A powerful coastal storm off in the Atlantic produced high winds and dangerous surf conditions.
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.
A powerful coastal storm off in the Atlantic produced high winds and dangerous surf conditions.
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 8, 9:24 AM EST, 5 hours 6 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
1024 AM EDT TUE MAY 8 2007
...INTENSE LOW PRES CONTINUES OFF THE SE GA/NE FL COASTS...
.SHORT TERM /THIS AFTERNOON/...THE WRN EXTENT OF THE CLOUDINESS
ASSOCIATED WITH THE STORM SYSTEM LOCATED ABOUT 220 NM SE OF
CHARLESTON AND 240 NM ESE OF SAVANNAH ARE SKIRTING THE CHARLESTON
COUNTY COAST AT THIS TIME. WHILE THERE HAS BEEN A LITTLE LIGHT RAIN
OVER SC EARLIER THIS MORNING...THE BEST CONVERGENCE WITH THE LOW IS
STILL FOUND NO CLOSER THAN ABOUT 30 NM OFF THE COAST.
THE LOW WILL DRIFT W DURING THIS AFTERNOON...AND WE WILL GRADUALLY
SEE INCREASING MOISTURE AND A SLIGHT INCREASE IN LOW LEVEL
CONVERGENCE SPREADING INTO THE CWFA...ESP ALONG COASTAL AREAS OF SC.
HOWEVER...BEST CONVERGENCE AND DEEPEST MOISTURE LOOKS TO REMAIN OVER
THE ATLC. THIS WILL DELAY THE INCREASE IN CLOUD COVER AND THE START
TIME OF THE PRECIP...BUT THAT IN TURN WILL ALLOW FOR SLIGHTLY HIGHER
TEMPS THAN NOW IN THE FCST. AS A RESULT I WILL MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS
TO CLOUD COVER /A SLOWER INCREASE...TO POPS /TO DELAY THE
ONSET/...AND ALSO TO TEMPS /RAISING MAXES A FEW DEGREES/.
&&
.STRONG WINDS...WIND SPEEDS HAVE BEEN RATHER SLOW TO RESPOND TO THE
INCOMING STRONG COASTAL LOW PRES SYSTEM...AS SHOWN BY INLAND WINDS
OF 10-20MPH WITH GUSTS 20-30MPH FOR MOST LOCATIONS...BUT SOME
ISOLATED LOCATIONS ARE NOT EVEN YET AT 10 MPH. AM A BIT CONCERNED
ABOUT JUST HOW MUCH WINDS WE WILL ACTUALLY SEE TDA...GIVEN THAT
COPIOUS SUNSHINE COMBINED WITH KCHS RAOB 2K WINDS OF 40-45 KT ARE
NOT MIXING OUT TOO WELL ATTM. HOWEVER...NAM 925MB WINDS STILL SHOW
40-50 KT BY LATE AFTN WHICH SHOULD MIX DOWN ENOUGH TO GIVE WIND ADVY
CRITERIA INLAND WITH HIGH WIND WRNG CRITERIA NEAR THE COAST. WILL
NEED TO TWEAK WINDS TO SHOW AN INCRG TREND THROUGH THE AFTN HOURS AS
THAT LOOKS TO BE THE CASE GIVEN PLENTY OF SUNSHINE AND A SLOWING
SWWD FORWARD PROGRESSION OF THIS STORM.
SIMILARLY...PINEVILLE IS ONLY REPORTING 10G20MPH BUT WITH WIND
SPEEDS FROM THE N...THIS IS NOT REPRESENTATIVE OF WHAT IS LIKELY
HIGHER WIND SPEEDS OVER THE OPEN LAKE WATERS.
WILL LET THE HEADLINES RIDE AS THEY ARE CURRENTLY DELINEATED AND
RE-EVALUATE ADVY/WRNG AREAS FOR THE FULL PKG THIS AFTERNOON.
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...WV IMAGERY SHOWS A SWATH OF DRIER AIR SWINGING SWD
THROUGH THE CENTRAL AND WRN PORTIONS OF THE CWFA WELL W OF THE
MOISTURE ASSOCIATED WITH THE STRONG COASTAL LOW. CONSIDERING THAT
THIS DRY AIR WILL BE SLOWEST TO MOVE THROUGH INLAND SE GA... AND
TIME HEIGHTS/SOUNDINGS INDICATE DEEP DRY AIR TO BE RESIDENT OVER
THIS AREA MUCH OF THE DAY AND CURRENTLY PLENTY OF SUNSHINE...AM A
BIT CONCERNED THAT FCST RH/S MAY BE TOO HIGH. ATTM...DO NOT FEEL RFW
CRITERIA WILL BE REACHED WITH SEEING RH/S LESS THAN 25 PERCENT FOR
AT LEAST 4 HOURS...BUT A FEW LOCATIONS MAY SEE AN HOURS OR TWO OF
CRITICAL RH/S BEFORE CLOUDS AND DEEPER MOISTURE RETURNS LATER TDA.
WINDS WILL VERY LIKELY REACH CRITICAL LEVELS...SO WILL UPDATE THE
FWF SHORTLY TO INCLUDE LOWER RH VALUES AND TO INCLUDE AN RH HEADLINE.
&&
.MARINE...POTENT COASTAL LOW CENTERED NEAR 30.2N/77.5W IS STILL
SPINNING ITS WAY SWWD TWD THE N FL COAST BUT IS EXPECTED TO TRACK
MORE WLY LATER TDA AND BEGIN TO SLIGHTLY WEAKEN WHILE HIGH PRES
STILL REMAINS OVER THE APPALACHIANS. 41004 AND FRYING PAN BUOY ARE
BOTH SHOWING SUSTAINED 30-35 KT WITH GUSTS 35-40 KT ALONG WITH SEAS
12-16 FT. IN ADDITION...RECENT CHAS PILOT BOAT REPORT HAD 30-35 KT
WINDS WITH 5-7 FT SEAS ABOUT 10 NM OFFSHORE. THESE CONDS ARE
EXPECTED TO WORSEN THROUGH THE DAY...ESP INTO TNGT...SO SEE NO
REASON TO DEVIATE FROM CURRENT HEADLINES. MAY TWEAK THE WIND SPEEDS
A BIT TO SHOW WORSENING CONDS LATE IN THE AFTN...BUT THE NET RESULT
OF STORM WARNING CONDS FOR SC NEARSHORE/GA OFFSHORE WATERS AND GALE
WARNING CONDS FOR GA NEARSHORE WATERS ARE EXPECTED TO BE MET.
&&
.COASTAL IMPACTS...TIDES CONTINUE TO RUN BETWEEN 1 AND 2 FT ABOVE
PREDICTED LEVELS WITH HIGH SURF ASSOCIATED WITH THE INTENSE LOW OFF
THE SE GA/NE FL COASTS THIS MORNING. WE HAVE ISSUED A FEW SPECIAL
TIDE REPORTS EARLIER THIS MORNING WITH DEPARTURES OF 1.5 FT MLLW OR
GREATER AT CHARLESTON AND FORT PULASKI/SAVANNAH.
ALTHOUGH WE WILL SEE TIDAL DEPARTURES OF 1-2 FT ABOVE PREDICTED
LEVELS THROUGH THE DAY...WE DO NOT SEE ANY COASTAL FLOODING PROBLEMS
WITH THE NEXT HIGH TIDE EARLY THIS AFTERNOON. WILL CONTINUE TO WATCH
FOR ANY COASTAL FLOODING CONCERNS WITH THE HIGHER TIDE AFTER
MIDNIGHT TONIGHT.
BEACH EROSION WILL CONTINUE...ESP NEAR THE TIMES OF HIGH TIDE.
NO CHANGES TO HIGH SURF ADVISORY...ALTHOUGH WILL ADD MORE DETAIL TO
BREAKING WAVES IN THE SURF ZONE WHICH WILL BE SOMEWHAT LIMITED DUE
TO OFFSHORE FETCH.
&&
.RIP CURRENTS...THE COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS /ALBEIT FROM AN
OFFSHORE DIRECTION/ AND SMALL SWELLS WILL AGAIN PRODUCE A HIGH RISK
OF RIP CURRENTS AT AREA BEACHES AGAIN TODAY.
&&
.AVIATION /12Z-12Z/...
AFTER A PERIOD OF LOW LEVEL WIND SHEAR THIS MORNING...STRONG
N/NNE WINDS WILL MIX TO THE SURFACE AT BOTH TERMINALS. MEANWHILE...
MVFR CIGS WILL CONTINUE TO ROTATE AROUND THE OCEAN STORM. BRIEF
PERIODS OF MVFR CIGS HAD ALREADY OCCURRED AT BOTH TERMINALS THIS
MORNING...BUT DRY LOW LEVEL AIR CONTINUED TO ERODE THE WESTERN
PERIPHERY OF THE CLOUD SHIELD. EVENTUALLY...AS THE ATLANTIC LOW
DRIFTS WEST...LOW LEVEL MOISTURE WILL INCREASE SUFFICIENTLY TO
SUPPORT PREVAILING MVFR CIGS...EARLY THIS AFTERNOON AT KCHS AND
LATER THIS AFTERNOON AT KSAV. ALSO...SHOWERS/THUNDERSTORMS
ASSOCIATED WITH THE LOW PRESSURE WERE APPROACHING THE COAST...BUT
DRY AIR WAS ALSO DELAYING PROGRESS INTO THE TERMINALS. THERE REMAINS
UNCERTAINTY ABOUT WHEN SHOWERS/THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT THE
TERMINALS...ISOLATED ACTIVITY COULD DEVELOP BY LATER THIS MORNING
BUT MORE PREVALENT PRECIP COULD HOLD OFF UNTIL LATER TODAY OR
TONIGHT. 12Z TAFS DEPICT LOWERING CIGS WITH SHOWERS PUSHING INTO
BOTH TERMINALS AFTER MIDNIGHT...AND IFR CIGS COULD DEVELOP BEFORE
12Z. EXPECT ADJUSTMENTS TO THIS TIMING TODAY. FINALLY...LOW LEVEL
WIND SHEAR COULD REDEVELOP OVERNIGHT...IF THE BOUNDARY LAYER
ATTEMPTS TO DECOUPLE.
&&
.CHS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
GA...WIND ADVISORY FROM 11 AM TO 11 PM EDT TUESDAY FOR GAZ087-088-
099-100-114-115.
WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 5 AM EDT WEDNESDAY FOR GAZ116-118-137-138-
140.
HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 11 PM EDT TUESDAY FOR GAZ117-119-139-
141.
HIGH SURF ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM EDT WEDNESDAY FOR GAZ117-119-139-
141.
WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 11 AM EDT WEDNESDAY FOR GAZ101.
SC...WIND ADVISORY FROM 11 AM TO 11 PM EDT TUESDAY FOR SCZ040.
HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 11 PM EDT TUESDAY FOR SCZ045-048>051.
HIGH SURF ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM EDT WEDNESDAY FOR
SCZ048>051.
WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 11 AM EDT WEDNESDAY FOR SCZ042>044-047.
MARINE...STORM WARNING UNTIL 5 AM EDT WEDNESDAY FOR
AMZ350-352-374.
GALE WARNING UNTIL 5 AM EDT WEDNESDAY FOR AMZ330-354.
&&
33/JPC/SPRHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC 1201 PM EDT TUE MAY 8 2007 GAZ087-088-099-100-114-115-SCZ040-090800- JENKINS-SCREVEN-CANDLER-BULLOCH-TATTNALL-EVANS-ALLENDALE- 1201 PM EDT TUE MAY 8 2007 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM EDT THIS EVENING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHEAST GEORGIA AND SOUTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. WIND ADVISORY .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. GAZ116-118-137-138-140-090800- INLAND BRYAN-INLAND CHATHAM-LONG-INLAND LIBERTY-INLAND MCINTOSH- 1201 PM EDT TUE MAY 8 2007 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 AM EDT WEDNESDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHEAST GEORGIA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. WIND ADVISORY .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. GAZ117-119-139-141-SCZ048>051-090800- COASTAL BRYAN-COASTAL CHATHAM-COASTAL LIBERTY-COASTAL MCINTOSH- BEAUFORT-COASTAL COLLETON-CHARLESTON-COASTAL JASPER- 1201 PM EDT TUE MAY 8 2007 ...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM EDT THIS EVENING... ...HIGH SURF ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EDT WEDNESDAY... ...HIGH RISK FOR RIP CURRENTS THIS AFTERNOON... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHEAST GEORGIA AND SOUTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. HIGH WIND WARNING HIGH SURF ADVISORY .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. HIGH SURF ADVISORY .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. GAZ101-SCZ042>044-047-090800- EFFINGHAM-HAMPTON-INLAND COLLETON-DORCHESTER-INLAND JASPER- 1201 PM EDT TUE MAY 8 2007 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM EDT WEDNESDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHEAST GEORGIA AND SOUTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. WIND ADVISORY .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. WIND ADVISORY .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. SCZ045-090800- BERKELEY- 1201 PM EDT TUE MAY 8 2007 ...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR LAKE MOULTRIE... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. HIGH WIND WARNING .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. AMZ350-352-374-090800- 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 EXTENDING FROM 20 TO 60 NM- 1201 PM EDT TUE MAY 8 2007 ...STORM WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 AM EDT WEDNESDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR ATLANTIC COASTAL WATERS. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. STORM WARNING .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. AMZ330-354-090800- CHARLESTON HARBOR- WATERS FROM SAVANNAH GA TO ALTAMAHA SOUND GA OUT 20 NM...INCLUDING GRAYS REEF NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY- 1201 PM EDT TUE MAY 8 2007 ...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 AM EDT WEDNESDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR ATLANTIC COASTAL WATERS. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. GALE WARNING .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
1228 PM EDT TUE MAY 08 2007
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1111 AM HIGH SURF 4 ENE SULLIVANS ISLAND 32.79N 79.78W
05/08/2007 CHARLESTON SC COUNTY OFFICIAL
MINOR BEACH EROSION AT ISLE OF PALMS COUNTY PARK.
1116 AM HIGH SURF SULLIVANS ISLAND 32.76N 79.84W
05/08/2007 CHARLESTON SC FIRE DEPT/RESCUE
MINOR BEACH EROSION.
1120 AM RIP CURRENTS FOLLY BEACH 32.65N 79.94W
05/08/2007 CHARLESTON SC COUNTY OFFICIAL
NASTY RIP CURRENT SPOTTED SOUTHWEST OF THE FISHING PIER.
3 TO 4 FOOT SWELLS. MINOR BEACH EROSION.
1135 AM HIGH SURF HUNTING ISLAND 32.38N 80.44W
05/08/2007 BEAUFORT SC PARK/FOREST SRVC
SEVERAL FEET OF SAND LOST WITH THE LAST HIGH TIDE AT
AROUND 1 AM AT THE SOUTH END OF HUNTING ISLAND STATE
PARK.
&&
VB1 high surf. Local standard time, as filed.
Two kayakers went into the surf off of Kiawah Island. They were swept offshore where the kayak overturned. One person was rescued 18 hours later. The other perished and the body was recovered on May 11th.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High Surf, Charleston | 2007-05-08 | 27 | Male | In Water | Direct |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in South Carolina in 2007Every state in 2007This day in weather historyWarnings in South Carolina, May 2007
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: 33298.