A warm front lifted northward through southern South Carolina and southeast Georgia during the morning, with a strong cold front then sweeping through the area during the evening. This resulted in several rounds of severe weather across the region.
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 warm front lifted northward through southern South Carolina and southeast Georgia during the morning, with a strong cold front then sweeping through the area during the evening. This resulted in several rounds of severe weather across the region.
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 10, 9:16 PM EST, 2 hours 24 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
1016 PM EDT SAT MAY 10 2008
.SYNOPSIS...
A BACKDOOR FRONT WILL DROP SOUTH INTO THE AREA TONIGHT THEN LIFT
NORTH ON SUNDAY. A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL CROSS THE AREA SUNDAY
EVENING FOLLOWED BY HIGH PRESSURE. ANOTHER FRONT MAY AFFECT THE
AREA EARLY NEXT WEEKEND.
&&
.NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM SUNDAY MORNING/...
QUICK UPDATE ALREADY SENT FOR RECENTLY ISSUED TORNADO WATCH 302
IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 AM EDT SUNDAY FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN SOUTH
CAROLINA AND SOUTHEAST GEORGIA.
OVERNIGHT TONIGHT...MODELS /ESPECIALLY THE NAM/ SHOW ANOTHER
STRONG VORT MAX MOVING INTO SOUTHERN SC AFTER 06Z. THE BACKDOOR
COLD FRONT WILL BE DROPPING TO NEAR THE SAVANNAH RIVER DURING THIS
TIME...PLACING A SHALLOW STABLE LAYER OVER MUCH OF SOUTHERN SC.
THE MID-LEVELS WILL REMAIN STOKED EVEN N OF THE BOUNDARY THUS
ELEVATED CONVECTION WILL BE A POSSIBILITY WITH HAIL THE PRIMARY
THREAT. S OF THE BOUNDARY HAIL AND WIND DAMAGE WILL BE POSSIBLE
WITH ANY STORMS...WITH ISOLATED TORNADOES BECOMING INCREASINGLY
LIKELY LATE TONIGHT AS THE WARM FRONT PROVIDES INCREASING LOW-
LEVEL HELICITY. HAVE SHOWN SOME LIKELY POPS OVERNIGHT ACROSS THE
CENTRAL PART OF THE AREA DUE TO INCREASING ISENTROPIC
LIFT...CONVECTIVE FORCING AND BOUNDARY INTERACTIONS. WILL MAINTAIN
POSSIBLY SEVERE WORDING IN GRIDS THROUGH TONIGHT.
&&
.SHORT TERM /6 AM SUNDAY MORNING THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/...
ONE OR TWO ADDITIONAL ROUNDS OF SEVERE WEATHER ARE LIKELY ON
SUNDAY...WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF LONG TRACK TORNADOES IN SOME
LOCATIONS. THE LATEST SPC FORECAST INCLUDES A MODERATE RISK OF
SEVERE WEATHER WITH 45 PERCENT PROBABILITIES ENCOMPASSES THE ENTIRE
FORECAST AREA.
THE FIRST ROUND OF ACTIVITY LOOKS TO BE DURING THE MORNING HOURS
NEAR AND SOUTH OF THE WARM FRONT...WITH EVEN ELEVATED CONVECTION N
OF THE FRONT. THIS IS AIDED BY SHORT WAVE MOVING THROUGH DURING THE
15-18Z TIME FRAME WHILE LOW LEVEL JET OF 40-50 KT SHIFTS THROUGH THE
FORECAST AREA. HELICITY VALUES ARE 250-350 M2/SEC2 DURING THE
MORNING HOURS...WHILE EHI IS BETWEEN 2 AND 3 WITH HIGHEST VALUES
NEAR AND ALONG THE FRONT IN SC. TORNADIC ACTIVITY IS CERTAINLY
POSSIBLE WITH SUCH AN ATMOSPHERE...AS SIGNIFICANT RIGHT TURNING
HODOGRAPHS ARE REALIZED. THE BETTER CHANCES OF TORNADOES WILL
OCCUR IN SRN SC WHICH IS CLOSER TO THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY.
ADDITIONAL SEVERE WEATHER LOOKS TO OCCUR AGAIN IN THE AFTN AHEAD OF
THE COLD FRONT...AS A SQUALL LINE MOVES IN FROM THE W-NW. IT IS
DURING THIS TIME THAT THE LEFT FRONT QUAD OF THE UPPER LEVEL JET
WITH WIND SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 120 KT MOVES INTO THE REGION. CAPE
VALUES WITH MAX TEMPS WELL INTO THE 80S AND DEWPTS WELL INTO THE 60S
TO NEAR 70 CLIMB TO OVER 2000 J/KG. AS MID LEVEL LAPSE RATES
INCREASE TO ALMOST 7 DEGREES CELSIUS AND LI/S ARE NEAR -7...SUFFICE
TO SAY THAT ANOTHER ROUND OF SEVERE WEATHER COULD OCCUR. WHILE THE
MAIN RISK WITH THE SQUALL LINE WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE
HAIL...EHI VALUES ARE STILL NEAR 2 OR 3 AND HELICITY IS AS MUCH AS
200-300 M2/S2. ADDITIONALLY RIGHT TURNING HODOGRAPHS ARE AGAIN
OBSERVED. THUS...ISOLATED TORNADOES ARE ONCE AGAIN POSSIBLE.
HAVE INCLUDED MENTION OF TORNADOES...DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL
IN THE PUBLIC FORECAST AS WELL AS THE GRIDS.
FRONT TO MOVE THROUGH THE AREA BY 00Z-03Z MONDAY WHICH WILL SHUT OFF
CONVECTION AND THEN MUCH COOLER CONDITIONS WILL MOVE IN BY MONDAY
MORNING.
VERY IMPRESSIVE WIND FIELDS ACROSS THE AREA LATE SUNDAY WITH
GEOSTROPHIC WINDS OF 50 KT OR GREATER...WHILE 925 MB WINDS ARE 35-40
KT. WHILE NOT ALL OF THIS WILL MIX DOWN DUE TO THE CLOUD COVER...IT
LOOKS TO BE ENOUGH FOR WINDS OF AT LEAST 15-30 MPH ACROSS LAND AREAS
SUNDAY. WITH A SLIGHT ONSHORE FETCH OVER COASTAL SC COUNTIES IN THE
LATE AFTN/EVENING...THIS ADDITIONAL FLOW SHOULD BE ENOUGH TO ALLOW
FOR SUSTAINED WINDS TO REACH PAST 30 MPH FROM CHARLESTON TO BEAUFORT
COUNTY. THUS WE HAVE STARTED A WIND ADVISORY FOR THESE 3 COUNTIES.
THE ADVISORY MAY NEED TO BE EXPANDED IN AREAL COVERAGE AND/OR
EXTENDED IN TIME INTO MONDAY AS FIRST COLD AIR ADVECTION/STRONG PRES
RISES DEVELOP SUNDAY NIGHT...THEN AS DEEP MIXING TAKES HOLD ON
MONDAY.
LAKE WINDS...ALTHOUGH THERE IS A LITTLE UNCERTAINTY REGARDING THE
START TIME OF WINDS REACHING 20 KT OR GREATER ACROSS LAKE MOULTRIE
ON SUNDAY...THE POTENTIAL IS CERTAINLY THERE FOR FREQUENT WIND GUSTS
PAST 20 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. THUS WE HAVE INITIATED A LAKE WIND
ADVISORY LATE IN THE DAY. AS COLD AIR ADVECTION RESULTS IN WAKE OF
THE COLD FRONT SUNDAY NIGHT AND GOOD MIXING DEVELOPS MONDAY...THE
LAKE WIND ADVISORY WILL GO THROUGH LATE MONDAY AFTN.
&&
.LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
A COLD FRONT ASSOCIATED WITH A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL CONTINUE TO
PUSH OFFSHORE OVER THE ATLANTIC ON MONDAY. A STRONG NORTHWEST
GRADIENT WIND WILL CONTINUE BEHIND THE COLD FRONT ALLOWING FOR GUSTY
WIND CONDITIONS BETWEEN 15 TO 25 MPH AS STRONG CAA PUSHES INTO THE
REGION DURING THE DAY. ALTHOUGH DRY CONDITIONS WILL CLEAR OUT
SKIES....COOL NORTHWEST WINDS WILL LIMIT HIGH TEMPS IN THE UPPER 70S
OVER PORTIONS OF SC AND AROUND 80 OVER GA. CONDITIONS WILL IMPROVE
MONDAY EVENING AS THE SYSTEM CONTINUES TO SHIFT EAST FURTHER
OFFSHORE ALLOWING THE PRESSURE GRADIENT TO WEAKEN.
HIGH PRESSURE WILL THEN SETTLE INTO THE CAROLINAS MONDAY NIGHT
LEADING TO RATHER DRY CONDITIONS FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS. EXPECT TEMPS
TO RANGE FROM THE LOW 80S FOR HIGHS AND UNSEASONABLY COOL TEMPS
AROUND 50 FOR LOWS AS A PERSISTENT NORTHWEST FLOW CONTINUES.
CONDITIONS WILL BEGIN TO WARM A FEW DEGREES TUESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY
AS A NEW SYSTEM DEVELOPS OVER THE SOUTH CENTRAL USA. TEMPS ARE
ANTICIPATED TO REACH THE MID 80S BEFORE THIS LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM
AFFECTS THE CAROLINAS.
THE NEXT CHANCE OF PRECIP WILL OCCUR AS THIS NEW SYSTEM DEVELOPS
OVER SOUTH CENTRAL USA THURSDAY WITH A WARM FRONT EXTENDED TOWARDS
THE ATLANTIC COAST. A FEW SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL OCCUR OVER
THE AREA AS THIS FRONT SHIFTS NORTH THROUGH THE CWA. AS THE SYSTEM
PROGRESSES EAST...A COLD FRONT IS EXPECTED TO PUSH THROUGH SOUTHEAST
SC AND GA FRIDAY NIGHT INTO SATURDAY MORNING. AS FROPA OCCURS...
SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE. HIGH PRESSURE WILL
THEN FILTER INTO THE REGION ONCE AGAIN FOR SUNDAY AS CONDITIONS
BEGIN TO DRY OUT. TEMPS WILL THEN RETURN TO A FEW DEGREES BELOW
CLIMATOLOGY...AROUND 80 FOR HIGHS AND MID 50S FOR LOWS.
&&
.AVIATION /02Z SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
SOMEWHAT QUIET ACROSS THE LOCAL AREA THIS EVENING WITH NEAREST
CONVECTION FOUND NW OF KTBR AND MOVING E. THIS MAIN MOISTURE AXIS
WILL REMAIN IN PLACE EARLY TONIGHT...AND MIGHT SEE SOME OF THE
CONVECTION ATTEMPT TO MOVE TOWARD THE TERMINALS. THUS HAVE
INCLUDED CB CLOUDS STARTING AT 03Z FOR BOTH KCHS AND KSAV.
FRONTAL BOUNDARY NOW NEAR THE NC/SC BORDER WILL DROP S OVERNIGHT
AND PUSH THROUGH KCHS AROUND 05Z WITH A WIND SHIFT TO THE NE.
WHILE THERE COULD BE SOME SHOWER ACTIVITY WITH THE FROPA...LOOKS
MORE LIKE LOWER STRATUS WILL MOVE IN BEHIND THE FRONT AND COULD
SEE A PERIOD OF MVFR CONDITIONS AT KCHS OVERNIGHT AND SUNDAY
MORNING. AS FRONT LIFTS N THROUGH THE AREA SUNDAY MORNING...WINDS
WILL SHIFT TO SW AND INCREASE SIGNIFICANTLY IN SPEEDS AS LOW LEVEL
JET OF 40-50 KT MOVES THROUGH THE REGION. WINDS WILL BECOME STRONG
AND GUSTY DURING THE LATE MORNING AND THROUGH THE AFTN...WITH
GUSTS TO NEAR 30 KT AT TIMES. WHILE PREVAILING VFR CONDITIONS WILL
RETURN BY 18Z...THE RISK OF TSRA WILL REMAIN IN THE FORECAST DUE
TO CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE WARM FRONT LIFTING N...AND THEN THE
SQUALL LINE COMING IN FROM THE W.
FOR KSAV...FRONTAL BOUNDARY TONIGHT WILL NOT MAKE IT THAT FAR
S...BUT THEY COULD EXPERIENCE A PERIOD OF MVFR CONDITIONS FROM
09-13Z SUNDAY AS SOME LOW STRATUS WILL FORM ACROSS THE AREA. IT IS
DURING THE LATE NIGHT/EARLY MORNING PERIOD THAT WIND SHEAR IS A
CONCERN...AS WINDS AT 2K FT INCREASE TO NEAR 35 KT WITH THE LOW
LEVEL JET ACROSS THE AREA. AS THE FRONT ACROSS SRN SC EARLY IN
THE DAY LIFTS N...LOOK FOR INCREASING WINDS BY AFTN. SQUALL LINE
WILL BRING A RISK OF TSRA DURING THE AFTN HOURS.
EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK...GENERALLY VFR CONDITIONS TO PREVAIL IN
WAKE OF THE COLD FRONT STARTING SUNDAY EVENING. GUSTY WINDS AT
TIMES SUNDAY NIGHT INTO MONDAY.
&&
.MARINE...
WINDS AND SEAS HAVE REMAINED IN CHECK TODAY DUE TO FAIRLY WEAK
PRESSURE GRADIENT OVER THE WATERS. MAIN CONCERN TONIGHT WILL BE AN
INCREASINGLY PINCHED PRESSURE GRADIENT OVER FAR NORTHERN PORTION
OF SC NEARSHORE WATERS AS A BACKDOOR FRONT DROPS SOUTH. HAVE WINDS
INCREASING BRIEFLY TO 20 KT FAR N LATE TONIGHT WITH THE SOUTHERN
SC NEARSHORE LEG EXPERIENCING VARIABLE WINDS LESS THAN 15 KT.
FRONTAL BOUNDARY WILL BE FOUND ACROSS THE FAR SRN SC WATERS AROUND
DAYBREAK SUNDAY...THEN WILL LIFT BACK N AS A WARM FRONT QUICKLY
THROUGHOUT THE MORNING...REACHING N OF THE MARINE AREA BY AFTN.
WINDS N OF THE FRONT WILL BE E-NE...BUT WILL QUICKLY VEER TO S-SW BY
AFTN...WHILE THE SRN WATERS WILL REMAIN SWLY THROUGH THE MORNING
HOURS. AS LOW LEVEL JET MOVES INTO THE AREA AND PINCHING OF THE PRES
GRADIENT DEVELOPS...GEOSTROPHIC WINDS AT 1000 MB INCREASE TO 50 KT
OR GREATER. GRANTED MUCH OF THAT WILL BE OFFSET BY THE WARM OCEAN
WATERS...BUT CERTAINLY THERE IS ENOUGH FOR SCA/S TO BECOME NECESSARY
BY LATE MORNING FOR ALL OF THE MARINE AREA. WHILE THE SCA/S EASILY
WILL PERSIST INTO SUNDAY NIGHT/MONDAY...CONFIDENCE IS HIGH ENOUGH TO
RAISE A GALE WATCH FOR ALL WATERS FROM LATE SUNDAY INTO EARLY MONDAY
AS 1000 MB GEOSTROPHIC WINDS REMAIN AT LEAST 40 KT...AND COLD AIR
ADVECTION WILL DEVELOP IN WAKE OF COLD FRONT MOVING THROUGH EARLY
SUNDAY NIGHT. THAT ALONG WITH STEADY PRES RISES COULD RESULT IN AT
LEAST WIND GUSTS FREQUENTLY REACHING 35 OR 40 KT. THE WATCH MAY NEED
TO BE UPGRADED TO A GALE WARNING SUNDAY MORNING. SEAS WILL QUICKLY
RESPOND TO THE INCREASING WINDS AND LOOK TO REACH 6 OR 7 FT WITHIN
20 NM OF THE COAST BY LATE SUNDAY OR SUNDAY NIGHT...AND AS HIGH AS 8
OR 9 FT FURTHER OFFSHORE. THE FETCH IN WAKE OF THE FRONT SUNDAY
NIGHT WILL LIMIT SEAS NEAR THE IMMEDIATE COAST...BUT VERY ROUGH
CONDITIONS NONETHELESS WILL STILL PREVAIL ACROSS THE MARINE AREA.
MARINERS ARE STRONGLY URGED TO KEEP ABREAST OF THE LATEST MARINE
FORECASTS...ESPECIALLY SINCE SEVERE WEATHER IS ALSO POSSIBLE THROUGH
SUNDAY.
RIP CURRENTS...ALTHOUGH THE FLOW WILL BE MAINLY OFFSHORE
SUNDAY...THERE MAY BE ENOUGH BACKING TO RESULT IN OCNL SLIGHT
ONSHORE COMPONENT ALONG THE SC BEACHES. THAT ALONG WITH INCREASING
WINDS TO BETWEEN 20 AND 30 MPH WILL RESULT IN A MODERATE RISK OF RIP
CURRENTS...ESPECIALLY IF THERE IS ANY SMALL SWELL ACTIVITY. ALTHOUGH
OUR LOCAL RIP CURRENT WORKSHEET RESULTS IN A LOW RISK FOR THE GA
BEACHES SUNDAY...PREFER TO GO MODERATE THERE AS WELL GIVEN THE
STRONG WIND FIELDS.
SCA CONDITIONS ARE LIKELY MONDAY MORNING AS A STRONG LOW PRESSURE
SYSTEM PUSHES OFFSHORE AND CAA OCCURS BEHIND A COLD FRONT. AS THE
PRESSURE GRADIENT REMAINS PINCHED GALES ARE NOT OUT OF THE
QUESTION...THEREFORE A GALE WATCH WILL CONTINUE UNTIL 15Z MONDAY.
SUSTAINED 20 TO 25 KNOT WINDS WITH A FEW GUSTS OVER 30 ARE
ANTICIPATED UNTIL LATE MONDAY MORNING. SEAS OF 4 TO 6 FEET IN THE
NEARSHORE SC AND GA WATERS AND 6 TO 8 FEET IN THE OUTER GA WATERS
ARE LIKELY IN THE MORNING BEFORE CONDITIONS IMPROVE.
CONDITIONS ARE LIKELY TO IMPROVE MONDAY EVENING AS THE LOW PRESSURE
SYSTEM CONTINUES TO SHIFT EAST OVER THE GULF STREAM AND THE PRESSURE
GRADIENT ALONG THE SC AND GA COASTS WEAKENS. THE EFFECTS OF CAA WILL
LESSON AS WELL AS WINDS BEGIN TO CLOCK AROUND TUESDAY MORNING AND A
WEAK ONSHORE FLOW DEVELOPS. SEAS ARE FORECASTED AROUND 2 FEET OVER A
MAJORITY OF THE WATERS. CONDITIONS ARE ANTICIPATED TO REMAIN BELOW
SCA CRITERIA THROUGH MID WEEK AS SOUTHEAST WINDS OF 5 TO 10 KNOTS
OCCUR FOR THE FOLLOWING FEW DAYS. SEAS WILL GRADUALLY BUILD TO 3 TO
5 FEET THROUGH LATE WEEK AS A SOUTH SOUTHEAST SWELL DEVELOPS AND THE
APPROACH OF ANOTHER LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM OCCURS.
&&
.CHS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
GA...TORNADO WATCH UNTIL 5 AM EDT SUNDAY FOR GAZ087-088-099>101-
114>119-137>141.
SC...TORNADO WATCH UNTIL 5 AM EDT SUNDAY FOR SCZ040-042-043-047>049-
051.
LAKE WIND ADVISORY FROM 5 PM SUNDAY TO 5 PM EDT MONDAY FOR
SCZ045.
WIND ADVISORY FROM 5 PM SUNDAY TO MIDNIGHT EDT SUNDAY NIGHT
FOR SCZ048>050.
MARINE...TORNADO WATCH UNTIL 5 AM EDT SUNDAY FOR AMZ352-354.
GALE WATCH FROM SUNDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH MONDAY MORNING FOR
AMZ350-352-354-374.
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FROM 11 AM TO 5 PM EDT SUNDAY FOR AMZ330-
350-352-354-374.
GALE WATCH FROM SUNDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH LATE SUNDAY NIGHT FOR
AMZ330.
&&HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
1052 PM EDT SAT MAY 10 2008
SCZ044-050-111000-
DORCHESTER-CHARLESTON-
1052 PM EDT SAT MAY 10 2008
...SIGNIFICANT SEVERE WEATHER EVENT POSSIBLE SUNDAY...
...MODERATE RISK OF RIP CURRENTS AT AREA BEACHES SUNDAY...
THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST SOUTH
CAROLINA.
.DAY ONE...TONIGHT
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS...A COLD FRONT WILL MOVE INTO SOUTHERN SOUTH
CAROLINA FROM THE NORTH OVERNIGHT AS ENERGY IN THE MID AND UPPER
LEVELS OF THE ATMOSPHERE MOVES IN FROM THE WEST. THE INTERACTION OF
THE FRONT WITH VARIOUS BOUNDARIES FROM THUNDERSTORMS EARLIER TODAY
WILL RESULT IN ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING OVERNIGHT. SOME
OF THESE STORMS MAY BECOME STRONG OR EVEN SEVERE...AND ADDITIONAL
WATCHES AND WARNINGS MAY BE REQUIRED. THE MAIN WEATHER HAZARDS
OVERNIGHT ARE DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL AND ISOLATED TORNADOES.
.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS...A COLD FRONT NEAR OR JUST NORTH OF THE
SAVANNAH RIVER VALLEY SUNDAY MORNING WILL LIFT NORTH ACROSS THE AREA
SUNDAY MORNING AND WILL CLEAR THE AREA TO THE NORTH BY AFTERNOON.
SOUTHERN SOUTH CAROLINA AND SOUTHEAST GEORGIA WILL THEN BECOME
SITUATED IN A VERY MOIST AND EXTREMELY UNSTABLE AIR MASS...AS LOW
PRESSURE DEVELOPS ALONG THE FRONT OVER OR JUST WEST OF THE FORECAST
AREA. NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP THROUGHOUT THE DAY...AND
SOME OF THESE STORMS COULD BECOME SEVERE. THE MAIN WEATHER HAZARDS
ARE EXPECTED TO BE DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL...AND
TORNADOES...SOME OF WHICH MAY BECOME STRONG WITH LONG TRACKS. THE
RISK OF SEVERE WEATHER MAY COME IN TWO SEPARATE ROUNDS...THE FIRST
NEAR THE WARM FRONT ACROSS SOUTH CAROLINA IN THE MORNING...THEN IN
ALL AREAS WITH A SQUALL LINE IN THE AFTERNOON. ADDITIONAL WATCHES
AND WARNINGS WILL LIKELY BE ISSUED.
STRONG WINDS...AS A WARM FRONT LIFTS NORTH OF THE AREA SUNDAY
INTO SUNDAY EVENING...STRONG SOUTHWESTERLY WINDS WILL DEVELOP.
SUSTAINED WINDS WILL REACH 20 OR 30 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS...AND
SHOULD WINDS REACH ANY STRONGER THAN 30 MPH...THEN A WIND ADVISORY
WOULD BE REQUIRED.
RIP CURRENTS...THE COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS AND SMALL SWELLS
WILL RESULT IN A MODERATE RISK OF RIP CURRENTS AT THE BEACHES SUNDAY.
.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.
AMZ330-350-374-111000-
CHARLESTON HARBOR-
WATERS FROM SOUTH SANTEE RIVER TO EDISTO BEACH SC OUT 20 NM-
WATERS FROM SAVANNAH GA TO ALTAMAHA SOUND GA EXTENDING FROM 20 TO
60 NM-
1052 PM EDT SAT MAY 10 2008
...SIGNIFICANT SEVERE WEATHER EVENT POSSIBLE SUNDAY...
...GALE WATCH IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH LATE SUNDAY
NIGHT...
THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF ATLANTIC
COASTAL WATERS.
.DAY ONE...TONIGHT
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS...A COLD FRONT WILL MOVE INTO SOUTHERN SOUTH
CAROLINA FROM THE NORTH OVERNIGHT AS ENERGY IN THE MID AND UPPER
LEVELS OF THE ATMOSPHERE MOVES IN FROM THE WEST. THE INTERACTION OF
THE FRONT WITH VARIOUS BOUNDARIES FROM THUNDERSTORMS EARLIER TODAY
WILL RESULT IN A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING OVERNIGHT. SOME
OF THESE STORMS MAY BECOME STRONG OR EVEN SEVERE...AND ADDITIONAL
WATCHES AND WARNINGS MAY BE REQUIRED. THE MAIN WEATHER HAZARDS
OVERNIGHT ARE STRONG WINDS AND ISOLATED WATERSPOUTS.
.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.
PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.
GALE WATCH.
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS...A COLD FRONT NORTH OF THE SAVANNAH RIVER
VALLEY SUNDAY MORNING WILL LIFT NORTH ACROSS THE MARINE AREA BY
SUNDAY AFTERNOON. AS LOW PRESSURE DEVELOPS ALONG THE FRONT OVER
OR JUST WEST OF THE FORECAST AREA....SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL
DEVELOP THROUGHOUT THE DAY. SOME OF THESE STORMS COULD BECOME
STRONG....WITH GUSTY WINDS AND ISOLATED WATERSPOUTS POSSIBLE.
.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.
GAZ087-088-099>101-114>119-137>141-SCZ040-042-043-047>049-051-
111000-
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-INLAND JASPER-BEAUFORT-
COASTAL COLLETON-COASTAL JASPER-
1052 PM EDT SAT MAY 10 2008
...TORNADO WATCH 302 IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 AM EDT SUNDAY...
...MODERATE RISK OF RIP CURRENTS AT AREA BEACHES SUNDAY...
THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST
GEORGIA AND SOUTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA.
.DAY ONE...TONIGHT
PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.
TORNADO WATCH
.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS...A COLD FRONT NEAR OR JUST NORTH OF THE
SAVANNAH RIVER VALLEY SUNDAY MORNING WILL LIFT NORTH ACROSS THE
AREA SUNDAY MORNING AND WILL CLEAR THE AREA TO THE NORTH BY AFTERNOON.
SOUTHERN SOUTH CAROLINA AND SOUTHEAST GEORGIA WILL THEN BECOME
SITUATED IN A VERY MOIST AND EXTREMELY UNSTABLE AIR MASS...AS LOW
PRESSURE DEVELOPS ALONG THE FRONT OVER OR JUST WEST OF THE
FORECAST AREA. NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP THROUGHOUT THE
DAY...AND SOME OF THESE STORMS COULD BECOME SEVERE. THE MAIN
WEATHER HAZARDS ARE EXPECTED TO BE DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE
HAIL...AND TORNADOES...SOME OF WHICH MAY BECOME STRONG WITH LONG
TRACKS. THE RISK OF SEVERE WEATHER MAY COME IN TWO SEPARATE
ROUNDS...THE FIRST NEAR THE WARM FRONT ACROSS SOUTH CAROLINA IN
THE MORNING...THEN IN ALL AREAS WITH A SQUALL LINE IN THE
AFTERNOON. ADDITIONAL WATCHES AND WARNINGS WILL LIKELY BE ISSUED.
STRONG WINDS...AS A WARM FRONT LIFTS NORTH OF THE AREA SUNDAY
INTO SUNDAY EVENING...STRONG SOUTHWESTERLY WINDS WILL DEVELOP.
SUSTAINED WINDS WILL REACH 20 OR 30 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS...AND
SHOULD WINDS REACH ANY STRONGER THAN 30 MPH...THEN A WIND ADVISORY
WOULD BE REQUIRED.
RIP CURRENTS...THE COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS AND SMALL SWELLS
WILL RESULT IN A MODERATE RISK OF RIP CURRENTS AT THE BEACHES SUNDAY.
.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.
AMZ352-354-111000-
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-
1052 PM EDT SAT MAY 10 2008
...TORNADO WATCH 302 IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 AM EDT SUNDAY...
...GALE WATCH IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH MONDAY
MORNING...
THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF ATLANTIC
COASTAL WATERS.
.DAY ONE...TONIGHT
PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.
TORNADO WATCH
.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY
PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.
GALE WATCH.
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS...A COLD FRONT NORTH OF THE SAVANNAH RIVER
EARLY SUNDAY MORNING WILL LIFT NORTH ACROSS THE MARINE AREA BY
AFTERNOON. AS LOW PRESSURE DEVELOPS ALONG THE FRONT OVER OR JUST
WEST OF THE FORECAST AREA....SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS
WILL DEVELOP THROUGHOUT THE DAY. SOME OF THESE STORMS COULD BECOME
STRONG....WITH GUSTY WINDS AND ISOLATED WATERSPOUTS POSSIBLE.
.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.
SCZ045-111000-
BERKELEY-
1052 PM EDT SAT MAY 10 2008
...SIGNIFICANT SEVERE WEATHER EVENT POSSIBLE SUNDAY...
...LAKE WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 5 PM SUNDAY TO 5 PM EDT MONDAY
FOR LAKE MOULTRIE...
THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST SOUTH
CAROLINA.
.DAY ONE...TONIGHT
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS...A COLD FRONT WILL MOVE INTO SOUTHERN SOUTH
CAROLINA FROM THE NORTH OVERNIGHT AS ENERGY IN THE MID AND UPPER
LEVELS OF THE ATMOSPHERE MOVES IN FROM THE WEST. THE INTERACTION OF
THE FRONT WITH VARIOUS BOUNDARIES FROM THUNDERSTORMS EARLIER TODAY
WILL RESULT IN ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING OVERNIGHT. SOME
OF THESE STORMS MAY BECOME STRONG OR EVEN SEVERE...AND ADDITIONAL
WATCHES AND WARNINGS MAY BE REQUIRED. THE MAIN WEATHER HAZARDS
OVERNIGHT ARE DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL AND ISOLATED TORNADOES.
.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.
PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.
LAKE WIND ADVISORY.
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS...A COLD FRONT NEAR OR JUST NORTH OF THE
SAVANNAH RIVER VALLEY SUNDAY MORNING WILL LIFT NORTH ACROSS THE
AREA SUNDAY MONDAY INTO EARLY SUNDAY AFTERNOON. SOUTH CAROLINA WILL
THEN BECOME SITUATED IN A VERY MOIST AND EXTREMELY UNSTABLE AIR
MASS...AS LOW PRESSURE DEVELOPS ALONG THE FRONT OVER OR JUST WEST
OF THE FORECAST AREA. NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP
THROUGHOUT THE DAY...AND SOME OF THESE STORMS COULD BECOME SEVERE.
THE MAIN WEATHER HAZARDS ARE EXPECTED TO BE DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE
HAIL...AND TORNADOES...SOME OF WHICH MAY BECOME STRONG WITH LONG
TRACKS. THE RISK OF SEVERE WEATHER MAY COME IN TWO SEPARATE
ROUNDS...THE FIRST NEAR THE WARM FRONT ACROSS SOUTH CAROLINA IN
THE MORNING...THEN IN ALL AREAS WITH A SQUALL LINE IN THE
AFTERNOON. ADDITIONAL WATCHES AND WARNINGS WILL LIKELY BE ISSUED.
STRONG WINDS...AS A WARM FRONT LIFTS NORTH OF THE AREA SUNDAY
INTO SUNDAY EVENING...STRONG SOUTHWESTERLY WINDS WILL DEVELOP.
SUSTAINED WINDS WILL REACH 20 OR 30 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS...AND
SHOULD WINDS REACH ANY STRONGER THAN 30 MPH...THEN A WIND ADVISORY
WOULD BE REQUIRED.
.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC 1110 PM EDT SAT MAY 10 2008 GAZ137-140-141-110345- COASTAL MCINTOSH-INLAND MCINTOSH-LONG- 1110 PM EDT SAT MAY 10 2008 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT LONG COUNTY AND MCINTOSH COUNTY THROUGH 1145 PM EDT... AT 1110 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A WEAKENING SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING 1/2 INCH HAIL...AND GUSTY WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH. THIS STORM WAS LOCATED 11 MILES WEST OF COX...OR ABOUT OVER GARDI...MOVING EAST AT 24 MPH. THE STORM IS EXPECTED TO WEAKEN BELOW SEVERE LIMITS AS IT ENTERS THE WESTERN PORTIONS OF THE COUNTY. AREAS IN AND AROUND COX AND DARIEN WILL BE IMPACTED THROUGH 1145 PM EDT. 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.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC 1121 PM EDT SAT MAY 10 2008 GAZ137-110345- LONG- 1121 PM EDT SAT MAY 10 2008 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT LONG COUNTY THROUGH 1145 PM EDT... AT 1118 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING 1/2 INCH HAIL...AND GUSTY WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH. THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR WEFANIE...OR ABOUT 8 MILES NORTHWEST OF LUDOWICI...MOVING EAST AT 24 MPH. AREAS IN AND AROUND WILL BE IMPACTED THROUGH 1145 PM EDT. 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.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC 1121 PM EDT SAT MAY 10 2008 GAZ137-110345- LONG- 1121 PM EDT SAT MAY 10 2008 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT LONG COUNTY THROUGH 1145 PM EDT... AT 1118 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING 1/2 INCH HAIL...AND GUSTY WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH. THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR WEFANIE...OR ABOUT 8 MILES NORTHWEST OF LUDOWICI...MOVING EAST AT 24 MPH. AREAS IN AND AROUND WEFANIE WILL BE IMPACTED THROUGH 1145 PM EDT. 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.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC 1129 PM EDT SAT MAY 10 2008 GAZ114-137-138-110400- INLAND LIBERTY-LONG-TATTNALL- 1129 PM EDT SAT MAY 10 2008 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT LONG COUNTY...TATTNALL COUNTY AND LIBERTY COUNTY THROUGH MIDNIGHT EDT... AT 1128 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING 1/2 INCH HAIL...AND GUSTY WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH. THESE STORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 7 MILES SOUTHWEST OF FIVE POINTS TO LUDOWICI...OR ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 10 MILES NORTHEAST OF SURRENCY TO LUDOWICI...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 26 MPH. AREAS IN AND AROUND ALLENHURST...DONALD...FLEMINGTON...FORT STEWART...GLENNVILLE...GUM BRANCH...HINESVILLE...LUDOWICI... MCINTOSH...MENDES...MIDWAY AND WALTHOURVILLE WILL BE IMPACTED THROUGH MIDNIGHT EDT. A TORNADO WATCH IS ALSO IN EFFECT. THUNDERSTORMS CAN PRODUCE TORNADOES SUDDENLY...SOMETIMES WITH LITTLE OR NO WARNING. BE ALERT FOR RAPIDLY CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND BE READY TO ACT QUICKLY. 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.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC 1137 PM EDT SAT MAY 10 2008 GAZ140-141-110400- COASTAL MCINTOSH-INLAND MCINTOSH- 1137 PM EDT SAT MAY 10 2008 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT MCINTOSH COUNTY THROUGH MIDNIGHT EDT... AT 1133 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING PEA SIZE HAIL...AND GUSTY WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH. THESE STORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM SOUTH NEWPORT TO 10 MILES WEST OF DARIEN...MOVING EAST AT 36 MPH. AREAS IN AND AROUND CARNIGAN...CRESCENT...DARIEN...EULONIA... MERIDIAN...PINE HARBOR...RIDGEVILLE...SAPELO ISLAND...SHELLMAN BLUFF...SOUTH NEWPORT AND VALONA WILL BE IMPACTED THROUGH MIDNIGHT EDT. A TORNADO WATCH IS ALSO IN EFFECT. THUNDERSTORMS CAN PRODUCE TORNADOES SUDDENLY...SOMETIMES WITH LITTLE OR NO WARNING. BE ALERT FOR RAPIDLY CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND BE READY TO ACT QUICKLY. 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.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC 1156 PM EDT SAT MAY 10 2008 GAZ137-138-110430- INLAND LIBERTY-LONG- 1156 PM EDT SAT MAY 10 2008 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT LONG COUNTY AND LIBERTY COUNTY THROUGH 1230 AM EDT... AT 1156 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING 1/2 INCH HAIL...AND GUSTY WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH. THESE STORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM DONALD TO AIMAR...MOVING EAST NORTHEAST AT 31 MPH. AREAS IN AND AROUND ALLENHURST...CROSSROADS...DONALD...GUM BRANCH... HINESVILLE...MCINTOSH...RICEBORO AND WALTHOURVILLE WILL BE IMPACTED THROUGH 1230 AM EDT. A TORNADO WATCH IS ALSO IN EFFECT. THUNDERSTORMS CAN PRODUCE TORNADOES SUDDENLY...SOMETIMES WITH LITTLE OR NO WARNING. BE ALERT FOR RAPIDLY CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND BE READY TO ACT QUICKLY. 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.
The Jacksonville radar (KJAX), 131 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 04:41 UTC.
9 thunderstorm wind, 6 hail, 4 tornado, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
Quarter size hail was reported by a trained weather spotter along the Wayne and Long County line.
Significant and widespread straight line wind damage occurred along a 16 mile path starting approximately 2.5 miles west of Thrift, Georgia and continuing to around 4.5 miles east of Millen, Georgia. Maximum sustained winds were estimated to be approximately 110 mph along this path. Between 50 and 60 homes were damaged with 10 to 12 of these homes completely destroyed. Damage also occurred to the Rose Mary Church and Oak Hill Church. There was one person that was injured as a result of the straight line wind damage.
A Tornado touched down near the community of Emmalane, Georgia around 733 AM EDT southwest of the intersection of US-25 and Old Savannah Road. The Tornado continued northeast 1.7 miles and had a maximum width of 1200 yards. The observed damage indicated that an EF-1 Tornado had occurred. The maximum sustained winds with the Tornado were estimated at 95 mph. Damage occurred to a mobile home where the roof was uplifted and the structure shifted from its foundation. There was also significant damage to nearby sheds and trees.
A confirmed EF-3 Tornado crossed into extreme northwestern Tattnall county from Toombs county, then continued east-southeastward into the community of Cobbtown, Georgia before turning east and dissipating. The first indications of significant damage, consistent with an EF-1 Tornado, occurred along Representative Kennedy Road where a mobile home was partially destroyed. A well defined path of debris was noted trailing southeast of this area across open farm fields. Several homes were also severely damaged with roofs blown off along Henry Moxley Road about 1 mile southeast of Representative Kennedy Road.
The Tornado continued to strengthen as it turned east toward Cobbtown, Georgia and peaked in intensity as it tracked near the intersection of Georgia State Highways 121 and 57. Here the Tornado completely leveled a brick convenience store and caused considerable damage to trees and nearby structures. Two people working in the store at the time of the Tornado were injured but not killed. The damage pattern in this area was consistent with an EF-3 Tornado with winds estimated between 140 and 150 mph. Also in this same general area, but south of the Tornado track there was evidence of a strong downburst. The winds were estimated to be around 100 mph with the downburst, likely associated with the rear flank downdraft of the Supercell Thunderstorm.
The Tornado continued to move east across open farm fields where extensive tree damage and minor structural damage consistent with an EF-1 and EF-0 Tornado was noted. The Tornado dissipated about 1.5 miles east of Cobbtown, however occasional bouts of non-tornadic straight line winds were observed across portions of northeast Tattnall County and northern Evans County near Undine, Georgia.
Maximum sustained winds were estimated between 140 and 150 mph with a maximum width of approximately 200 yards. Considerable damage was reported along the path of the Tornado, and although no one was killed, 2 people were injured.
One tree was reported down on a power line in Claxton, Georgia.
Lightning struck a house starting it on fire in Guyton, Georgia.
Two trees were reported down on power lines on Easton Road and Metter Highway.
Straight line wind damage was observed 3 miles north of Sylvania, Georgia, beginning near Bascom Road and continuing east across Burtons Ferry Highway before ending east of the intersection of Route 24 and Friendship Road. The total length of straight line wind damage was approximately 5 miles, with a maximum width of 1000 yards. Nearly 20 homes sustained significant damage occurred to the greens at Briar Creek Country Club. Numerous trees were snapped and uprooted as well.
Numerous trees were reported down between Reidsville and Glennville. The Tattnall County Emergency Manager reported that all trees were blown down in one direction and consistent with straight line wind damage.
A confirmed EF-1 Tornado touched down just to the east of Nevils, Georgia along Nesmith Proctor Road where a cluster of trees were snapped and blown down. The Tornado then moved rapidly east and crossed Interstate 16 near mile marker 125 where extensive tree damage occurred. The Tornado then moved across Highway 67 near Old Rocker Road where it partially destroyed the roof of a mobile home and damaged nearby trees. Finally the Tornado crossed Old Happy Road and moved through the Old Happy Farm where it completely destroyed a mobile home, several irrigation systems and a large storage shed before dissipating.
The total path length was approximately 2.25 miles and the maximum sustained winds were estimated between 105 and 110 mph. Although considerable damage occurred with the Tornado, there were no injuries.
The Bulloch County Warning Point reported numerous trees down along Route 67 from near Interstate 16 to near the Bryan and Bulloch county line.
Numerous downed trees were reported by a trained weather spotter 5 miles southeast of Denmark, Georgia.
Two trees were reported down in Guyton, Georgia.
The Emergency Manager and volunteer Fire personnel reported two trees down on power lines in Riceboro, Georgia.
A survey team from the National Weather Service Office in Charleston, South Carolina along with other damage survey experts from across the country determined that the Tornado that struck McIntosh county Georgia on Sunday morning May 11, was a violent EF-4. The Tornado beginning and end times are based on radar data combined with credible ground truth reports.
The Tornado formed at 952 am, approximately 3 miles northwest of Darien, Georgia and tracked east about 11 miles before dissipating at 1007 am as a water spout in Doboy Sound.
The Tornado formed in a wooded area about a half mile west of Route 251 where numerous trees were snapped off. The Tornado strengthened rapidly as it approached and moved across Route 251.
The Tornado struck a Marine Sales and Services Business located on the east side of Route 251. The bolts for all but one of the anchored metal support beams for the metal building were snapped off just above the concrete slab. With the exception of the one metal support beam that was bent to the ground, the slab was wiped clean. Approximately 50 boats were tossed around and destroyed, with one 18 foot 4000 pound boast carried about 650 yards into some trees. A 32 foot 8000 pound boat was carried about 130 yards onto the top of the Gateway Behavioral Services Building. A vehicle that was parked in the parking lot was carried in the air 150 yards. One 125 horsepower boat motor weighing 300 to 350 pounds was carried 250 yards and deposited into the roof of a building. In addition, one of the boats had yet to be accounted for at the time the survey was conducted. Several other vehicles near the business were rolled or tossed and severely damaged or destroyed. No one was in the building at the time the Tornado struck and damage to the building and all the boats were estimated to be 5 million dollars.
Approximately 100 yards to the south-southeast of the Marine Sales and Services Building, the McIntosh Emergency Medical Services Building was destroyed by the Tornado with damage to three ambulances and one fire truck. Many of the metal support beams from this facility were torn from the concrete slab or snapped off. This building was rated for 120 mph winds. No one was in this building at the time of the Tornado because they were out on a non weather related call.
The Gateway Behavioral Health and Services Building was totally destroyed. This metal framed building with brick exterior was located about 100 yards east-northeast of the McIntosh Emergency Medical Services Building and 130 yards east-southeast of the Marine Sales and Services Building. The roof of the Gateway Building collapsed along with many of the outer brick walls. Many of the large load bearing metal beams were bent or knocked down. Portions of the metal roof were carried a mile away onto Interstate 95. Some of the roofing material was found 11 miles away on Sapelo Island. Of the 12 people that were in the building when the Tornado hit, 9 were injured sustaining broken bones and or lacerations. Six vehicles around this building were damaged or destroyed and a metal light pole and several trees were snapped off in this area.
Two other businesses in this area suffered damage including damage to satellite dishes and two overturned tractor trailers. Damage to the Marine Sales and Services Business and the Gateway Behavioral Health and Services Building indicated that EF-4 damage had occurred with winds estimated to be between 170 and 180 mph.
After leaving this area the Tornado traveled east and weakened. The Tornado reached its maximum width of 700 yards as it crossed Interstate 95, and then decreased in size and was mainly from 200 to 500 yards wide during the remainder of the path. The Tornado damaged or destroyed four billboards along Interstate 95, produced mainly minor roof damage to several dozen homes mainly in the Ridgeville area, snapped off or uprooted thousands of trees, some of them falling on homes or vehicles, and damaged or destroyed numerous outbuildings.
A resident of Ridgeville, Georgia whose home suffered minor damage in the Tornado, took shelter in a closet after seeing a National Weather Service Severe Weather Statement on the television mentioning that Ridgeville was in the path of the Tornado.
The Tornado also damaged the Blue-N-Hall Marina and Fishing Dock. In this area, a large boat hoist along with 18 boats and several boat trailers were damaged or destroyed. Several power poles were also snapped off and several vehicles were damaged. Numerous trees were also snapped off on Hird Island. The Tornado likely dissipated over Doboy Sound as a waterspout. Besides portions of the Gateway roof, lots of other debris including signs were deposited on Sapelo Island.
Nickel size hail was reported by a trained weather spotter near the intersection of Highway 301 and Highway 57 in Ludowici, Georgia.
Quarter size hail was reported in Ludowici, Georgia.
Quarter size hail was reported at the Dallas Bluff Marina and Campground. The hail lasted for 10 minutes.
Golf ball size hail was reported by a trained weather spotter 2 miles north-northwest of Darien, Georgia.
Golf ball size hail was reported by a trained weather spotter 2 miles north-northwest of Darien, 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 historyThe tornado archive for Georgia, 2008Warnings in Georgia, May 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: 108699, 109029, 108876, 109006, 109031, 108755, 109033, 109046, 109052, 109011, 109061, 109067, 109072, 109075, 109020, 108700, 108702, 108705, 108709, 108754.