A strong cold front in combination with the sea breeze and an unstable air mass, resulted in numerous severe thunderstorms across southern South Carolina and 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 strong cold front in combination with the sea breeze and an unstable air mass, resulted in numerous severe thunderstorms across southern South Carolina and 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 May 29, 12:53 PM EST, 27 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC 153 PM EDT FRI MAY 29 2009 .SYNOPSIS... A COLD FRONT WILL APPROACH FROM THE NW LATE TODAY THEN MOVE THROUGH THE AREA TONIGHT. ATLC HIGH PRES WILL THEN REBUILD OVER THE SOUTHEAST UNITED STATES OVER THE WEEKEND AND REMAIN THE DOMINANT WEATHER FEATURE THROUGH THE UPCOMING WEEK. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 PM THIS EVENING/... A FAIRLY MOIST AIRMASS CONTINUES ACROSS THE AREA EAST OF A COLD FRONT DRAPED FROM THE SC UPSTATE ACROSS CENTRAL GA INTO THE FL PANHANDLE. THIS FEATURE WILL DRIFT EAST THROUGH EARLY THIS EVENING BEING DRIVEN BY A STRONG SHORTWAVE NOW OVER THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS. A PATCH OF STRATUS IN SOUTHEAST GA HAS TEMPORARILY STALLED WARMING...HOWEVER IT SHOULD DISSIPATE FAIRLY QUICKLY DURING THE NEXT TWO HOURS AND WILL HAVE CREATED SOME DIFFERENTIAL HEATING BOUNDARIES. MUCH OF THE GUIDANCE CONTINUES TO HOLD OFF ON SIGNIFICANT CONVECTIVE DEVELOPMENT ALONG THE SEABREEZE EARLY THIS AFTERNOON. BY MID TO LATE AFTERNOON...WITH THE COLD FRONT SHIFTING INTO WESTERN ZONES AROUND PEAK HEATING...SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD DEVELOP. THE NSSL WRF IS AN OUTLIER WITH AN ORGANIZED CLUSTER OF STORMS MOVING INTO THE AREA FROM THE WEST LATE THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH THE EARLY EVENING. DESPITE IT BEING AN OUTLIER...IT OFTEN PERFORMS VERY WELL IN THESE SETUPS INVOLVING MESOSCALE CONVECTIVE PROCESSES. THE CONVECTIVE CHECKLIST FROM THE 12Z RAOB FROM CHS INDICATES AN AIRMASS FAIRLY WELL PRIMED FOR STRONG TO SEVERE CONVECTION. INSTABILITY PARAMETERS SHOW THE POTENTIAL FOR STRONG UPDRAFTS WHILE SHEAR VALUES ARE MARGINAL. A GOOD AMOUNT OF LOW- LEVEL DRY AIR SHOWS THE POTENTIAL FOR DAMAGING WIND TO BE THE MAIN THREAT. OVERALL...CURRENT THINKING IS SIMILAR TO THAT OF THE PREVIOUS SHIFT IN THAT THE SEABREEZE WILL STRUGGLE TO LIGHT UP DUE TO A CONSIDERABLE CAP...BUT AN ACTIVE LATE AFTERNOON AND EVENING WILL OCCUR ONCE THE CAP BREAKS AND BOUNDARIES INTERACT. NO CHANGES TO MOST FORECAST GRIDS BUT DID ADD MENTION OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS TO THE WEATHER FORECAST. && .SHORT TERM /6 PM THIS EVENING THROUGH 6 AM SATURDAY/... RECENT MODEL TRENDS SHOW SIGNALS OF STRONG TO SEVERE NEAR-COASTAL CONVECTION LINGERING INTO THE EARLY EVENING HOURS AS THE 60-70 KT UPPER JET SEGMENTS MAKE A RUN AT PHASING OVER THE EASTERN HALF OF OUR FORECAST AREA. THE WRF AND GEM MODELS INDICATE SOME VERY INTERESTING MODEL UNDULATIONS OF CONVECTIVE FIELDS ALONG THE GEORGIA COAST WHICH COULD INDICATE A TIP THAT ORGANIZED STORMS MAY TRY TO FIRE AND SURGE OFF THE COAST PROMOTING MARINE HAZARDS. AS A TREND...WE INCREASED EVENING POPS TO CHANCE RANGE FROM DARIEN TO SAVANNAH TO CHARLESTON BUT STILL MANY TIMING FACTORS HAVE TO COME TOGETHER FOR AN EARLY EVENING EVENT. THE FRONT WILL BE SAGGING THROUGH THE REGION LATE WITH CLOUDS THINNING OUT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SURFACE WINDS WILL GRADUALLY BE VEERING TO A LIGHT NNW COMPONENT LATE OVER THE NORTHERN HALF OF THE FORECAST AREA. IF MANY AREAS SEE RNFL AT SOME POINT TODAY...SOME FOG IS POSSIBLE IN THE FRONTAL ZONE OVERNIGHT. CONFIDENCE IS NOT THERE YET TO INCLUDE IN OUR FORECAST. && .LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... GUIDANCE IS IN GOOD AGREEMENT WITH A PROGRESSIVE COLD FRONTAL PASSAGE FRIDAY NIGHT...AND ATLANTIC HIGH PRESSURE THEN REBUILDING OVER THE FORECAST AREA OVER THE WEEKEND. HIGH PRESSURE IS THEN EXPECTED TO REMAIN THE DOMINANT WEATHER FEATURE THROUGH MUCH OF THE UPCOMING WORK WEEK. DEEP MOISTURE IS EXPECTED TO SHIFT OFFSHORE LATE FRIDAY NIGHT...AND THIS SHOULD LIMIT THE POTENTIAL FOR ANY SHOWER/THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY SATURDAY...SO WILL KEEP THE FORECAST RAIN FREE. WITH LACK OF DEEP MOISTURE RETURN...WEST-SOUTHWESTERLY DOWNSLOPE FLOW...AND LACK OF ANY SIGNIFICANT FORCING MECHANISM ASIDE FROM THE SEA BREEZE...EXPECT RAIN FREE CONDITIONS TO CONTINUE SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT. MODEL SOLUTIONS SUGGEST THAT A WEAKENING COLD FRONT WILL SLIDE SOUTHWARD INTO THE FORECAST AREA LATE SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY...BRINGING WITH IT SLIGHTLY DEEPER MOISTURE AND ANOTHER FOCUSING MECHANISM IN ADDITION TO THE AFTERNOON SEA BREEZE. AT THIS POINT AM NOT ANTICIPATING MUCH IN THE WAY OF SHOWER/THUNDERSTORM COVERAGE...BUT SHOULD SEE ENOUGH TO JUSTIFY SLIGHT CHANCE POPS ACROSS PRIMARILY NORTHWEST ZONES MONDAY AFTERNOON. THE WEAKENING FRONTAL BOUNDARY WILL DISSIPATE MONDAY NIGHT...WITH ATLANTIC HIGH PRESSURE THEN REBUILDING OVER THE REGION TUESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. NOT TOO EXCITED ABOUT SHOWER/THUNDERSTORM CHANCES EACH AFTERNOON...BUT CAN/T RULE OUT AN ISOLATED SHOWER/THUNDERSTORM ACROSS FAR WESTERN ZONES IN CLOSER PROXIMITY TO A DEVELOPING LEE SIDE TROUGH. THEREFORE...WILL CARRY SLIGHT CHANCE POPS HERE WITH RAIN FREE CONDITIONS FOR COASTAL ZONES. GUIDANCE IS IN FAIRLY GOOD AGREEMENT BREAKING DOWN THE ATLANTIC RIDGE THURSDAY AS A COLD FRONT BEGINS TO APPROACH THE REGION FROM THE WEST. THE SOUTHERLY FLOW IN ADVANCE OF THE COLD FRONT WILL ALLOW DEEP MOISTURE TO BEGIN INCREASING OVER THE AREA FROM BOTH THE ATLANTIC AND GULF OF MEXICO...SO WILL CARRY CHANCE POPS MOST AREAS. TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO RUN SLIGHTLY ABOVE CLIMATOLOGY THROUGHOUT THE EXTENDED PERIODS. && .AVIATION /18Z FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... HAVE MAINTAINED VFR CONDITIONS FOR KCHS AND KSAV THROUGH THE 18Z TAF PERIOD. INCLUDED A CB GROUP FOR KCHS PRIOR TO 21Z AS RADAR SHOWS DEVELOPMENT ALONG THE SEABREEZE. YET CONFIDENCE REMAINS LOW THAT KCHS WILL BE AFFECTED...THUS WILL KEEP SHRA OUT OF TAFS FOR NOW. ADDITIONAL ACTIVITY IS EXPECTED AS A COLD FRONT APPROACHES THE AREA FROM THE WEST LATER THIS AFTERNOON INTO THE EVENING FOR BOTH TERMINALS. KEPT CB GROUPS WHILE INCLUDING VCSH AS INSTABILITY LOOKS FAIRLY IMPRESSIVE FOR THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT AFTER 21Z. MODELS REMAIN INCONSISTENT IN TIMING OF CONVECTION THUS WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR RADAR TRENDS AND AMEND TAFS IF NEEDED...ESPECIALLY FOR KSAV AS INTERACTIONS BETWEEN THE GULF COAST SEA BREEZE AND A PINNED ATLC SEA BREEZE AID THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT. GUIDANCE ALSO REMAINS INCONSISTENT REGARDING FOG FORMATION EARLY SATURDAY MORNING. YET WITH SKIES CLEARING...RELATIVELY LIGHT WINDS AND LINGERING LOW LEVEL MOISTURE...CANNOT RULE OUT SOME MVFR VISIBILITIES/CEILINGS AFTER 08Z. WILL REEVALUATE FOG POTENTIAL FOR THE NEXT TAF PERIOD. EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK...VFR CONDITIONS EXPECTED SAT THROUGH TUE. && .MARINE... LOW LEVEL TROF WILL RESIDE INLAND TODAY AND A SYNOPTIC SW FLOW WILL RESIDE OVER THE WATERS THROUGH THIS EVENING. NEAR SHORE... THERE MAY BE A BIT A W COMPONENT THIS MORNING AND A SOUTHERLY DIRECTION POST SEA BREEZE. SPEEDS WILL COME DOWN FROM 10-15 KT EARLY TO NEAR 10 KT BEFORE A LATE DAY INCREASE BACK INTO THE 10-15 KT RANGE. SEAS MAINLY 2-3 FT. TONIGHT...A COLD FRONT WILL BE MAKING SOME LATE NIGHT HEADWAY INTO THE WATERS AND OTHER THAN THE LIGHT LATE NIGHT WIND SHIFT...WINDS AND SEAS ON THE LIGHT SIDE. AS MENTIONED IN THE SHORT TERM DISCUSSION... MARINE INTERESTS SHOULD KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR A POTENTIAL OF SOME STRONG EVENING TSTMS. ATLANTIC HIGH PRESSURE WILL REBUILD OVER THE SOUTHEAST UNITED STATES SATURDAY THROUGH TUESDAY...RESULTING IN TRANQUIL CONDITIONS OVER THE SOUTH CAROLINA AND GEORGIA COASTAL WATERS. WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN AT OR BELOW 15 KNOTS...WITH SEAS AT OR BELOW 3 FEET SATURDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. && .CHS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... GA...NONE. SC...NONE. MARINE...NONE. &&
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC 415 AM EDT FRI MAY 29 2009 AMZ330-350-352-354-374-GAZ087-088-099>101-114>119-137>141-SCZ040- 042>045-047>051-300900- 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- 415 AM EDT FRI MAY 29 2009 ...SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR ATLANTIC COASTAL WATERS...SOUTHEAST GEORGIA AND SOUTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. SEVERE WEATHER...A COLD FRONT WILL APPROACH THE REGION FROM THE NORTHWEST LATE TODAY INTO THIS EVENING. IN ADVANCE OF THE FRONT... SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP THIS AFTERNOON INTO THIS EVENING AND MOVE TOWARD THE COAST. HIGH TEMPERATURES NEAR 90 DEGREES COMBINED WITH A MOIST AND UNSTABLE AIR MASS WILL SET THE STAGE FOR THE POTENTIAL OF A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. THE MAIN HAZARDS WILL BE LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WIND GUSTS. THE EXPECTED TIME FRAME FOR SEVERE WEATHER WILL BE FROM AROUND 2 PM TO MIDNIGHT TONIGHT. .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.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC 125 PM EDT FRI MAY 29 2009 GAZ087-088-100-291800- BULLOCH-JENKINS-SCREVEN- 125 PM EDT FRI MAY 29 2009 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT SOUTHWESTERN SCREVEN...SOUTHERN JENKINS AND NORTHWESTERN BULLOCH COUNTIES THROUGH 200 PM EDT... AT 124 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING 1/2 INCH HAIL...AND GUSTY WINDS OF 35 TO 45 MPH. THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR FOUR POINTS...OR ABOUT 12 MILES SOUTHWEST OF MILLEN...MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH. AREAS IN AND AROUND BUTTS...DOVER...ROCKY FORD...SCARBORO AND WOODCLIFF WILL BE IMPACTED THROUGH 200 PM EDT. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... FREQUENT CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING. POSTPONE OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES PROMPTLY. SEEK SHELTER INSIDE AN ENCLOSED BUILDING. 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 146 PM EDT FRI MAY 29 2009 GAZ087-088-100-291815- BULLOCH-JENKINS-SCREVEN- 146 PM EDT FRI MAY 29 2009 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT WEST CENTRAL SCREVEN...SOUTHERN JENKINS AND NORTHWESTERN BULLOCH COUNTIES THROUGH 215 PM EDT... AT 145 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING 1/2 INCH HAIL...AND STRONG WINDS OF 45 TO 55 MPH. THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR FOUR POINTS...OR ABOUT 10 MILES SOUTH OF MILLEN...MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH. AREAS IN AND AROUND BUTTS...DOVER...FOUR POINTS...ROCKY FORD...SCARBORO AND WOODCLIFF WILL BE IMPACTED THROUGH 215 PM EDT. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... FREQUENT CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING. POSTPONE OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES PROMPTLY. SEEK SHELTER INSIDE AN ENCLOSED BUILDING. HAVE AN ACTION PLAN READY IN THE EVENT THIS STORM STRENGTHENS OR A WARNING IS ISSUED. CONTINUE TO MONITOR NOAA WEATHER RADIO ALL HAZARDS FOR THE LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION. 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
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
202 PM EDT FRI MAY 29 2009
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0200 PM HAIL ROCKY FORD 32.66N 81.83W
05/29/2009 E0.25 INCH SCREVEN GA LAW ENFORCEMENT
REPORT FROM SCREVEN 911 CENTER.
&&
33The Charleston,SC radar (KCLX), 57 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:18 UTC.
8 hail, 5 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A trained weather spotter reported several trees down on power lines in Sylvania, Georgia.
A trained weather spotter reported 3 large oak trees uprooted on Jarrell Pond Road, 2 miles east of Cooperville, Georgia. Several other trees and power lines were blown down, with several of the trees snapped at the top.
A trained weather spotter reported penny size hail 4 miles northwest of Claxton, Georgia.
The Evans county Warning Point relayed a report of a tree down on Daisy-Nevils Highway in Daisy, Georgia.
Broadcast media relayed reports of a tree which fell onto a vehicle on New Stillwell Road, trapping 2 people inside. Downed trees were also reported on Webb Drive and Brogdon Road in Springfield Georgia.
The Rocky Ford Fire Department reported penny size hail.
A trained weather spotter reported quarter size hail lasting for around 10 minutes in Ludowici, Georgia.
A trained weather spotter reported nickel size hail covering the ground and very windy conditions in Ludowici, Georgia.
The public reported nickel size hail in Ludowici, Georgia.
The public reported golf ball size hail and several trees down 3 miles north of Ludowici, Georgia.
The public reported dime to quarter size hail on Julienton Drive, 4 miles northeast of Shellman Bluff, Georgia.
Law Enforcement reported a tree down at exit 49 off of Interstate 95 in Darien, Georgia. Another tree was reported down at the intersection of Stedwell Road and Franklin Street.
A trained weather spotter reported penny size hail 5 miles north of Port Wentworth, Georgia.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Georgia in 2009Every state in 2009This day in weather historyWarnings in Georgia, May 2009
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: 175190, 175204, 175187, 175189, 175186, 175192, 175201, 175197, 175198, 175214, 175209, 175212, 175183.