A series of disturbances in the upper levels of the atmosphere moved through the area and when combined with a moist and unstable air mass, resulted in scattered strong to severe thunderstorms across southern South Carolina.
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 series of disturbances in the upper levels of the atmosphere moved through the area and when combined with a moist and unstable air mass, resulted in scattered strong to severe thunderstorms across southern South Carolina.
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 Jul 5, 8:56 PM EST, 20 minutes earlier.
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</html>HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC 938 PM EDT SUN JUL 5 2009 AMZ330-350-352-GAZ087-088-099>101-114-115-SCZ040-042>045-047>051- 060930- 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-JENKINS-SCREVEN- CANDLER-BULLOCH-EFFINGHAM-TATTNALL-EVANS-ALLENDALE-HAMPTON- INLAND COLLETON-DORCHESTER-BERKELEY-INLAND JASPER-BEAUFORT- COASTAL COLLETON-CHARLESTON-COASTAL JASPER- 938 PM EDT SUN JUL 5 2009 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR ATLANTIC COASTAL WATERS...SOUTHEAST GEORGIA AND SOUTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP TONIGHT IN ASSOCIATION WITH A COLD FRONT APPROACHING FROM THE NORTHWEST... UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCES MOVING THROUGH FROM THE WEST...AND VARIOUS SURFACE AND LOW LEVEL BOUNDARIES FROM EARLIER CONVECTION TO INTERACT ACROSS THE AREA. SOME OF THE THUNDERSTORMS COULD BE SEVERE...WITH DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE WINDS THE PRIMARY THREAT. ONE OR TWO OF THE STORMS MAY ALSO PRODUCE A TORNADO....ESPECIALLY FROM ALLENDALE AND HAMPTON COUNTIES TO COLLETON...DORCHESTER...BERKELEY AND CHARLESTON COUNTIES. LARGE HAIL APPEARS UNLIKELY...BUT IS NOT ENTIRELY IMPOSSIBLE. STORMS WILL WEAKEN AS THEY MOVE OVER THE COASTAL WATERS...BUT STRONG WINDS ARE POSSIBLE...ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE CHARLESTON COUNTY WATERS AND THE WATERS BEYOND 20 NM OFF THE COAST OF SOUTH CAROLINA. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO ALL HAZARDS...TV OR YOUR LOCAL NEWS SOURCE FOR THE LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS...A FRONTAL BOUNDARY ALONG WITH AN UNSTABLE AIRMASS COULD RESULT IN ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AGAIN ON MONDAY ACROSS SOUTHERN SOUTH CAROLINA AND SOUTHEAST GEORGIA. THE MAIN HAZARDS FROM THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO BE DAMAGING WIND GUSTS...MARGINALLY SEVERE HAIL...AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER GROUPS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR POSSIBLE ACTIVATION TONIGHT. AMZ354-374-GAZ116>119-137>141-060930- 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-INLAND BRYAN-COASTAL BRYAN-INLAND CHATHAM-COASTAL CHATHAM-LONG- INLAND LIBERTY-COASTAL LIBERTY-INLAND MCINTOSH-COASTAL MCINTOSH- 938 PM EDT SUN JUL 5 2009 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR ATLANTIC COASTAL WATERS AND SOUTHEAST GEORGIA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS...A FRONTAL BOUNDARY ALONG WITH AN UNSTABLE AIRMASS COULD RESULT IN ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AGAIN ON MONDAY ACROSS SOUTHERN SOUTH CAROLINA AND SOUTHEAST GEORGIA. THE MAIN HAZARDS FROM THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO BE DAMAGING WIND GUSTS...MARGINALLY SEVERE HAIL...AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. 33
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC 624 PM EDT SUN JUL 5 2009 SCZ045-052315- BERKELEY- 624 PM EDT SUN JUL 5 2009 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT NORTHERN BERKELEY COUNTY THROUGH 715 PM EDT... AT 622 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING PEA SIZE HAIL...AND GUSTY WINDS OF 35 TO 45 MPH. THESE STORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM WILSONS LANDING TO BLACK CREEK...OR ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 13 MILES SOUTH OF MANNING TO 14 MILES NORTHEAST OF INDIAN FIELD...MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH. AREAS IN AND AROUND WILSONS LANDING...PRIOLEAU...EADYTOWN... MOOREFIELD...CROSS...PINEVILLE...JUDGE TOWN...RUSSELLVILLE...SOUTHERN LAKE MOULTRIE...WILL BE IMPACTED THROUGH 715 PM EDT. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... THESE STORMS ARE EXPECTED TO IMPACT LAKE MOULTRIE. BOATERS SHOULD SEEK SAFE HARBOR IMMEDIATELY. IF CAUGHT ON THE OPEN WATERS...STAY AS LOW AS POSSIBLE AND WEAR A PERSONAL FLOATATION DEVICE. SWIMMERS SHOULD GET OUT OF THE WATER AND INTO A STURDY BUILDING. REMEMBER...IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER YOU ARE AT RISK OF BEING STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 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. && 33
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
640 PM EDT SUN JUL 05 2009
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0636 PM TSTM WND GST PINEVILLE 33.43N 80.03W
07/05/2009 M48 MPH BERKELEY SC OFFICIAL NWS OBS
&&
33SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC 754 PM EDT SUN JUL 5 2009 GAZ099-100-114>116-137-138-060100- BULLOCH-CANDLER-EVANS-INLAND BRYAN-INLAND LIBERTY-LONG-TATTNALL- 754 PM EDT SUN JUL 5 2009 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN LIBERTY...WESTERN BRYAN...BULLOCH...CANDLER...TATTNALL...EVANS AND NORTHWESTERN LONG COUNTIES THROUGH 900 PM EDT... AT 753 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING GUSTY WINDS OF 35 TO 45 MPH. THESE STORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 16 MILES NORTHWEST OF ALINE TO ALTAMAHA...OR ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 6 MILES SOUTH OF SWAINSBORO TO 6 MILES EAST OF PLANT HATCH...MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH. AREAS IN AND AROUND ALTAMAHA...REIDSVILLE...ALINE...FIVE POINTS... FIVE POINTS...HUGHLAND...TISON...OLIFFTOWN...METTER...WILL BE IMPACTED THROUGH 900 PM EDT. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... 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. && 33
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC 758 PM EDT SUN JUL 5 2009 GAZ100-101-115-116-060100- BULLOCH-EFFINGHAM-EVANS-INLAND BRYAN- 758 PM EDT SUN JUL 5 2009 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN BRYAN...SOUTHEASTERN BULLOCH...SOUTHERN EFFINGHAM AND EAST CENTRAL EVANS COUNTIES THROUGH 900 PM EDT... AT 757 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING GUSTY WINDS OF 35 TO 45 MPH. THESE STORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM GRIMSHAW TO GROVELAND...OR ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 6 MILES SOUTHEAST OF STATESBORO TO 8 MILES WEST OF PEMBROKE...MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH. AREAS IN AND AROUND GRIMSHAW...DENMARK...BROOKLET...LEEFIELD... ARCOLA...PEMBROKE AND STILSON WILL BE IMPACTED THROUGH 900 PM EDT. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... 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. && 33
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC 904 PM EDT SUN JUL 5 2009 GAZ101-SCZ042-047-051-060145- COASTAL JASPER-EFFINGHAM-HAMPTON-INLAND JASPER- 904 PM EDT SUN JUL 5 2009 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT WEST CENTRAL JASPER... SOUTHWESTERN HAMPTON AND NORTHERN EFFINGHAM COUNTIES THROUGH 945 PM EDT... AT 904 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING GUSTY WINDS OF 35 TO 45 MPH. THESE STORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 13 MILES NORTHWEST OF SPRINGFIELD TO SPRINGFIELD...MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH. AREAS IN AND AROUND EGYPT...GRIFFIN LAKE...KILDARE...SPRINGFIELD... SHAWNEE...OAKY...STILLWELL...WILL BE IMPACTED THROUGH 945 PM EDT. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... 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. &&
The Charleston,SC radar (KCLX), 73 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 02:14 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
The Dorchester County warning point reported two large tree limbs blocking the railroad tracks in Saint George, South Carolina, one of which needed to be removed by a chainsaw.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in South Carolina in 2009Every state in 2009This day in weather historyWarnings in South Carolina, July 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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 189847.