An area of moderate widespread rain developed in the vicinity of a nearly stationary front centered across southeast Georgia. A few thunderstorms developed within this area of rain, producing a few damaging wind gusts and even a brief tornado.
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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 area of moderate widespread rain developed in the vicinity of a nearly stationary front centered across southeast Georgia. A few thunderstorms developed within this area of rain, producing a few damaging wind gusts and even a brief tornado.
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 17, 12:47 PM EST, 1 hour 3 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Charleston SC 147 PM EDT TUE MAY 17 2016 .SYNOPSIS... An upper disturbance and weak surface low pressure will bring showers and a few storms through tonight. A trailing cold front will push south of the region Wednesday and high pressure will build from the north through late week. Low pressure will track from the Ohio Valley to the Mid Atlantic coast this weekend. This low will pull a warm front through the region Saturday and will push a cold front through the area early Sunday. High pressure will then build into the region through early next week. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... A nearly stationary front remains draped across our southern GA zones this morning while a steady stream of upper shortwave energy ripples through at mid levels. 20-25 kt southwest flow in the lowest 6 km of the atmosphere is advecting deep layered moisture into the southeast United States with precipitable water values expected to approach 2" later this afternoon. There will be weak upper jet divergence overspreading the area this afternoon though the best dynamics will remain to the north and south. Extensive cloud cover along and north of the front will put a damper on solar warming today. Most areas not expected to climb above 80 degrees today except areas along the Altamaha River where values in the lower 80s are expected. Showers with isolated thunderstorms will become more numerous late this morning and early afternoon as the moisture deepens. Modified 12Z raob shows about 1000 J/kg CAPE and -4C LI with 44 kt of 0-6 km shear. Unless we see a significant amount of unexpected clearing and warmer temps than currently forecast, limited instability will be prohibitive for strong/severe convection. Nevertheless, low wet-bulb zero heights and modest low level shear along and south of the front may support an isolated severe storm this afternoon. Tonight: The upper shortwave will help a wave of low pressure develop offshore where the greatest baroclinicity will be. This will help bring an end to most of the showers in the evening, although a trailing cool front behind the low will linger across southeast GA and so some showers could linger there especially much of the night. Lows in the mid/upper 60s most places. && .SHORT TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... Wednesday: Low pressure near the Southeast coast to start will advance offshore, and a cold front will push south of the region. Maintained slight chance/chance pops during the morning as the western periphery of deep layered moisture could linger near the coast. Then, as a sea breeze develops and pushes inland during the afternoon, isolated/scattered diurnal showers/thunderstorms could develop. However, a combination of progged temps in the lower to mid 80s, dewpoints mainly in the 60s and a stronger cap as compared with model soundings from previous model runs should combine to yield unimpressive instability and limited coverage of convection. The exception could be across southern counties where somewhat stronger instability and weaker capping due in part to a shortwave trough aloft could translate to greater coverage of showers/thunderstorms and even a chance for brief/isolated severe thunderstorms. Thus, afternoon pops are graduated from 25-30 percent north/inland to around 50 percent across southern counties. Wednesday night: Surface high pressure and associated drier air will build from the north/northeast. However, uncertainty regarding the location of a pool of deeper moisture suggests that slight chance/chance pops are warranted. Thursday: Below normal temperatures in the upper 70s/lower 80s will prevail as high pressure continues to expand into the region from the north. While the high will push a wedge of relatively dry air into the southeast, a broad zone of overrunning moisture embedded within west southwest flow aloft will persist over the Southeast. The position of this enhanced moisture and the prospect/location for any forcing for ascent provided by a weak upper shortwave trough remains uncertain, and this translates to an uncertain pop forecast. The latest forecast depicts pops ramping up from slight chance/chance Thursday morning to around 50 percent south/inland and 25-30 percent farther north/east Thursday afternoon. Then, pops decrease to slight chance/chance Thursday night. Friday: Ahead of an amplifying longwave upper trough and developing surface low pressure to the west, moisture transport and deep layered forcing for ascent will increase. Thus, pops increase with time, with likely pops far south/inland and high chance pops elsewhere Friday afternoon. Temperatures could top out around 80F, although clouds and an earlier onset of showers could hold temps in the 70s in some areas. && .LONG TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY/... A longwave upper trough will amplify over the eastern CONUS and will support surface cyclogenesis. Ahead of these features, an intensifying warm conveyor belt/associated moisture transport of PWATS around 2 inches and sustained forcing for ascent will support a wet period featuring showers/thunderstorms Friday night into Saturday. This plume of anomalously high moisture could support locally heavy rainfall. Also, latest guidance depicts the surface low passing north of the region and pulling a surface warm front through the region by Saturday. This could open a window of opportunity for severe weather until a cold front pushes through the region Saturday night or early Sunday. Then, the usually deep upper low is progged to become cut-off over the eastern CONUS by early next week, with the core of the upper low/associated cold pool expected to roll across the Southeast. Thus, the chance for mainly diurnal showers/thunderstorms will persist into the end of this forecast period. Meanwhile, high temperatures will struggle to reach normal levels through this period. && .AVIATION /18Z TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... KCHS: Periods of showers will impact KCHS terminal through early evening though mainly VFR will persist. An isolated thunderstorm remains possible however the best instability will remain south and west of the terminal. At least MVFR ceilings and/or visibility expected later tonight as winds diminish and moisture gets trapped beneath the inversion as we remain north of the stalled front. IFR is quite possible, especially ceilings, after 08Z. Later shifts may need to include. Mainly MVFR conditions will prevail late Wed morning into the early afternoon. KSAV: Periods of showers and thunderstorms will affect the KSAV terminal this afternoon with frequent MVFR ceilings and IFR visibility in the heavy rain. The best forcing for precipitation will shift northeast of the terminal early this evening with mainly MVFR ceilings continuing. Later tonight we expect at least MVFR ceilings and visibilities as moisture gets trapped beneath the inversion. A period of prevailing IFR ceilings and/or visibilities is quite possible and later shifts may need to consider. Slightly improving conditions expected late Wed morning into the afternoon. Extended Aviation Outlook: Alternating periods of VFR conditions and flight restrictions are expected this period, mainly due to episodes of showers/thunderstorms. && .MARINE... Today and Tonight: Atlantic high pressure will give way to low pressure tonight...causing winds to shift from south/southeast today to more west/northwest late tonight. Speeds will be mainly 15 knots or less with seas 4 feet or less so no advisories needed. Wednesday: North winds to start will give way to a dominant sea breeze circulation of 15 kt or less. Seas of 2-3 ft will prevail. Wednesday night through Friday: High pressure will build into the region from the north, and stronger northeast winds/higher seas can be expected. However, latest guidance suggests that winds/seas will remain below Small Craft Advisory levels. Thus, winds are capped at20 knots and seas are capped at 4-5 ft through late week. Friday night or Saturday: A warm front will push through the waters, and winds will turn toward the south at 15-20 kt, accompanied by seas 3-5 ft. && .CHS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... GA...None. SC...None. MARINE...None. && SYNOPSIS... NEAR TERM...JRL SHORT TERM...SPR LONG TERM...SPR AVIATION...JRL/SPR MARINE...JRL/RJB/SPR
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
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
114 PM EDT TUE MAY 17 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1230 PM HEAVY RAIN 1 W WINDSOR FOREST 31.98N 81.15W
05/17/2016 E0.00 INCH CHATHAM GA EMERGENCY MNGR
EMERGENCY MANAGER REPORTED THAT LARGO DRIVE NEAR THE
INTERSECTION WITH WOODLEY ROAD WAS IMPASSABLE DUE TO
WATER COVERING THE ROADWAY.
&&
EVENT NUMBER CHS1600229
JMCPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
117 PM EDT TUE MAY 17 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1230 PM HEAVY RAIN 1 E SAVANNAH HISTORIC D 32.08N 81.09W
05/17/2016 E0.00 INCH CHATHAM GA EMERGENCY MNGR
EMERGENCY MANAGER REPORTED THAT WATER WAS COVERING THE
ROADWAY AT THE INTERSECTION OF E BROAD ST AND PRESIDENT
ST.
&&
EVENT NUMBER CHS1600230
JMCPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
119 PM EDT TUE MAY 17 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1230 PM HEAVY RAIN 1 WSW SAVANNAH 32.04N 81.10W
05/17/2016 E0.00 INCH CHATHAM GA EMERGENCY MNGR
EMERGENCY MANAGER REPORTED THAT WATER COVERED THE
ROADWAY AT THE INTERSECTION OF ABERCORN ST AND COLUMBUS
DR.
&&
EVENT NUMBER CHS1600231
JMCPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
121 PM EDT TUE MAY 17 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1230 PM HEAVY RAIN SAVANNAH HISTORIC DISTR 32.08N 81.09W
05/17/2016 E0.00 INCH CHATHAM GA BROADCAST MEDIA
MEDIA REPORTED WATER COVERING THE ROADWAY IN PLACES
ALONG OGLETHORPE AVE.
&&
EVENT NUMBER CHS1600232
JMCPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
232 PM EDT TUE MAY 17 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0210 PM HEAVY RAIN 2 W PRITCHARDVILLE 32.24N 80.99W
05/17/2016 M5.30 INCH BEAUFORT SC TRAINED SPOTTER
A TRAINED SPOTTER REPORTED OVER 5 INCHES OF RAIN SINCE
THIS MORNING. MINOR STREET FLOODING IN RESIDENTIAL
NEIGHBORHOODS INCLUDING ASHBOURNE COURT AND WYNDHAM
DRIVE IN ALSTON PARK. REPORT RECEIVED VIA TWITTER.
&&
EVENT NUMBER CHS1600233
BSHSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
238 PM EDT TUE MAY 17 2016
GAZ117-119-171915-
COASTAL BRYAN GA-COASTAL CHATHAM GA-
238 PM EDT TUE MAY 17 2016
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT PORTIONS OF CHATHAM AND BRYAN
COUNTIES UNTIL 315 PM EDT...
AT 238 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER SKIDAWAY ISLAND...OR 8 MILES SOUTHWEST OF
WILMINGTON ISLAND...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH.
HAZARD...STRONG WINDS 45 TO 55 MPH AND EXCESSIVE CLOUD TO GROUND
LIGHTNING.
IMPACT...EXPECT MINOR DAMAGE TO TREE LIMBS AND BLOWING AROUND OF
LIGHT...UNSECURED OJBECTS. ALL OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES SHOULD
CEASE. MOVE INDOORS IMMEDIATELY.
SOME LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...
SAVANNAH...WILMINGTON ISLAND...MONTGOMERY...SKIDAWAY ISLAND...WASSAW
ISLAND...OSSABAW SOUND AND ISLE OF HOPE.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
THIS STORM MAY INTENSIFY. BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO AND TV
STATIONS AS WELL AS LOCAL CABLE TV OUTLETS FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.
&&
LAT...LON 3190 8120 3202 8097 3194 8085 3186 8093
3183 8112
TIME...MOT...LOC 1838Z 240DEG 16KT 3190 8107The Charleston,SC radar (KCLX), 80 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:49 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
Chatham County Emergency Management reported a few trees down in The Landings area of Skidaway Island. The Landings public works department cleared the trees away.
A National Weather Service storm survey team confirmed an EF-1 tornado near Bloomingdale, Georgia. The tornado first touched down with EF-0 intensity near a mobile home on Pop Shearhouse Road. Most of the roof of the mobile home was blown off and some tree damage occurred. As the tornado progressed eastward, it intensified and snapped trees along Stagecoach Road. Roof fascia was also ripped off of a home. The degree of tree damage in this area was consistent with an EF-1 tornado with maximum winds estimated to be 90-95 miles per hour. The tornado continued eastward to Cheyenne Road where the damage pattern became more sporadic. Here, trees were uprooted and damage to the roof of an RV and outbuilding occurred. The tornado continued to produce isolated tree damage as it moved eastward before dissipating near Jimmy DeLoach Parkway.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Georgia in 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Georgia, 2016Warnings in Georgia, May 2016
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: 636847, 636846.