11, 12:51 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningILM54 min
May 11, 12:52 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementILMPender38 min
May 11, 1:05 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILMPender40 min
May 11, 1:37 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningILM98 min
May 11, 2:09 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningILM66 min
May 11, 2:16 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILMColumbus59 min
May 11, 2:46 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatILMColumbus29 min
May 11, 2:53 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningILM67 min
May 11, 3:14 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementILMBrunswick46 min
May 11, 3:15 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningILM60 min
May 11, 3:41 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningILM94 min
May 11, 3:45 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningILM90 min
May 11, 4:11 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningILM64 min
May 11, 4:58 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningILM29 min
May 11, 5:11 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningILM34 min
May 11, 5:21 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningILM114 min
May 11, 1:17 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementILMMarion43 min
May 11, 1:54 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementILMHorry51 min
May 11, 1:58 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementILMDillon32 min
May 11, 2:15 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementILMWilliamsburg45 min
May 11, 2:32 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILMGeorgetown, Williamsburg58 min
May 11, 3:18 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementILMGeorgetown27 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in South Carolina, 2026Every severe thunderstorm 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.