An inland trough of low pressure and a destabilizing atmosphere in wake of earlier convection led to additional showers and thunderstorms that shifted into parts of southeast Georgia. Several of these thunderstorms became strong to severe with damaging winds.
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.
An inland trough of low pressure and a destabilizing atmosphere in wake of earlier convection led to additional showers and thunderstorms that shifted into parts of southeast Georgia. Several of these thunderstorms became strong to severe with damaging winds.
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 Aug 6, 1:05 PM EST, 11 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC 205 PM EDT THU AUG 6 2015 .SYNOPSIS... AN INLAND TROUGH WILL PERSIST THROUGH FRIDAY. A COLD FRONT WILL DROP THROUGH THE AREA FRIDAY NIGHT WITH HIGH PRESSURE BUILDING IN FROM THE NORTH SATURDAY INTO SUNDAY. ANOTHER FRONT WILL APPROACH TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... EARLY THIS AFTERNOON...THE SOUTH GEORGIA SHORTWAVE HAS CONTINUED PROGRESSING EASTWARD AND IS NOW HELPING TO KICK OF NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS MUCH OF THE FORECAST AREA. MUCH OF THE ACTIVITY HAS NOW ALIGNED ALONG AND EAST OF I-95 AND IS MOVING AT ABOUT 20 KNOTS. GIVEN THAT WE HAVE SO MUCH COVERAGE THIS EARLY...THE SEVERE THREAT IS EXPECTED TO BE LOWER THROUGH THE REST OF THE AFTERNOON WITHIN SOME WAKE SUBSIDENCE OF THE SHORTWAVE ALOFT. A FEW OF THE STORMS HAVE ORGANIZED ENOUGH TO PRODUCE 35-40 KNOT WINDS ON BASE VELOCITY...BUT SO FAR UPDRAFT STRENGTH HASN/T BEEN ENOUGH TO GENERATE ANY STORMS THAT ARE EVEN MARGINALLY SEVERE. POPS HAVE BEEN ADJUSTED BASED ON CURRENT RADAR TRENDS. TONIGHT...THE MID AND UPPER LEVEL TROUGH AXIS WILL APPROACH AND POTENTIALLY SHIFT OVER THE REGION AS THE NIGHT PROGRESSES. THERE COULD BE SOMEWHAT OF A LULL IN THE CONVECTION THIS EVENING...BUT AS A SHORT WAVE DISTURBANCE SHIFTS TOWARD THE AREA AHEAD OF THE UPPER TROUGH AXIS...EXPECT SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TO REDEVELOP ACROSS THE AREA OVERNIGHT. EXTENSIVE CLOUD COVER AND PERSISTENT SOUTHWEST FLOW SHOULD HOLD LOWS IN THE MID 70S MOST AREAS. && .SHORT TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... UPPER SHORTWAVE ENERGY WILL GRADUALLY SHIFT OFF THE COAST DURING THE DAY FRIDAY. THE SURFACE FRONT WILL LINGER ACROSS THE AREA IN THE MORNING...EVENTUALLY SHIFTING OFFSHORE LATE IN THE DAY. PLENTY OF MOISTURE WILL REMAIN OVER THE AREA DURING THE DAY WITH PWATS REMAINING CLOSE TO 2". SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND TSTMS WILL LIKELY PERSIST DURING THE DAY THOUGH THE BEST COVERAGE WILL SHIFT OVER THE WATERS CLOSER TO THE PASSING FRONT. CANNOT RULE OUT A FEW STRONG OR SEVERE TSTMS LATER IN THE DAY ACROSS SOUTHEAST GA AND EXTREME COASTAL SC AS CAPES SURGE TO 1500-2000 J/KG AND 25-30 KT OF BULK SHEAR SETS UP. HIGHS WILL RANGE FROM UPPER 80S TO AROUND 91F. DRIER AIR WILL SHIFT IN FROM THE NW FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY AS HIGH PRESSURE BRIEFLY BUILDS IN. RAIN CHANCES LOOK FAIRLY LOW SATURDAY INTO SUNDAY THOUGH WE CANNOT RULE OUT ISOLATED CONVECTION DUE TO A WEAK LATE-DAY SEA BREEZE AND WEAK UPPER SHORTWAVE ENERGY CONTINUING TO DROP THROUGH. HIGHS WILL BE IN THE LOWER 90S AWAY FROM THE COAST WITH HIGHEST READINGS FAR INLAND. && .LONG TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/... ANOTHER CLUSTER OF UPPER SHORTWAVES WILL AFFECT THE AREA DURING THE EARLY TO MIDDLE PART OF NEXT WEEK. A COLD FRONT IS EXPECTED TO DROP INTO THE AREA TUESDAY AND PERSIST INTO WEDNESDAY...EVENTUALLY DISSIPATING OR SHIFTING SOUTHEAST. CONVECTION ON MONDAY LOOKS MORE ISOLATED DUE TO LINGERING DRIER AIR. BETTER COVERAGE OF SHOWERS AND TSTMS ANTICIPATED TUESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY DUE TO DEEP SUBTROPICAL MOISTURE AND THE STALLED FRONT NEARBY. && .AVIATION /18Z THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... THE BIGGEST NEAR TERM CONCERN IS THE POTENTIAL FOR THUNDERSTORMS AT THE TERMINALS. AT KSAV...THUNDERSTORMS ARE IN THE VICINITY AND WILL BE PUSHING OFF TO THE EAST IN THE NEXT HOUR OR SO. AFTER 19Z THE THUNDERSTORM THREAT WILL DIMINISH SIGNIFICANTLY. AT KCHS...STORMS ARE STARTING TO MOVE IN AND WILL BE IN THE VICINITY WITHIN THE HOUR. HAVE TEMPO/D IN IFR THUNDERSTORM CONDITIONS BETWEEN 19-21Z. THESE STORMS WILL LIKELY ALSO PRODUCE WIND GUSTS IN THE 25-30 KT RANGE. THE REST OF THE AFTERNOON SHOULD BE PRETTY QUIET AT BOTH SITES AS THE ONGOING STORMS HELP TO STABILIZE THE ATMOSPHERE. THERE ARE NO CONCERNS UNTIL LATE TONIGHT WHEN MORE SHOWERS/STORMS ARE EXPECTED TO APPROACH FROM THE NORTHWEST. THE BEST CHANCE FOR IMPACTS WILL BE AT KCHS...BUT HAVE KEPT THE FORECAST WITH A SHOWER MENTION AND VFR. ALSO SOME POTENTIAL FOR STRATUS DEVELOPMENT AROUND DAY BREAK. MORE SHOWERS AND STORMS ARE EXPECTED STARTING IN THE LATE FRIDAY MORNING HOURS. EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK...BRIEF REDUCTIONS IN CEILING AND/OR VISIBILITY IN SHOWERS AND TSTMS ESPECIALLY FRIDAY AND TUESDAY. && .MARINE... SOUTHWEST FLOW WILL STRENGTHEN OVER THE WATERS AS A LOW-LEVEL JET DEVELOPS AHEAD OF A DEEPENING UPPER LEVEL TROUGH APPROACHING FROM THE WEST TODAY AND TONIGHT. WINDS COULD REACH UPWARDS OF 15-20 KT OVER PORTIONS OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA NEAR SHORE WATERS BY THIS AFTERNOON...WITH WINDS STRENGTHENING THROUGHOUT THE WATERS TONIGHT WITH SOME NOCTURNAL SURGING OCCURRING. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT WINDS COULD REACH SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY CRITERIA TONIGHT OVER THE SOUTH CAROLINA NEAR SHORE AND OUTER GEORGIA WATERS...BUT NOT ENOUGH CONFIDENCE TO HOIST A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY AT THIS TIME. SEAS SHOULD BUILD TO 2-4 FT NEAR SHORE WATERS AND 3-5 FT OUTER GEORGIA WATERS BY LATE TONIGHT GIVEN THE STRENGTHENING SOUTHWEST FLOW. AN ENHANCED SW FLOW WILL SETUP ON FRIDAY AHEAD OF AN APPROACHING COLD FRONT. THE STRONGEST WINDS WILL OCCUR DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING AS A 30-35 KT 925 MB JET DROPS OVER THE WATERS. WE MAY SEE SOME 25 KT WIND GUSTS OVER THE CHARLESTON COUNTY NEARSHORE WATERS LATE IN THE DAY...AT SOME POINT REQUIRING A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY. THE SEA BREEZE WILL BRING 15-20 KT WINDS TO COASTAL AREAS INCLUDING CHARLESTON HARBOR. WINDS WILL QUICKLY DROP OFF FRIDAY NIGHT AND REMAIN QUITE WEAK THROUGH MONDAY AS WEAK HIGH PRESSURE SETTLES OVER THE WATERS. && .CHS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... GA...NONE. SC...NONE. MARINE...NONE. && NEAR TERM...BSH SHORT TERM...JRL LONG TERM...JRL AVIATION...BSH/JAQ/JRL MARINE...JAQ/JRL
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC 441 AM EDT THU AUG 6 2015 AMZ330-350-352-354-374-GAZ087-088-099>101-114>119-137>141-SCZ040- 042>045-047>052-071000- 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- 441 AM EDT THU AUG 6 2015 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...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ASSISTANCE IS NOT ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
154 PM EDT THU AUG 6 2015
SCZ043-048-049-061830-
BEAUFORT SC-COASTAL COLLETON SC-BEAUFORT SC-INLAND COLLETON SC-
154 PM EDT THU AUG 6 2015
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT PORTIONS OF COLLETON AND BEAUFORT
COUNTIES UNTIL 230 PM EDT...
AT 154 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR
YEMASSEE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.
WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
YEMASSEE...POCOTALIGO...ASHEPOO...RITTER...SHELDON...
HENDERSONVILLE...WHITE HALL AND GARDENS CORNER.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
REPORT DAMAGE DIRECTLY TO THE CHARLESTON NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AT
1-888-383-2024 WHEN IT IS SAFE TO DO SO. YOU CAN ALSO EMAIL YOUR
REPORT TO CHS.SKYWARN@NOAA.GOV.
&&
LAT...LON 3267 8043 3257 8081 3267 8087 3271 8083
3272 8085 3275 8086 3287 8063
TIME...MOT...LOC 1754Z 242DEG 22KT 3269 8078SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
215 PM EDT THU AUG 6 2015
SCZ043-044-049-050-061845-
CHARLESTON SC-COASTAL COLLETON SC-CHARLESTON SC-INLAND COLLETON SC-
DORCHESTER SC-
215 PM EDT THU AUG 6 2015
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT PORTIONS OF CHARLESTON...COLLETON
AND DORCHESTER COUNTIES UNTIL 245 PM EDT...
AT 215 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A LINE OF STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM WALTERBORO TO NEAR BENNETTS
POINT...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH.
WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
WALTERBORO...GIVHANS FERRY STATE PARK...HOLLYWOOD...RAVENEL...
MEGGETT...COTTAGEVILLE...ROUND O AND YONGES ISLAND.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
REPORT DAMAGE DIRECTLY TO THE CHARLESTON NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AT
1-888-383-2024 WHEN IT IS SAFE TO DO SO. YOU CAN ALSO EMAIL YOUR
REPORT TO CHS.SKYWARN@NOAA.GOV.
&&
LAT...LON 3263 8009 3257 8039 3256 8039 3255 8042
3253 8052 3297 8069 3307 8031
TIME...MOT...LOC 1815Z 239DEG 16KT 3292 8064 3260 8051The Charleston,SC radar (KCLX), 76 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:13 UTC.
7 thunderstorm wind, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
The media relayed a report of a house fire due to a lightning strike in the 100 block of Sugar Mill Drive.
The Jenkins County Fire and Rescue reported trees and power lines down on Perkins-Greenfork Road.
A tree was reported down near the intersection of Highway 80 and Aaron Station Road.
Law enforcement reported a tree down on Highway 24 a few miles from Blue Springs.
A tree was reported down on Stoopto Road.
Law enforcement reported a tree down near the intersection of Captola Road and Halcyondale Road.
The Bulloch County 911 Call Center reported power lines down onto a structure along the 100 block of Montgomery Drive.
A tree was reported down near the intersection of Sweetgum Street and Oliver Highway.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Georgia in 2015Every state in 2015This day in weather historyWarnings in Georgia, August 2015
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: 592792, 592793, 592794, 592795, 592796, 592797, 592798, 592799.