Hurricane Frances made land fall over the Florida Panhandle and continued to track in a generally northward direction into Georgia, before turning more to the northeast. This track placed the Charleston County Warning Area in the favorable right side of the remnants of Frances which produced numerous tornadoes and areas of straight line wind damage over southeast Georgia and south coastal South…
Every event with a place to put it; 6 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS CHS wrote it up.
Hurricane Frances made land fall over the Florida Panhandle and continued to track in a generally northward direction into Georgia, before turning more to the northeast. This track placed the Charleston County Warning Area in the favorable right side of the remnants of Frances which produced numerous tornadoes and areas of straight line wind damage over southeast Georgia and south coastal South Carolina. Several Georgia counties also experienced flash flooding as there were isolated rainfall amounts of 5 to 8 inches over a 24 to 36 hour period. This was on top of already saturated ground from heavy rains during the month of August. The South Carolina counties experienced more nuisance type flooding as the rainfall amounts were not as high as what occurred in southeast Georgia.
The local office's own words before the first event, 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 the first event at Sep 5, 2:02 PM EST, 5 hours 28 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
302 PM EDT SUN SEP 5 2004
.SHORT TERM /TONIGHT AND MONDAY/...EXPECT SIMILAR CONDITIONS THIS
EVENING WITH RESPECT TO PRECIP PATTERN AS WE HAVE SEEN THE PAST FEW
HOURS WITH INCREASING CHANCES OVER THE SRN PORTION OF THE AREA AS
WELL AS ALONG COASTAL SC. MAY SEE A BRIEF LULL LATER TONIGHT THEN
EXPANDING PRECIP AREA LATER MON AS WE HAVE SEEN THE PAST FEW DAYS
WITH NOCTURNAL INFLUENCES. WILL INCREASE POPS TO LIKELY FOR MON
ACROSS THE AREA AS THE MODELS DEVELOP A COASTAL TROF TYPE SCENARIO.
NOT REAL CONFIDENT WITH THE PRECIP PATTERN OF THE MODELS...
PARTICULARLY THE ETA AS IT SEEMS TO LOSE MUCH OF THE TROPICAL
CHARACTERISTICS OF FRANCES. SOME AREAS MAY SEE IN EXCESS OF 3 INCHES
OF PRECIP WITH THIS EVENT PARTICULARLY OVER THE SRN GA PORTION OF
THE AREA...BUT COASTAL SC MAY EVEN SEE A COUPLE OF INCHES IF MODELS
ARE CORRECT IN THEIR DEPICTION OF COASTAL TROF.
&&
.LONG TERM /MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY/...WILL CONTINUE LIKELY POPS
FOR MON NIGHT AND TUE THEN TAPER THEM OFF TUE NIGHT AND WED AS
FRANCES IS SUPPOSED TO BE PASSING TO THE NW OF THE AREA BY THIS
TIME. MODEL GUID CONTINUES TO BRING FRANCES CLOSER TO THE AREA AS IT
MOVES ACROSS THE SE STATES...BUT THEY ARE FLIP FLOPPING QUITE A BIT
WITH THEIR FCSTS. HAVE PONDERED POTENTIAL FOR A FLOOD WATCH OVER
MAINLY THE SRN PORTION OF THE AREA AS MORE THAN A COULPE INCHES OF
PRECIP ARE CERTAINLY POSSIBLE CLOSER TO THE CENTER OF FRANCES. TOO
MUCH UNCERTAINTY AT THIS TIME AND SRN GA PORTION DID NOT GET THE
PLENTIFUL RAINFALL THAT THE NRN PORTION DID DURING GASTON SO THERE
IS TIME TO WAIT FOR A CLEARER PICTURE OF WHAT FRANCES WILL DO AFTER
IT MAKES LANDFALL AGAIN ALONG THE GULF COAST. GFS ACTUALLY INDICATES
HIGHER PRECIP AMOUNTS WILL REMAIN W OF THE AREA.
SHOULD SEE SOME RESIDUAL PRECIP FOR THU AND FRI AS UPR TROF MAKES
ITS WAY OFF THE COAST. BIG DIFFERENCES FROM YDAY AFTN RUNS WITH THE
EXTENDED FCST NOW INDICATING THE HIGH PRES SHOULD MOVE OFF THE COAST
AND HAVE MORE OF AN IMPACT IN DECREASING POPS FOR THAT TIME.
RELATIVELY WARM AND HUMID CONDITIONS FOR THE MID PART OF THE WEEK
WITH WARM S TO SW FLOW ALOFT AND ABUNDANT MOISTURE AHEAD OF FRANCES.
WILL CONTINUE WITH TEMPS RETURNING TO NEAR OR JUST BELOW CLIMO FOR
NEXT WEEKEND WITH A POTENTIAL NEW AIRMASS IN PLACE.
&&
WIND ADVISORY...WILL CONTINUE THE WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 6 AM MON BUT
EXPAND THE AREA TO INCLUDE THE INLAND PORTIONS OF THE COASTAL
COUNTIES OF SE GEORGIA AS WELL AS LONG COUNTY. THIS WILL BE ALL OF
CHATHAM...BRYAN...LIBERTY...MCINTOSH AND LONG COUNTIES. WINDS OF 30
TO 35 MPH ARE EXPECTED OVERNIGHT IN THOSE AREAS.
&&
COASTAL IMPACTS...PLAN TO CONTINUE THE HIGH SURF ADVISORY FOR THE
ENTIRE COASTAL AREA OR RESPONSIBLITY ALONG WITH THE HIGH RISK OF RIP
CURRENTS GIVEN LATEST REPORTS FROM AREA BEACHES WITH BREAKERS IN
EXCESS OF 4 OR 5 FT AND RIP CURRENTS HAVING BEEN SPOTTED. SURF
CONDITIONS REMAIN HAZARDOUS.
&&
.MARINE...HAZARDOUS MARINE CONDITIONS PERSIST ACROSS THE WTRS THIS
AFTN WITH VERY LARGE SURF STILL BATTERING THE BEACHES. NO CHANGES IN
THE SCA OR GALE WRNG ARE PLANNED FOR THIS PKG. SUSTAINED WINDS AT
41008 AND THE SABSOON TOWERS HAVE DIMINISHED JUST A TAD THIS AFTN
WITH FREQUENT GUSTS FALLING JUST SHY OF 34 KT...HWVR THE 17Z HIGH
RESOLUTION QUICKSCAT PASS SHOWED SEVERAL NON RAIN FLAGGED 35 KT WIND
BARBS THROUGHOUT MUCH OF GA WATERS. CAN NOT JUSTIFY DOWNGRADING THE
GALE WRNG ATTM ESP WITH THE OUTER BAND OF FRANCES APRCHG FROM THE S.
THE EVNG SHIFT CAN REVISIT THIS IF NEEDED BASED ON THE LATEST SHORT
TERM TRENDS. FARTHER N SOLID SCA CONDITIONS CONTINUE WITH GUSTS
APCHG 30 KT AT TIMES.
WINDS AND SEAS WILL TAKE A WHILE TO SUBSIDE AS FRANCES SLOWLY PUSHES
INTO THE WRN FL PNHDL AND SE AL. THE 12Z GFS APPEARS TO BEST IN LINE
WITH THE LASTEST NHC TRACK BUT THE MODEL WIND SPEEDS LOOK TOO
AGRESSIVE. USED A BLEND OF THE 12Z GFS AND CURRENT WIND GRID SET AS
A COMPROMISE. IT WL LIKLEY TAKE MUCH OF THIS WEEK FOR SEAS TO FALL
BELOW SCA CRITERIA. WW3 AND WW3H HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY THROWN OUT FOR
THE FIRST 48 HOURS AS THEY BOTH APPEAR TO HAVE INITIALIZED POORLY.
LOWERED SEAS SLIGHTLY FROM THE PREVIOUS FORECAST BUT IN ALL SOME
PRETTY HEFTY SEAS WL PERSIST THROUGH EARLY NEXT WEEK.
WL HAVE TO CAREFULLY WATCH MAJOR HURCN IVAN LATE AS SWELL MAY BEGIN
TO IMPACT THE AREA BY THE END OF THE WEEK OR THE WEEKEND.
&&
.CHS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
GA...HIGH SURF ADVISORY THROUGH 8 AM SUNDAY GAZ117-119-139-141.
WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 6 AM MONDAY GAZ116>119-137>141.
SC...HIGH SURF ADVISORY THROUGH 8 AM SUNDAY SCZ048>051.
MARINE...GALE WARNING AMZ354-374.
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY AMZ330-350-352.
&&
18/77HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC 502 AM EDT SUN SEP 5 2004 AMZ350-352-354-374-GAZ087-088-099>101-114>119-137>141-SCZ040-042>045- 047>051-060901- ALLENDALE-BEAUFORT-BERKELEY-BULLOCH-CANDLER-CHARLESTON-COASTAL BRYAN- COASTAL CHATHAM-COASTAL COLLETON-COASTAL JASPER-COASTAL LIBERTY- COASTAL MCINTOSH-DORCHESTER-EFFINGHAM-EVANS-HAMPTON-INLAND BRYAN- INLAND CHATHAM-INLAND COLLETON-INLAND JASPER-INLAND LIBERTY- INLAND MCINTOSH-JENKINS-LONG-SCREVEN-TATTNALL- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...CLAXTON...DARIEN...HALFMOON LANDING... HINESVILLE...LUDOWICI...METTER...MILLEN...PEMBROKE...REIDSVILLE... SAVANNAH...SPRINGFIELD...STATESBORO...SYLVANIA...TOWNSEND... WILMINGTON...WILMINGTON ISLAND...ALLENDALE...BEAUFORT...CHARLESTON... EDISTO BEACH...HAMPTON...HILTON HEAD ISLAND...MONCKS CORNER... RIDGELAND...SAINT GEORGE AND WALTERBORO 502 AM EDT SUN SEP 5 2004 ...HIGH SURF ADVISORY THROUGH MONDAY... ...HIGH RISK FOR RIP CURRENTS THROUGH MONDAY... ...WIND ADVISORY FOR THE GEORGIA COAST TODAY AND TONIGHT... ...GALE WARNING FOR THE GEORGIA COASTAL WATERS OUT 60 NM... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA... SOUTHEAST GEORGIA AND THE ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS FROM SOUTH SANTEE RIVER SOUTH CAROLINA TO ALTAMAHA SOUND GEORGIA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. .MARINE...THERE IS A HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS ALONG THE GEORGIA AND SOUTH CAROLINA COASTS. A HIGH SURF ADVISORY IS ALSO IN EFFECT AS LARGE WAVES OF 10 TO 15 FEET BREAK ALONG THE BEACHES. BEACH EROSION IS ALSO POSSIBLE PARTICULARLY AROUND THE TIME OF HIGH TIDE. PLEASE REFER TO THE LATEST SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...SURF ZONE FORECAST...AND COASTAL FLOOD STATEMENT FOR FURTHER INFORMATION. .STRONG WINDS...WINDS OF 25 TO 35 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED ALONG THE GA COAST TODAY AND TONIGHT. A WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT. IN ADDITION...GALE FORCE WINDS OF 30 TO 35 KT WILL PREVAIL OFF THE GA COAST OVER THE GEORGIA COASTAL WATERS OUT TO 60 NM. PLEASE REFER TO THE LATEST MARINE STATEMENT FOR FURTHER INFORMATION. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. .MARINE...THERE WILL BE A HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS ALONG THE GEORGIA AND SOUTH CAROLINA COASTS ON MONDAY. A HIGH SURF ADVISORY WILL ALSO BE IN EFFECT AS LARGE WAVES OF 10 TO 15 FEET BREAK ALONG THE BEACHES. BEACH EROSION IS ALSO POSSIBLE PARTICULARLY AROUND THE TIME OF HIGH TIDE. PLEASE REFER TO THE LATEST SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...SURF ZONE FORECAST...AND COASTAL FLOOD STATEMENT FOR FURTHER INFORMATION. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SKYWARN SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE REQUIRED TODAY OR TONIGHT.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC 347 PM EDT SUN SEP 5 2004 GAZ117-119-139-141-SCZ048>051-062100- BEAUFORT-CHARLESTON-COASTAL BRYAN-COASTAL CHATHAM-COASTAL COLLETON- COASTAL JASPER-COASTAL LIBERTY-COASTAL MCINTOSH- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...DARIEN...WILMINGTON...WILMINGTON ISLAND... BEAUFORT...CHARLESTON...EDISTO BEACH AND HILTON HEAD ISLAND 347 PM EDT SUN SEP 5 2004 ...A HIGH RISK FOR RIP CURRENTS CONTINUES... A HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS WILL CONTINUE ALONG THE BEACHES OF SOUTH COASTAL SOUTH CAROLINA AND SOUTHEAST GEORGIA FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND. A HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS MEANS THAT WIND AND OR WAVE CONDITIONS SUPPORT PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS RIP CURRENTS. RIP CURRENTS ARE LIFE THREATENING TO ANYONE ENTERING THE SURF. SWELLS FROM HURRICANE FRANCES ALONG WITH PERSISTENT ONSHORE WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO AFFECT THE COASTS OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND GEORGIA INTO EARLY WEEK...ENHANCING THE RISK OF RIP CURRENTS. RIP CURRENTS ARE STRONG NARROW CHANNELS OF WATER THAT FLOW AWAY FROM THE BEACH. IF YOU BECOME CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT...REMAIN CALM. TRY TO SWIM PARALLEL TO SHORE. ONCE YOU ARE AWAY FROM THE FORCE OF THE CURRENT...BEGIN TO SWIM BACK TO THE BEACH. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO SWIM DIRECTLY AGAINST A RIP CURRENT. EVEN A STRONG SWIMMER CAN BECOME EXHAUSTED QUICKLY. ALWAYS HEED THE ADVICE OF LIFEGUARDS. PAY ATTENTION TO FLAGS AND SIGNS POSTED NEAR BEACH ACCESS POINTS AND LIFEGUARD STATIONS.
The Jacksonville radar (KJAX), 101 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:31 UTC.
9 thunderstorm wind, 7 tornado, 6 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
A tornado caused damage along highway 99 between mile markers 7 and 8. Trees and power lines were knocked down and a porch was ripped off a house.
Thunderstorm winds knocked down trees. One tree fell onto a house.
Thunderstorm winds knocked down trees and power lines.
Thunderstorm winds knocked down trees.
Thunderstorm winds knocked down trees.
Thunderstorm winds knocked down trees, one of which fell on a house.
A weak tornado knocked down trees and large limbs and did damage to a roof.
Thunderstorms winds caused significant damage to a home on Grove Point Island.
A weak tornado knocked down trees and power lines.
A weak tornado knocked down trees in Bulloch county before moving into Candler county.
A weak tornado moved from Bulloch county into Candler county. The storm knocked down trees along its path.
Thunderstorm winds knocked down trees.
A weak F1 tornado knocked down and snapped numerous trees.
Thunderstorm winds knocked trees and large limbs down.
A tornado knocked down trees and power lines and destroyed a fence. The tornado tracked into Jasper county South Carolina before dissipating.
Heavy rainfall flooded numerous roads including portions of Highway 121 and 23.
Heavy rainfall flooded roads throughout the county.
Heavy rainfall flooded roads across the county.
Heavy rainfall flooded roads across the county.
Thunderstorm winds knocked down trees.
Heavy rainfall caused many roads throughout the county to be closed.
Heavy rain caused flooded roads.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Georgia in 2004Every state in 2004This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Georgia, 2004Warnings in Georgia, September 2004
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5422913, 5422912, 5422914, 5422915, 5422917, 5422916, 5422918, 5422919, 5422920, 5422997, 5422998, 5422999, 5423000, 5423001, 5423002, 5423006, 5423007, 5423008, 5423009, 5423003, 5423004, 5423005.