Tornado in Georgia, May 20, 2005

Name: Tornado in Georgia, May 20, 2005
Start: 2005-05-20T17:00
End: 2005-05-20T17:00
Location: Georgia

May 20, 2005 · NWS CHS · 1 event in 1 county or zone

1 tornado, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 1

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.

What forecasters said that day

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 May 20, 1:40 PM EST, 3 hours 20 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 20, 1:40 PM EST, 3 hours 20 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
240 PM EDT FRI MAY 20 2005

.SHORT TERM /TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY/...SVR WATCH 301 REMAINS IN
EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM THIS EVENING. EXPECT SHOWERS AND STRONG/SEVERE
STORMS TO CONTINUE FIRING RAPIDLY ACROSS THE AREA IN AN INCREASINGLY
UNSTABLE ATMOSPHERE. LAPS ANALYSIS INDICATE CAPES BETWEEN 2500 AND
3000 J/KG ACROSS OUR SE GA COUNTIES AND PARTS OF EXTREME SOUTHERN
SC. MULTICELL LINE NOW ACROSS CENTRAL GA/SC WILL LIKELY EXPAND AND
INTENSIFY THROUGH THE EVENING AS IT ENCOUNTERS THE STRONG
INSTABILITY. SEVERAL WEAK S/W FEATURES EMBEDDED IN MEAN H7 FLOW ARE
EVIDENT ON VIS SATELLITE AS SEVERAL CLUSTERS OF STORMS FIRING BEHIND
MAIN SC/GA LINE. LOOKS LIKE TONIGHT WILL REMAIN ACTIVE WX-WISE AS
THESE FEATURES ROTATE THROUGH THE AREA IN ADVANCE OF MAIN FRONTAL
BAND. WILL MAINTAIN DEFINITE POPS INTO THE EVENING WITH SEVERE
STORMS MENTIONED...THEN LIKELY EVERYWHERE THROUGH THE NIGHT. COLD
FRONT SHOULD SWEEP ACROSS THE AREA BETWEEN 12 AND 15Z
SATURDAY...CLEARING OUT MOST PRECIP BUT LEAVING SOME LINGERING LOW
CLOUDS THROUGH EARLY AFTERNOON. EXPECT CLOUDS TO CLEAR OUT DURING
THE AFTERNOON.

&&

.LONG TERM /SAT NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/...FULL CLEARING SHOULD TAKE
PLACE LATE ON SAT AS DRIER AIR STARTS TO FILTER DOWN INTO THE AREA.
SFC HIGH WILL MOVE OVER THE AREA ON SUN WITH LIGHT WINDS AND MOSTLY
SUNNY SKIES.  ANOTHER STRONG WAVE WILL BE DIGGING THROUGH THE GT
LAKES ON SUN NIGHT INTO MON...INCREASING SW FLOW AND MOISTURE ON
MON.  THIS SYSTEM WILL DIG THROUGH THE APPALACHIANS ON MON WITH
ANOTHER FRONTAL PASSAGE BY EARLY TUE MORNING.  WILL GO WITH MAINLY
PC SKIES THROUGH MID WEEK UNDER GENERAL NW UPPER FLOW.  WILL LIKELY
BE A FEW DISTURBANCES THROUGH MID AND LATE WEEK BUT TOO HARD TO
PINPOINT CLOUD COVER AND LOW CHC OF RAIN.  DID INTRODUCE SOME SLIGHT
POP INTO NEXT WEEKEND WITH WEAK GRADIENT AND GOOD SEABREEZE
CONDITIONS.

&&

.MARINE...DID NOT MAKE ANY MAJOR CHANGES TO THE ONGOING FORECAST DUE
TO SVR WEATHER APPROACHING FROM THE WEST.  STILL APPEARS TO BE A
SURGE EARLY SAT AS FRONT PUSHES THROUGH.  WILL CONTINUE TO ADVERTISE
SCA FOR THE OFFSHORE GA AND CAP WINDS BELOW CRITERIA FOR THE
REMAINDER OF THE WATERS.  HIGH MOVES OVER THE AREA BRINGING LIGHT
WINDS WITH A SLIGHT INCREASE IN SPEEDS COME MON AHEAD OF NEXT
FRONT.  WILL KEEP SPEEDS MODERATE BEHIND FRONT EARLY TUE MORNING
LASTING THROUGH MID WEEK WITH AN OFFSHORE DIRECTION.  ADVECTION WILL
BE MINIMAL SO GRADIENT SHOULD REMAIN FAIRLY LIGHT.

&&

.AVIATION...CONVECTION WILL INCREASE OVER THE NEXT HOUR OR SO AROUND
THE CHS AND SAV TERMINALS.  HAIL AND SVR WIND A POSSIBILITY AS THE
S/W TROF PUSH THROUGH LATE TONIGHT.  WILL HAVE TO CONTINUE THE
THREAT OF TS THROUGH THE EVENING HOURS AS MORE ADDITIONAL TS/SH ARE
FORMING OVER PORTIONS OF THE TN VALLEY AND UPSTATE GA.  FRONT IS
STILL LOOKING GOOD FOR EARLY MORNING HOURS WITH A NORTHERLY WIND
SHIFT AND SHUTOFF OF POP AROUND DAWN.

&&

.CHS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
GA...SVR WATCH 301 UNTIL 8PM ALL ZONES.
SC...SVR WATCH 301 UNTIL 8PM ALL ZONES.
MARINE...SVR WATCH 301 UNTIL 8PM FOR AMZ330-350-352-354.

&&

PY/JRL

Hazardous weather outlook, May 20, 12:30 PM EST, 4 hours 30 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
130 PM EDT FRI MAY 20 2005

AMZ330-350-352-354-374-GAZ087-088-099>101-114>119-137>141-SCZ040-
042>045-047>051-211000-
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-
130 PM EDT FRI MAY 20 2005

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM THIS EVENING...

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...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.
.SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS...A WARM AND UNSTABLE AIRMASS IN PLACE ACROSS
THE AREA THIS AFTERNOON AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT WILL AID IN THE
DEVELOPMENT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY DOWNPOURS AND
FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING.  LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS
WILL BE THE PRIMARY THREAT.  PLEASE REFER TO THE LATEST SEVERE
WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.
NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

RJB

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 20, 4:07 PM EST, 53 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
507 PM EDT FRI MAY 20 2005

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0500 PM     TSTM WND GST     HILTON HEAD ISLAND      32.22N 80.75W
05/20/2005  60 MPH           BEAUFORT           SC   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

            F.D. ESTIMATED WIND GUSTS OF 60 MPH BETWEEN 455 AND 500
            PM.

&&

JRL

Special weather statement, May 20, 4:18 PM EST, 42 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
518 PM EDT FRI MAY 20 2005

GAZ116>119-SCZ051-202145-
COASTAL BRYAN-COASTAL CHATHAM-COASTAL JASPER-INLAND BRYAN-INLAND
CHATHAM-
518 PM EDT FRI MAY 20 2005

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT JASPER COUNTY...BRYAN COUNTY AND
CHATHAM COUNTY THROUGH 545 PM EDT...

AT 518 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM CENTERED OVER BLOOMINGDALE...OR ABOUT 11 MILES
WEST OF SAVANNAH...MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH.

THIS STRONG THUNDERSTORM...AND OTHERS THAT DEVELOP ALONG COLLIDING
BOUNDARIES WILL AFFECT AREAS IN AND AROUND RICHMOND HILL...PORT
ROYAL...BRISBON...BLOOMINGDALE...TUTENS...WILLIAMS...POOLER...RABBIT
HILL...MONTEITH AND PARTS OF THE SAVANNAH METRO AREA THROUGH 545 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.

MOVE INSIDE IMMEDIATELY IF STORMS APPROACH YOUR LOCATION.

TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER ONLY...PLEASE CONTACT THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE IN CHARLESTON TOLL FREE AT 1-888-383-2024.

33

Local storm report, May 20, 4:33 PM EST, 27 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
533 PM EDT FRI MAY 20 2005

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0400 PM     TSTM WND DMG     14 NW BENNETTS POINT    32.70N 80.62W
05/20/2005                   COLLETON           SC   PARK/FOREST SRVC

            TREES DOWN ALONG BENNETTS POINT ROAD NEAR THE
            INTERSECTION OF HIGHWAY 17.

&&

PAY

Local storm report, May 20, 4:35 PM EST, 25 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
535 PM EDT FRI MAY 20 2005

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0430 PM     MARINE TSTM WIND 2 E EDISTO BEACH        32.48N 80.30W
05/20/2005  46 MPH           XXX                XX   MESONET

            46 MPH WIND GUST AT EDISTO BEACH.

&&

PAY

Local storm report, May 20, 4:40 PM EST, 20 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
540 PM EDT FRI MAY 20 2005

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0535 PM     HAIL             POOLER                  32.12N 81.25W
05/20/2005  0.75 INCH        CHATHAM            GA   PUBLIC

&&

PAY

Local storm report, May 20, 4:59 PM EST, 1 minute before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
559 PM EDT FRI MAY 20 2005

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0515 PM     HAIL             HARBORTOWN              32.13N 80.81W
05/20/2005  0.88 INCH        BEAUFORT           SC   PUBLIC

            PENNY TO NICKEL SIZE HAIL AT THE HARBOR TOWN LIGHTHOUSE.

&&

PAY

The radar

The Charleston,SC radar (KCLX), 77 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:57 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.

Tornado, Chatham

When: May 20, 5:00 PM EST
Where: Chatham County, 6 mi E of Wilmington Is
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.8 mi
Path width: 40 yd
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 31.970, -80.900

F0 tornado on Tybee Island. Mainly tree damage.

What these are

Tornado: A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Georgia in 2005 Every state in 2005 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Georgia, 2005 Warnings in Georgia, May 2005

Sources

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: 5450292.