Various synoptic scale and mesoscale features, such as the right entrance region of the upper jet, a short wave moving in aloft, the sea breeze and differential heating boundaries from morning cloud cover.
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.
Various synoptic scale and mesoscale features, such as the right entrance region of the upper jet, a short wave moving in aloft, the sea breeze and differential heating boundaries from morning cloud cover.
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 28, 3:09 PM EST, 31 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC 409 PM EDT SAT JUL 28 2012 .SYNOPSIS... ATLANTIC HIGH PRESSURE WILL PREVAIL THROUGH THE WEEK WHILE A TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE LINGERS INLAND. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM SUNDAY MORNING/... THE RADAR HAS FINALLY BEGUN TO LIGHT UP THIS AFTERNOON NOW THAT CONVECTIVE TEMPS HAVE BEEN REACHED AND THE SEABREEZE HAS ACTIVATED. A CONFLUENCE ZONE HAS DEVELOPED JUST NORTHEAST OF CHARLESTON APPROXIMATELY FROM AWENDAW NORTHEAST TO THE GRAND STRAND. THUS FAR THE BEST CONCENTRATION OF SHOWERS AND TSTMS HAVE BEEN IN THIS AREA ALTHOUGH MORE ISOLATED ACTIVITY HAS POPPED UP FARTHER SW. HOWEVER...THE COVERAGE OF CONVECTION IS QUITE A BIT LESS THAN YESTERDAY AT THIS TIME. THIS IS PARTIALLY BECAUSE TEMPERATURES ARE NOT AS WARM AND HAVE ONLY SLIGHTLY EXCEEDED THE CONVECTIVE TEMP. ALSO...THE MID-LEVELS HAVE MOISTENED UP QUITE A BIT THIS AFTERNOON AND THE RESULTING DOWNDRAFT CAPES ARE LESS THAN 800 J/KG. IT SEEMS THIS IS HAVING A PRONOUNCED IMPACT ON THE NATURE OF THE STORMS TODAY AS WE ARE SEEING MUCH LESS ICE SHOWING UP ON RADAR AND THE OUTFLOW BOUNDARIES ARE NOT NEARLY AS IMPRESSIVE. THIS IN TURN IS RESULTING IN FEWER BOUNDARY COLLISIONS WHICH NORMALLY TRIGGER A LOT OF ADDITIONAL ACTIVITY. WE DO HAVE SUBSTANTIAL UPPER LEVEL DIVERGENCE AS THE REGION SITS UNDER THE RIGHT ENTRANCE REGION OF AN UPPER JET...AND AN ELONGATED SHORTWAVE WILL MOVE THROUGH BY EARLY THIS EVENING. THIS COULD LEAD TO SOME ADDITIONAL ACTIVITY DEVELOPING IN THE NEXT FEW HOURS... BUT IN GENERAL WE ARE NOT EXPECTING A WIDESPREAD CONVECTIVE EVENT TODAY/TONIGHT. && .SHORT TERM /6 AM SUNDAY MORNING THROUGH TUESDAY/... THE UPPER LEVEL PATTERN WILL REMAIN RATHER HIGHLY AMPLIFIED THROUGH THE SHORT TERM PERIOD...WITH RIDGING OVER THE ATLANTIC AND PLAINS STATES AND A TROUGH OVER THE EASTERN UNTIED STATES. AT THE SURFACE...ATLANTIC HIGH PRESSURE WILL PREVAIL WHILE A TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE LINGERS INLAND. THIS SYNOPTIC PATTERN WILL FAVOR SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS SUNDAY THROUGH TUESDAY...MAINLY DURING THE MID AFTERNOON THROUGH EARLY EVENING HOURS EACH DAY. THE SEA BREEZE AND INLAND TROUGH WILL PROVIDE LOW LEVEL CONVERGENCE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF CONVECTION DURING THE AFTERNOON. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD THEN EXPAND IN COVERAGE AND PROPAGATE ACROSS THE AREA AS BOUNDARY COLLISIONS TAKE PLACE INTO THE EVENING HOURS. A FEW THUNDERSTORMS COULD BECOME STRONG OR SEVERE EACH AFTERNOON/EARLY EVENING...WITH DAMAGING WINDS AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING REMAINING THE PRIMARY THREATS. HIGH TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN IN THE LOWER TO MID 90S EACH AFTERNOON AWAY FROM THE IMMEDIATE COAST...WITH LOWS GENERALLY IN THE LOWER TO MID 70S. && .LONG TERM /TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY/... THE BROAD UPPER TROUGH WILL REMAIN IN PLACE ACROSS THE EASTERN UNITED STATES THROUGH MUCH OF THE EXTENDED PERIOD. IT REMAINS DIFFICULT TO DECIPHER ONE DAY TO THE NEXT AS MODELS SHOW SEVERAL SHORTWAVE DISTURBANCES AFFECTING THE AREA. OVERALL...EXPECT AT LEAST ISOLATED TO SCATTERED CONVECTION...TYPICALLY DURING THE USUAL AFTERNOON HOURS...WHILE TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN NEAR SEASONAL NORMALS. BY THE END OF THE PERIOD...MODELS SHOW A MORE ZONAL FLOW ALOFT DEVELOPING AS THE UPPER TROUGH BEGINS TO DISSIPATE AND THE RIDGE ACROSS THE MIDDLE OF THE UNITED STATES STRENGTHEN. && .AVIATION /20Z SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... WE MAINTAINED VCTS AT BOTH TERMINALS UNTIL 22Z DUE TO SEVERAL FACTORS COMBINING TO INCREASE COVERAGE OF TSTMS THIS AFTERNOON. INITIATION IS A BIT SLOWER TODAY BUT COVERAGE SHOULD INCREASE BY LATE AFTERNOON. WITHOUT MUCH ON RADAR AS OF YET...COULD NOT PIN DOWN TIMING WITH A TEMPO GROUP IN 18Z TAFS. ACTIVITY SHOULD WANE AFTER SUNSET WITH VFR CONDITIONS THE REMAINDER OF THE PERIOD. EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK...PRIMARILY VFR EXCEPT FOR SHORT-LIVED RESTRICTIONS POSSIBLE IN MAINLY AFTERNOON/EVENING SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. && .MARINE... ATLANTIC HIGH PRESSURE WILL PREVAIL AS A TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE LINGERS INLAND THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK. THIS PATTERN WILL MAINTAIN A SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST FLOW ACROSS THE WATERS. WINDS COULD REACH UPWARDS OF 15-20 KT AT TIMES...ESPECIALLY WITH NOCTURNAL SURGING. HOWEVER...WINDS AND SEAS ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN BELOW SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY CRITERIA THROUGH THE FORECAST PERIOD. && .CHS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... GA...NONE. SC...NONE. MARINE...NONE. && SYNOPSIS... NEAR TERM...JRL SHORT TERM...JAQ LONG TERM...JHP AVIATION...JRL MARINE...JAQ
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
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
318 PM EDT SAT JUL 28 2012
SCZ045-050-281945-
CHARLESTON-INLAND BERKELEY-
318 PM EDT SAT JUL 28 2012
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT PORTIONS OF CHARLESTON AND
BERKELEY COUNTIES THROUGH 345 PM EDT...
AT 314 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS...EXTENDING FROM GERMANTOWN TO SMITH...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 5 MPH.
SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL BE AFFECTED INCLUDE...
AWENDAW AND HAMPTON PLANTATION STATE PARK...
PREPARE NOW FOR THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS...
GUSTY WINDS OF 40 TO 50 MPH...
PENNY SIZE HAIL...
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
FREQUENT LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THESE THUNDERSTORMS. IF
OUTDOORS...STAY AWAY FROM ISOLATED TALL OBJECTS. IF INDOORS...STAY
AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND DOORS. AVOID USING PLUMBING AND ELECTRICAL
APPLIANCES 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.
&&
LAT...LON 3299 7967 3306 7980 3326 7955 3325 7951
3324 7950 3325 7949 3321 7941 3319 7940
3318 7940
TIME...MOT...LOC 1918Z 034DEG 5KT 3320 7950 3304 7972
JAQSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC 328 PM EDT SAT JUL 28 2012 GAZ114-137-138-282000- INLAND LIBERTY-LONG-TATTNALL- 328 PM EDT SAT JUL 28 2012 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT PORTIONS OF TATTNALL...LIBERTY AND LONG COUNTIES THROUGH 400 PM EDT... AT 328 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM...NEAR GLENNVILLE...MOVING EAST AT 10 MPH. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL BE AFFECTED INCLUDE... GLENNVILLE...GUM BRANCH...MENDES AND MIDWAY... PREPARE NOW FOR THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS... GUSTY WINDS OF 40 TO 50 MPH... 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 3201 8161 3180 8162 3187 8199 3205 8200 TIME...MOT...LOC 1929Z 277DEG 9KT 3195 8190
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC 332 PM EDT SAT JUL 28 2012 GAZ116-282000- INLAND BRYAN- 332 PM EDT SAT JUL 28 2012 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT PORTIONS OF BRYAN COUNTY THROUGH 400 PM EDT... AT 328 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM...NEAR PEMBROKE...MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL BE AFFECTED INCLUDE... BLITCHTON...ELLABELL...LANIER AND PEMBROKE... PREPARE NOW FOR THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS... GUSTY WINDS OF 40 TO 50 MPH... 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 3218 8168 3223 8143 3204 8143 3211 8169 TIME...MOT...LOC 1932Z 275DEG 11KT 3216 8160
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
350 PM EDT SAT JUL 28 2012
SCZ045-050-282015-
CHARLESTON-INLAND BERKELEY-
350 PM EDT SAT JUL 28 2012
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT PORTIONS OF CHARLESTON AND
BERKELEY COUNTIES THROUGH 415 PM EDT...
AT 349 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM...NEAR HALFWAY CREEK...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 10
MPH.
SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL BE AFFECTED INCLUDE...
AWENDAW...HAMPTON PLANTATION STATE PARK...MCCLELLANVILLE AND SANTEE
COASTAL RESERVE...
PREPARE NOW FOR THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS...
GUSTY WINDS OF 40 TO 50 MPH...
FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...
TORRENTIAL RAIN WHICH MAY PRODUCE LOCALIZED FLOODING...
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
FREQUENT LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM. IF
OUTDOORS...STAY AWAY FROM ISOLATED TALL OBJECTS. IF INDOORS...STAY
AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND DOORS. AVOID USING PLUMBING AND ELECTRICAL
APPLIANCES UNLESS IT IS AN EMERGENCY.
THIS THUNDERSTORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN...WHICH MAY
FLOOD DITCHES AND LOW-LYING AREAS. REDUCE VEHICLE SPEED TO LOWER THE
RISK OF HYDROPLANING. DO NOT DRIVE INTO PLACES WHERE WATER COVERS THE
ROAD. SEEK AN ALTERNATE ROUTE.
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 3314 7927 3302 7952 3303 7953 3293 7972
3306 7981 3328 7956 3325 7953 3324 7945
3322 7945 3316 7935 3315 7929
TIME...MOT...LOC 1950Z 240DEG 7KT 3313 7958SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
359 PM EDT SAT JUL 28 2012
GAZ101-116>119-138-139-SCZ047-048-051-282030-
BEAUFORT-COASTAL BRYAN-COASTAL CHATHAM-COASTAL JASPER-COASTAL
LIBERTY-EFFINGHAM-INLAND BRYAN-INLAND CHATHAM-INLAND JASPER-INLAND
LIBERTY-
359 PM EDT SAT JUL 28 2012
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT PORTIONS OF EFFINGHAM...
LIBERTY...BRYAN...JASPER...CHATHAM AND BEAUFORT COUNTIES THROUGH 430
PM EDT...
AT 358 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS...ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM MEINHARD TO
SCREVEN FORK...MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH.
SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL BE AFFECTED INCLUDE...
ALLENHURST...BELFAST...BLOOMINGDALE...EDEN...FLEMINGTON...FORT
MCALLISTER...FORT PULASKI NATIONAL MONUMENT...FORT STEWART...GARDEN
CITY...HALFMOON LANDING...HINESVILLE...HUTCHINSON ISLAND...I-16/I-95
INTERCHANGE...ISLE OF HOPE...KELLER...MCINTOSH...MEINHARD...
MELDRIM...MONTEITH...MONTGOMERY...OSSABAW SOUND...POOLER...PORT
WENTWORTH...RICEBORO...RICHMOND HILL...SANDFLY...SAVANNAH...SAVANNAH
AIRPORT...SAVANNAH HISTORIC DISTRICT...SKIDAWAY ISLAND...ST.
CATHERINES ISLAND...SUNBURY...THUNDERBOLT...TYBEE ISLAND...
VERNONBURG...WASSAW ISLAND...WHITE BLUFF...WHITEMARSH ISLAND...
WILMINGTON ISLAND...WINDSOR FOREST...BELLINGER HILL AREA...
BLUFFTON...FOLLY FIELD...FOREST BEACH...HILTON HEAD AIRPORT...HILTON
HEAD ISLAND...PRITCHARDVILLE...ROSE HILL...SUN CITY...CROSSROADS...
MIDWAY AND RIVERSIDE...
PREPARE NOW FOR THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS...
GUSTY WINDS OF 40 TO 50 MPH...
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 3177 8162 3201 8161 3203 8143 3219 8143
3226 8126 3235 8054 3220 8066 3214 8074
3210 8082 3211 8084 3205 8089 3203 8087
3203 8084 3200 8083 3172 8113 3161 8114
TIME...MOT...LOC 1959Z 270DEG 12KT 3218 8123 3177 8152The Charleston,SC radar (KCLX), 130 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:38 UTC.
6 thunderstorm wind, 2 lightning, 1 heavy rain. Local standard time, as filed.
One tree was reported down on Halfway Creek Road between Steed Creek Road and United Drive.
One tree was reported down near the Intersection of US Highway 278 and South Carolina 462.
Trained Spotter measured 8 inches of rain that fell over a 3 hour period.
Law Enforcement reported one tree and power line down along Deerfield Road in Hardeeville.
Two trees were reported down in Yemassee.
The State Ports Authority reported damage to four large container cranes along the Wando Terminal. Extent and cost of damage unknown.
Law Enforcement relayed a report of one tree down on 6th Street in Mount Pleasant.
Law Enforcement reported a house fire due to a lightning strike along Pine Island View in Mount Pleasant. Extent and cost of damage is unknown.
Law Enforcement reported a woman was struck by lightning in Mount Pleasant. The woman was transported to a hospital. Extent of injuries unknown.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in South Carolina in 2012Every state in 2012This day in weather historyWarnings in South Carolina, July 2012
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: 401755, 401756, 401752, 401757, 401758, 401759, 401760, 401753, 401754.