The combination of long duration drought conditions, hot temperatures and low humidity values, allowed lightning to start the Terrell Mill Pond Wildfire in southeast Georgia.
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.
The combination of long duration drought conditions, hot temperatures and low humidity values, allowed lightning to start the Terrell Mill Pond Wildfire in 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 Jun 28, 12:08 PM EST, 2 hours 52 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC 108 PM EDT TUE JUN 28 2011 .SYNOPSIS... THE REGION WILL REMAIN BETWEEN ATLANTIC HIGH PRESSURE AND INLAND LOW PRESSURE INTO MID WEEK WHILE A COLD FRONT APPROACHES FROM THE NORTHWEST. THE FRONT WILL STALL OUT OVER THE AREA WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY AS HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS IN FROM THE NORTH. ATLANTIC HIGH PRESSURE RE-BUILDS OVER THE WEEKEND. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 PM THIS EVENING/... EARLY AFTERNOON ADJUSTMENTS WERE MADE TO ACCOUNT FOR A COUPLE OF THINGS. I WENT WITH SLIGHTLY LOWER TEMPS IN SOUTHERN ZONES DUE TO MORE EXTENSIVE CLOUD COVER THIS MORNING...AND I INCREASED THE POPS MORE QUICKLY OVER THE INTERIOR DUE TO THE RAPID CONVECTIVE DEVELOPMENT OVER THE PAST HOUR. ALL UPDATED PRODUCTS HAVE BEEN SENT. && .SHORT TERM /6 PM THIS EVENING THROUGH FRIDAY/... TONIGHT...CONVECTION SHOULD BE ONGOING DURING THE EVENING...OR AT THE LEAST PROGRESSING TOWARD THE AREA FROM THE NORTHWEST AHEAD OF A WEAK COLD FRONT. WILL CARRY HIGHEST POPS /50S/ DURING THE EVENING...THEN DIMINISH THEM SLOWLY THROUGH THE NIGHT. LOWS IN THE LOWER/MID 70S AWAY FROM THE MILDER COASTLINE. WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY...A WEAK NORTHWEST FLOW PATTERN IS EXPECTED MIDWEEK AS MID/UPPER LVL RIDGING OCCURS OVER THE CENTRAL UNITED STATES WHILE ATLANTIC RIDGING RETREATS EASTWARD OVER THE WESTERN ATLANTIC. A WEAK SFC FRONT WILL LIKELY STALL OVER THE FORECAST AREA BY WEDNESDAY...PROVIDING ENOUGH LIFTING TO PRODUCE A CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. PERIODS OF SHOWERS/THUNDERSTORMS MAY BE ENHANCED BY WEAK AREAS OF LOW PRESSURE THAT DEVELOP ALONG THE STALLED BOUNDARY AND AN INLAND MOVING SEABREEZE. PWATS EXCEEDING 2.0 INCHES...MARGINAL MID LVL LAPSE RATES...AND SBCAPES APPROACHING 2500 J/KG FAVOR THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING HEAVY RAINFALL. CANNOT RULE OUT A FEW STRONG PULSE THUNDERSTORMS WITH GUSTY WINDS SHOULD THERE BE SUFFICIENT BREAKS IN CLOUD COVER DURING PEAK HEATING HOURS. 1000-850MB THICKNESS VALUES SUPPORT HIGH TEMPS IN THE LOW 90S WEDNESDAY...BUT INCREASING CLOUD COVER MAY LOWER OVERALL HIGH TEMPS A FEW DEGREES. OVERNIGHT LOWS ARE EXPECTED TO BE IN THE LOW 70S...WITH MID/UPPER 70S ALONG THE IMMEDIATE SC AND GA COASTLINE. THURSDAY AND FRIDAY...SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY WILL BE PRIMARILY DRIVEN BY LINGERING MOISTURE NEAR THE STALLED BOUNDARY OVER SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF THE FORECAST AREA THURSDAY. HAVE MAINTAINED LOW END SLIGHT CHANCE POPS OVER SOUTH CAROLINA AND LOW END CHANCE POPS OVER EXTREME SOUTHEAST GEORGIA THURSDAY AFTERNOON. A DRY FORECAST IS ANTICIPATED THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY AS SFC HIGH PRESSURE SETTLES OVER THE REGION AND A LIGHT NORTHERLY FLOW DEVELOPS. OVERALL HIGH TEMPS WILL BE NEAR NORMAL IN THE LOW 90S. OVERNIGHT LOWS WILL BE AROUND 70...WITH MID 70S ALONG THE IMMEDIATE COAST. && .LONG TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY/... CONDITIONS APPEAR DRY THROUGH SATURDAY AS WEAK SFC HIGH PRESSURE REMAINS OVER THE SOUTHEAST WHILE MID/UPPER LVL RIDGING FLATTENS AND EXPANDS FROM THE WEST. OVERALL HIGH TEMPS WILL BE IN THE LOW 90S SATURDAY...THEN GRADUALLY WARM INTO THE LOW/MID 90S SUNDAY AS THE MID/UPPER LVL RIDGE EXPANDS FURTHER OVER THE SOUTHEAST. ISOLATED SHOWERS/THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE BY LATE WEEKEND INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK AS LIGHT ONSHORE FLOW RETURNS AND LEE SIDE TROUGHING DEVELOPS OVER THE MIDLANDS. OVERALL HIGH TEMPS WILL RUN A FEW DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL NEXT WEEK...IN THE LOW/MID 90S. OVERNIGHT LOWS WILL BE IN THE LOW 70S...WITH MID/UPPER 70S ALONG THE IMMEDIATE COAST. && .AVIATION /17Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... VFR CONDITIONS WILL PREVAIL AT BOTH KSAV AND KCHS THROUGH THE PERIOD. CB/S POSSIBLE LATE IN THE AFTERNOON AT BOTH TAF SITES...WITH SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE THEREAFTER THROUGH AT LEAST EARLY EVENING. THE APPROACH OF A WEAK COLD FRONT FROM THE NORTHWEST COULD KEEP RAIN CHANCES GOING LONGER THAN NORMAL TONIGHT. HOWEVER...WILL ADDRESS THE CONVECTIVE POSSIBILITIES WITH LATER TAF ISSUANCES AS CHANCES ARE TOO LOW TO MENTION ATTM. OTHERWISE...EXPECT GUSTY CONDITIONS THIS AFTERNOON WITH THE SEA BREEZE...ESPECIALLY AT KCHS. EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK...MVFR/IFR CONDITIONS POSSIBLE WEDNESDAY WITH SHOWERS/THUNDERSTORMS...OTHERWISE VFR. && .MARINE... TODAY AND TONIGHT...WINDS ARE JUST A BIT LIGHTER THAN FORECAST SO FAR THIS MORNING...BUT NOT ENOUGH TO MAKE ANY CHANGES FOR THIS AFTERNOON. WINDS COULD KICK UP CLOSE TO ADVISORY LEVELS IN CHS HARBOR AND EVEN THE CHARLESTON COUNTY WATERS OUT TO 20 NM LATER TODAY/TONIGHT BUT WILL LEAVE THE FORECAST HEADLINE FREE FOR NOW. WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY...WEAK AREAS OF LOW PRESSURE MAY DEVELOP ALONG A STALLED BOUNDARY OVER OR NEAR THE COASTAL WATERS WEDNESDAY...RESULTING IN PERIODS OF SHOWERS/THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING. OTHERWISE...WINDS AND SEAS ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN WELL BELOW SCA CRITERIA WEDNESDAY THROUGH EARLY NEXT WEEK. OVERALL...SEAS WILL 2 TO 3 FT WITH WINDS BELOW 15 KT. && .CHS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... GA...NONE. SC...NONE. MARINE...NONE. &&
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC 413 AM EDT TUE JUN 28 2011 AMZ330-350-352-354-374-GAZ087-088-099>101-114>119-137>141-SCZ040- 042>045-047>052-290900- 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-INLAND BERKELEY- INLAND JASPER-BEAUFORT-COASTAL COLLETON-CHARLESTON-COASTAL JASPER- TIDAL BERKELEY- 413 AM EDT TUE JUN 28 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR ATLANTIC COASTAL WATERS...SOUTHEAST GEORGIA AND SOUTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY. 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
159 PM EDT TUE JUN 28 2011
GAZ088-100-101-SCZ040-042-043-047-281900-
ALLENDALE-BULLOCH-EFFINGHAM-HAMPTON-INLAND COLLETON-INLAND
JASPER-SCREVEN-
159 PM EDT TUE JUN 28 2011
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT PORTIONS OF SCREVEN...BULLOCH...
ALLENDALE...EFFINGHAM...HAMPTON...JASPER AND COLLETON COUNTIES
THROUGH 300 PM EDT...
AT 155 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS...ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM FAIRFAX TO SHIRLEY
TO WESTSIDE...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 15 MPH.
SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL BE AFFECTED INCLUDE...
BROOKLET...CAPTOLO...CLYO...DOVER...EGYPT...GEORGIA SOUTHERN...
GUYTON...HOPEULIKIT...HUNTERS...KILDARE...LEEFIELD...MIDDLEGROUND...
NEWINGTON...OLIVER...SHAWNEE...SPRINGFIELD...STATESBORO...STILSON...
WESTSIDE...ALLENDALE...ALMEDA INTERSECTION...BARTON...BRUNSON...
COOSAWHATCHIE...CROCKETVILLE...CUMMINGS...EARLY BRANCH...ESTILL...
FAIRFAX...FURMAN...GARNETT...GIFFORD...GILLISONVILLE...GRAYS...
HAMPTON...ISLANDTON...LAKE WARREN STATE PARK...LENA...LURAY...
MCPHERSONVILLE...MILEY...PINELAND...ROBERTVILLE...SCOTIA...SHIRLEY...
SYCAMORE...TARBORO...TILLMAN AND VARNVILLE...
PREPARE NOW FOR THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS...
GUSTY WINDS OF 40 TO 50 MPH...
PENNY SIZE HAIL...
FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...
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.
&&
LAT...LON 3288 8081 3253 8095 3225 8155 3250 8197
3276 8141 3311 8127
TIME...MOT...LOC 1759Z 301DEG 13KT 3298 8121 3271 8131
3244 8188SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
230 PM EDT TUE JUN 28 2011
GAZ099-100-281900-
BULLOCH-CANDLER-
230 PM EDT TUE JUN 28 2011
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT PORTIONS OF BULLOCH AND CANDLER
COUNTIES THROUGH 300 PM EDT...
AT 228 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM...NEAR UNION...MOVING EAST AT 5 MPH.
SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL BE AFFECTED INCLUDE...
ALINE...GEORGIA SOUTHERN...METTER...PORTAL...PULASKI...REGISTER...
STATESBORO AND WESTSIDE...
PREPARE NOW FOR THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS...
GUSTY WINDS OF 40 TO 50 MPH...
PENNY SIZE HAIL...
FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...
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.
&&
LAT...LON 3237 8222 3255 8212 3256 8207 3255 8203
3257 8202 3245 8169 3230 8184
TIME...MOT...LOC 1830Z 290DEG 6KT 3248 8202SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
245 PM EDT TUE JUN 28 2011
GAZ088-099>101-SCZ042-281930-
BULLOCH-CANDLER-EFFINGHAM-HAMPTON-SCREVEN-
245 PM EDT TUE JUN 28 2011
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT PORTIONS OF SCREVEN...BULLOCH...
CANDLER...EFFINGHAM AND HAMPTON COUNTIES THROUGH 330 PM EDT...
AT 240 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS...ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM OAKY TO MILL CREEK
PARK TO METTER...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 20 MPH.
SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL BE AFFECTED INCLUDE...
BROOKLET...CLYO...DENMARK...EGYPT...GEORGIA SOUTHERN...GUYTON...
KILDARE...LEEFIELD...METTER...OLIVER...PINEORA...PULASKI...
REGISTER...SHAWNEE...SPRINGFIELD...STATESBORO...STILLWELL...STILSON
AND WESTSIDE...
PREPARE NOW FOR THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS...
STRONG WINDS OF 45 TO 55 MPH...
PENNY SIZE HAIL...
FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...
THE WINDS COULD CAUSE LIGHT...LOOSE OBJECTS TO BLOW AROUND AND
POTENTIALLY BECOME DANGEROUS. SMALL TREE LIMBS MAY BE BLOWN DOWN.
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.
&&
LAT...LON 3248 8218 3251 8174 3261 8131 3234 8117
3227 8144 3228 8197 3244 8220
TIME...MOT...LOC 1844Z 314DEG 17KT 3252 8131 3244 8166
3242 8206PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
319 PM EDT TUE JUN 28 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0315 PM HAIL 2 S ASHTON 32.99N 80.97W
06/28/2011 E1.00 INCH COLLETON SC TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
EVENT NUMBER CHS1100572
VBSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
323 PM EDT TUE JUN 28 2011
GAZ088-SCZ040-282015-
ALLENDALE-SCREVEN-
323 PM EDT TUE JUN 28 2011
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT PORTIONS OF SCREVEN AND ALLENDALE
COUNTIES THROUGH 415 PM EDT...
AT 321 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS...ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 11 MILES NORTH OF
ULMER TO BALDOCK TO MILLHAVEN...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 15 MPH.
SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL BE AFFECTED INCLUDE...
BURTONS FERRY LANDING...HILLTONIA...MILLHAVEN...ALLENDALE...
APPLETON...BARTON...FAIRFAX...MARTIN...MILLETT...SEIGLING...SYCAMORE
AND ULMER...
PREPARE NOW FOR THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS...
STRONG WINDS OF 45 TO 55 MPH...
DIME SIZE HAIL...
EXCESSIVE CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
EXCESSIVE LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THESE STORMS. IF OUTDOORS...
REMAIN AS LOW TO THE GROUND AS POSSIBLE AND AWAY FROM TALL OBJECTS...
OPEN SPACES...AND BODIES OF WATER. IF INDOORS...STAY AWAY FROM
WINDOWS...DOORS...PLUMBING AND ELECTRICAL DEVICES.
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.
&&
LAT...LON 3304 8157 3305 8157 3308 8162 3311 8160
3316 8150 3311 8136 3312 8119 3305 8110
3294 8125 3278 8169 3291 8177
TIME...MOT...LOC 1923Z 329DEG 15KT 3325 8116 3311 8136
3297 8167SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC 337 PM EDT TUE JUN 28 2011 SCZ042-047-282015- HAMPTON-INLAND JASPER- 337 PM EDT TUE JUN 28 2011 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT PORTIONS OF HAMPTON AND JASPER COUNTIES THROUGH 415 PM EDT... AT 333 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM...NEAR POSSUM CORNER...MOVING EAST AT 5 MPH. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL BE AFFECTED INCLUDE... COOSAWHATCHIE...CUMMINGS...EARLY BRANCH...GILLISONVILLE...GRAYS AND MCPHERSONVILLE... PREPARE NOW FOR THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS... STRONG WINDS OF 45 TO 55 MPH... DIME SIZE HAIL... FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING... PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... FREQUENT CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING. POSTPONE OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES PROMPTLY. SEEK SHELTER INSIDE AN ENCLOSED BUILDING. && LAT...LON 3285 8102 3284 8092 3256 8084 3260 8109 TIME...MOT...LOC 1938Z 273DEG 3KT 3268 8097
1 wildfire. Local standard time, as filed.
The Georgia Forestry Commission reported that the Terrell Mill Pond Wildfire, located 2 miles west of Hinesville, Georgia, was started due to a lightning strike on June 28, 2011 and continued to burn until it was contained on July 13, 2011. The fire burned approximately 372 acres.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Georgia in 2011Every state in 2011This day in weather historyWarnings in Georgia, June 2011
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: 333592.