A weak cold front moving through the southeast United States resulted in a few strong to severe thunderstorms across southeast Georgia.
Every event with a place to put it. 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.
A weak cold front moving through the southeast United States resulted in a few strong to severe thunderstorms across 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 Aug 8, 2:40 PM EST, 58 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC 340 PM EDT FRI AUG 8 2008 .SYNOPSIS... A WEAK PRESSURE PATTERN WILL REMAIN IN PLACE OVER THE AREA THROUGH EARLY NEXT WEEK. A SERIES OF LOW PRESSURE SYSTEMS MAY AFFECT THE AREA MID TO LATE WEEK. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM SATURDAY MORNING/... CURRENTLY AT THE SURFACE...A COLD FRONT STRETCHES FROM AN AREA OF LOW PRESSURE OVER SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND SOUTHWESTWARD ALONG THE NORTH CAROLINA COAST THROUGH SOUTHERN SOUTH CAROLINA AND SOUTHEAST GEORGIA AND INTO THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE. MEANWHILE AN IMPRESSIVE UPPER LEVEL TROUGH IS CONTINUE TO PUSH SOUTHEASTWARD INTO THE FORECAST AREA AS SEEN IN WATER VAPOR IMAGERY. VISIBLE SATELLITE IMAGERY REVEALS MOSTLY CLOUDY CONDITIONS ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA...WITH SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING EAST OF A WELL DEFINED DEWPOINT GRADIENT STRETCHING THROUGH WESTERN ZONES. MAIN NEAR TERM CONCERN FOR TONIGHT REVOLVES AROUND POPS THIS EVENING. THE UPPER LEVEL TROUGH WILL CONTINUE TO PUSH SOUTHEASTWARD THROUGH THE FORECAST AREA THIS EVENING...AND THIS WILL ALLOW THE WEAK COLD FRONT TO SHIFT SOUTHEASTWARD THROUGH THE FORECAST AREA. A WEAK RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE WILL THEN BUILD INTO THE REGION OVERNIGHT. WILL MENTION SOME SLIGHT CHANCE POPS THIS EVENING MAINLY ACROSS FAR SOUTHEASTERN ZONES...WITH DRY CONDITIONS ELSEWHERE. EXPECT ALL AREAS TO REMAIN DRY AFTER MIDNIGHT. WITH CLEARING SKIES...LIGHT OR CALM WINDS AND DEWPOINTS REMAINING ELEVATED OVERNIGHT...EXPECT SOME PATCHY FOG TO DEVELOP ACROSS THE AREA...AND HAVE INCLUDED MENTION IN THE FORECAST AFTER MIDNIGHT. && .SHORT TERM /6 AM SATURDAY MORNING THROUGH 6 PM SATURDAY/... BEAUTIFUL WEATHER IS IN STORE FOR THE LOW COUNTRY ON SATURDAY...WITH HIGH PRESSURE IN CONTROL OF THE AREAS WEATHER. EXPECT PLENTY OF SUNSHINE ALONG WITH UNSEASONABLY LOW HUMIDITY LEVELS AS AN UNUSUALLY DRY AIRMASS FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR MOVES INTO THE AREA. AFTERNOON HIGHS ARE EXPECTED TO TOP IN THE UPPER 80S TO LOWER 90S AWAY FROM THE BEACHES. && .LONG TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/... AN UNSEASONABLY STRONG/DEEP UPPER TROUGH...AND AN ASSOCIATED/BROAD BAROCLINIC ZONE...WILL REMAIN OVER THE SOUTHEAST THROUGH EARLY NEXT. SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY...MODEL SOUNDINGS APPEAR QUITE DRY...THUS WILL MAINTAIN RAIN FREE FORECASTS THROUGH THAT PERIOD. CANNOT RULE OUT ISOLATED BRIEF THUNDERSTORMS ALONG THE SEA BREEZE SUNDAY AFTERNOON...BUT POPS WILL REMAIN BELOW 15 PERCENT. SURFACE FEATURES REMAIN WILL DEFINED MONDAY INTO TUESDAY. A STRONG SHORTWAVE WILL DIG INTO THE GREAT LAKES THEN WILL SWING EAST ACROSS THE NE US...REINFORCING THE UPPER TROUGH AND PUSHING A WEAKENING COLD FRONT TOWARD THE REGION. 12Z GUIDANCE SUGGESTS THAT A WEAK SURFACE LOW MAY DEVELOP WITHIN THE BAROCLINIC ZONE ALONG/NEAR THIS BOUNDARY. IN FACT...THE 12Z NAM SUGGESTS THAT THIS WAVE WILL PRODUCE SHOWERS/THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS NORTHERN COUNTIES SUNDAY NIGHT INTO MONDAY. CONFIDENCE IN THIS SOLUTION IS LOW. HOWEVER...AT THE VERY LEAST...THE BOUNDARY SHOULD STALL ACROSS THE REGION...REMAINING IN PLACE AS A STATIONARY DEWPOINT BOUNDARY/SURFACE TROUGH OVER OR JUST INLAND FROM THE FORECAST AREA...PERHAPS TIGHTENING THE DIFFUSE BAROCLINIC ZONE OVER THE REGION. THIS IN TURN MAY POOL SLIGHTLY DEEPER MOISTURE...MORE FAVORABLE FOR ISOLATED TO SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS...ESPECIALLY AS THE SEA BREEZE PUSHES INLAND EACH AFTERNOON/EVENING. THUS...CONTINUED SLIGHT CHANCE POPS MONDAY PM...FOLLOWED BY SLIGHT CHANCE POPS TUESDAY. WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY...THE POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR A PERIOD OF UNSETTLED CONDITIONS. THE E/NE LONGWAVE UPPER TROUGH WILL WEAKEN AND LIFT NE. HOWEVER...AN ILL-DEFINED SURFACE BOUNDARY...PROBABLY MARKED BY A DIFFUSE DEWPOINT DISCONTINUITY...AND ASSOCIATED BAROCLINIC ZONE WILL REMAIN OVER THE SE. MEANWHILE...MEDIUM RANGE GUIDANCE SUGGESTS THAT ONE OR TWO SHORTWAVES WILL AMPLIFY WITHIN THE JET AXIS W/NW OF THE FORECAST AREA...PUSHING E/SE AND INTERACTING WITH THE BAROCLINIC ZONE. THE RESULTING ASCENT MAY PROMOTE SURFACE CYCLOGENESIS... ENHANCING DEEP LAYER MOISTURE AND SUPPORTING INCREASED COVERAGE OF SHOWERS/THUNDERSTORMS OVER OR CLOSE TO THE REGION. PER MANUAL HPC GUIDANCE...SURFACE WAVES MAY PUSH THROUGH THE REGION WEDNESDAY AND AGAIN FRIDAY. IN GENERAL...GUIDANCE TRENDS FAVORED INCREASED POPS WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. HOWEVER...BECAUSE CONFIDENCE REGARDING POSITION/EVOLUTION OF FEATURES REMAINS LESS THAN IDEAL...LIMITED HIGHEST POPS TO THE 30-50 PERCENT RANGE THROUGH THIS PERIOD. && .AVIATION /20Z FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... FOR THE CHARLESTON TERMINAL...VISIBLE SATELLITE DEPICTS CLOUDS CONTINUING TO HOLD OVER THE AREA AT LEAST THROUGH THE AFTERNOON BEFORE CLEARING OUT EARLY TONIGHT. HAVE ONLY MENTION OF CB FOR THE FACT THAT THE CLOUDS HAVE HELD TEMPERATURES DOWN WHICH IS A BIG FACTOR IN INSTABILITY AND THE START OF CONVECTION. FOR THE SAVANNAH TERMINAL...VISIBLE SATELLITE DEPICTS CLOUDS STARTING TO BREAK UP WHICH WILL ALLOW TEMPERATURES TO CLIMB A FEW DEGREES AND MAY INSTIGATE SOME CONVECTION DEVELOPING IN/NEAR THE AIRPORT. WITH CLEAR SKIES...LIGHT WINDS AND LOW LEVEL MOISTURE IN PLACE...EXPECT MVFR VISIBILITIES TO OCCUR LATE TONIGHT AT BOTH TERMINALS. EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK...OUTSIDE OF ANY ISOLATED OR SCATTERED CONVECTION THAT MAY BRIEFLY IMPACT TERMINALS...VFR CONDITIONS WILL PREVAIL. && .MARINE... A WEAK COLD FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH THE WATERS TONIGHT...WITH HIGH PRESSURE THEN BUILDING BACK INTO THE AREA ON SATURDAY. EXPECT TRANQUIL WEATHER OVER THE WATERS TONIGHT AND SATURDAY WITH A WEAK PRESSURE PATTERN RESULTING IN WINDS AT OR BELOW 10 KNOTS AND SEAS AT OR BELOW 3 FEET. EXPECT A RELATIVELY WEAK PRESSURE PATTERN ACROSS THE REGION SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH AT LEAST MONDAY...THUS EXPECT WINDS/SEAS TO REMAIN BELOW SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THRESHOLDS. STRONGEST WINDS WILL OCCUR WITH THE AFTERNOON/EARLY EVENING SEA BREEZE AND WITH MODEST NOCTURNAL SURGING. TUESDAY...A SURFACE LOW MAY DEVELOP INLAND WEST OF THE WATERS...AND THIS FEATURE MAY TRACK OVER OR CLOSE TO THE WATERS WEDNESDAY. THERE REMAINS MUCH UNCERTAINTY REGARDING THE TRACK/INTENSITY OF THIS FEATURE...BUT THE POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR A TIGHTENING SURFACE PRESSURE GRADIENT AND INCREASING WINDS/BUILDING SEAS TOWARD MIDWEEK. && .CHS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... GA...NONE. SC...NONE. MARINE...NONE. && JRJ/SPR
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC 1115 AM EDT FRI AUG 8 2008 GAZ087-088-099-SCZ040-042>045-091000- JENKINS-SCREVEN-CANDLER-ALLENDALE-HAMPTON-INLAND COLLETON-DORCHESTER- BERKELEY- 1115 AM EDT FRI AUG 8 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHEAST GEORGIA AND SOUTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. GAZ100-101-114>119-137>141-SCZ047>051-091000- BULLOCH-EFFINGHAM-TATTNALL-EVANS-INLAND BRYAN-COASTAL BRYAN- INLAND CHATHAM-COASTAL CHATHAM-LONG-INLAND LIBERTY-COASTAL LIBERTY- INLAND MCINTOSH-COASTAL MCINTOSH-INLAND JASPER-BEAUFORT- COASTAL COLLETON-CHARLESTON-COASTAL JASPER- 1115 AM EDT FRI AUG 8 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHEAST GEORGIA AND SOUTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS...SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP THIS AFTERNOON...AND SOME OF THE THUNDERSTORMS COULD BECOME SEVERE. THE MAIN HAZARDS FROM ANY SEVERE STORMS THAT DEVELOP WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL. CONDITIONS WILL ALSO FAVOR EXCESSIVE CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING AND TORRENTIAL RAINFALL. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. AMZ330-350-352-354-374-091000- 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- 1115 AM EDT FRI AUG 8 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR ATLANTIC COASTAL WATERS. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS...SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP THIS AFTERNOON...SOME OF WHICH COULD BECOME SEVERE. THE STRONGEST STORMS THAT DEVELOP WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING WIND GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 50 KNOTS AND LARGE HAIL. IN ADDITION...ANY THUNDERSTORMS THAT DEVELOP COULD PRODUCE FREQUENT CLOUD TO WATER LIGHTNING AND TORRENTIAL RAINFALL WHICH COULD REDUCE VISIBILITIES. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
1053 AM EDT FRI AUG 08 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0335 PM TSTM WND DMG RINCON 32.30N 81.24W
08/07/2008 EFFINGHAM GA LAW ENFORCEMENT
TREES AND POWERLINES WERE REPORTED DOWN AND BLOCKING BLUE
JAY ROAD AND LOW GROUND ROAD.
&&
REBPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
1202 PM EDT FRI AUG 08 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0510 PM TSTM WND DMG RUFFIN 33.00N 80.82W
08/07/2008 COLLETON SC LAW ENFORCEMENT
TREES AND POWERLINES WERE REPORTED DOWN ALL ACROSS THE
TOWN OF RUFFIN.
&&
REBSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC 423 PM EDT FRI AUG 8 2008 GAZ101-116>119-138-139-082130- COASTAL BRYAN-COASTAL CHATHAM-COASTAL LIBERTY-EFFINGHAM-INLAND BRYAN-INLAND CHATHAM-INLAND LIBERTY- 423 PM EDT FRI AUG 8 2008 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT CHATHAM...EASTERN LIBERTY...BRYAN AND EXTREME SOUTH CENTRAL EFFINGHAM COUNTIES THROUGH 530 PM EDT... AT 418 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING SMALL HAIL...AND STRONG WINDS OF 35 TO 45 MPH. THESE STORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM TUTENS TO ELLABELL...OR ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 12 MILES WEST OF SAVANNAH TO 8 MILES SOUTHEAST OF PEMBROKE...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 17 MPH. AREAS IN AND AROUND BLOOMINGDALE...BURROUGHS...ELLABELL...FORT MCALLISTER...GARDEN CITY...ISLE OF HOPE...KELLER...POOLER...RICHMOND HILL...SANDFLY...SAVANNAH...SKIDAWAY ISLAND...SUNBURY...WILMINGTON ISLAND AND THE SAVANNAH AIRPORT WILL BE IMPACTED THROUGH 530 PM EDT. FREQUENT LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THESE THUNDERSTORM. IF OUTDOORS...STAY AWAY FROM ISOLATED HIGH OBJECTS. IF INDOORS...STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND DOORS. AVOID USING TELEPHONES UNLESS IT IS AN EMERGENCY. BE ALERT FOR RAPIDLY CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS AS STORMS APPROACH. BE READY TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION IN CASE A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING IS ISSUED FOR YOUR LOCATION. PLEASE CONTACT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CHARLESTON TOLL FREE AT 1-888-383-2024 IF YOU OBSERVE SEVERE WEATHER SUCH AS HAIL...DOWNED TREES...LIMBS AND POWER LINES. 33
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC 436 PM EDT FRI AUG 8 2008 SCZ045-050-082115- BERKELEY-CHARLESTON- 436 PM EDT FRI AUG 8 2008 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT CENTRAL CHARLESTON AND EXTREME SOUTH CENTRAL BERKELEY COUNTIES THROUGH 515 PM EDT... AT 433 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING SMALL HAIL...AND GUSTY WINDS OF 35 TO 45 MPH. THESE STORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM WHITEHALL TERRACE TO NORTH CHARLESTON...OR ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 10 MILES EAST OF CHARLESTON TO CHARLESTON... MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 17 MPH. AREAS IN AND AROUND CHARLESTON...DANIEL ISLAND...JAMES ISLAND...MOUNT PLEASANT...NORTH CHARLESTON...SHADOWMOSS...SULLIVANS ISLAND...WEST ASHLEY AND ISLE OF PALMS WILL BE IMPACTED THROUGH 515 PM EDT. FREQUENT LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM. IF OUTDOORS...STAY AWAY FROM ISOLATED HIGH OBJECTS. IF INDOORS...STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND DOORS. AVOID USING TELEPHONES UNLESS IT IS AN EMERGENCY. THIS THUNDERSTORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN...WHICH MAY FLOOD DITCHES AND LOW-LYING AREAS. AVOID FLOOD PRONE AREAS AND DO NOT DRIVE INTO PLACES WHERE WATER COVERS THE ROAD. PLEASE CONTACT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CHARLESTON TOLL FREE AT 1-888-383-2024 IF YOU OBSERVE SEVERE WEATHER SUCH AS HAIL...DOWNED TREES...LIMBS AND POWER LINES. 33
The Charleston,SC radar (KCLX), 72 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:38 UTC.
1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
The public reported penny size hail fell on Falcon Lane just off Fort Argyle Road, 8 miles northwest of Burroughs, Georgia.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Georgia in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyWarnings in Georgia, August 2008
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: 124533.