The remnants of Tropical Cyclone Harvey shifted NE into the Tennessee Valley, causing a warm front to lift north from the Gulf Coast into the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA) of GA and Midlands of SC. This feature, along with daytime heating, and energy and moisture associated with the remnants of Harvey, led to scattered severe thunderstorms over portions of the CSRA and Midlands during the…
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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 CAE wrote it up.
The remnants of Tropical Cyclone Harvey shifted NE into the Tennessee Valley, causing a warm front to lift north from the Gulf Coast into the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA) of GA and Midlands of SC. This feature, along with daytime heating, and energy and moisture associated with the remnants of Harvey, led to scattered severe thunderstorms over portions of the CSRA and Midlands during the mid and late afternoon, producing damaging wind gusts.
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 Columbia, SC wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Aug 31, 1:30 PM EST, 1 hour earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Columbia SC 230 PM EDT Thu Aug 31 2017 .SYNOPSIS... Shower and thunderstorm chances will continue through the end of the week as the remnants of TS Harvey bring increasing moisture to the region. Drier air will filter into the region by late in the Holiday weekend with temperatures near normal. A cold front will approach from the west around the middle of next week. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... The remnants of Tropical Storm Harvey will lift from the lower Mississippi River Valley toward the Tennessee River Valley bringing increased moisture. A warm front over central GA this afternoon will lift north across the area tonight. Already seeing moderate instability over the CSRA into the Central Midlands. Mid-level short wave energy combined with moderate instability and Precipitable water values between 2.0 and 2.3 inches allowing convection to develop this afternoon. Scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms are expected into the evening. Could see a few severe storms...especially across the southern Midlands and CSRA where instability and shear is greatest. Damaging winds appear to be the main threat. An isolated tornado threat cannot be ruled out. Afternoon temperatures will peak in the lower 80s north to near 90 south. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected to continue through the early portions of tonight, before becoming more isolated late tonight. With the energy associated with the remnants of Harvey rotating around the eastern side of the low, and with a weak warm front lingering across the Midlands overnight...can not rule out a few strong storms tonight, especially over the western portions of the forecast area. Overnight lows will be in the lower 70s. && .SHORT TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/... On Friday, the remnants of Harvey will push mainly over the TN Valley, while a cold front begins pushing southward towards the forecast area through the day. With the increased shear along the front as it moves into the area, expect another round of stronger storms to develop during the afternoon hours. There is a risk of severe storms during the afternoon and evening hours. The latest Day 2 severe weather outlook from SPC has much of the northern half of the state in Slight Risk with the rest of the state in Marginal Risk for Friday. The cold front should move through the area late Friday night, with storms still possible along the front. Some drier air may begin filtering into the area from the west late Friday night. Temperatures Friday will range from the lower to middle 80s north to near 90 across the southern Midlands and CSRA. most of the area in warm sector. Readings on Friday night slightly cooler with temperatures in the upper 60s to lower 70s. && .LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... Drier airmass moving into the area behind the cold front on Saturday will allow for diminished rain chances as the day goes on. Dry weather expected to continue into Tuesday as high pressure settles into the region. Latest GFS indicating moisture return on Wednesday into Thursday ahead of the next upper system. Temperatures generally close to normal Saturday through Wednesday, and a little below normal Thursday. && .AVIATION /18Z THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... Scattered convection expected to increase in coverage into the evening as the area of storms over GA moves east into the CSRA and Midlands. Have indicated tempo at all TAF sites through 01/00Z. Should see convection decreasing after sunset as instability weakens...though at least isolated convection is possible overnight. Models indicate potential for stratus with MVFR/IFR conditions to develop overnight...then improving to VFR by late morning. Scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms should once again develop Friday afternoon. EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK...Showers and thunderstorms expected across the area Friday afternoon into Saturday as the remnants of Harvey lifts north from the TN Valley into the Ohio River Valley. && .CAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... GA...None. SC...None. &&
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Columbia SC 350 AM EDT Thu Aug 31 2017 GAZ040-063>065-077-SCZ015-016-018-020>022-025>031-035>038-041-010800- Lincoln-McDuffie-Columbia-Richmond-Burke-Lancaster-Chesterfield- McCormick-Newberry-Fairfield-Kershaw-Edgefield-Saluda-Lexington- Richland-Lee-Aiken-Sumter-Barnwell-Orangeburg-Calhoun-Clarendon- Bamberg- 350 AM EDT Thu Aug 31 2017 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the Midlands of South Carolina and the Central Savannah River area of Georgia. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Scattered showers and thunderstorms this afternoon and tonight may bring strong winds and brief heavy rainfall to the area. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. Additional showers and thunderstorms remain possible on Friday as the remnants of Harvey move north of the area, and a cold front moves southward. Isolated severe storms with strong winds and heavy rainfall will be possible on Friday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Columbia SC
242 PM EDT THU AUG 31 2017
GAZ063>065-311930-
Richmond-McDuffie-Columbia-
242 PM EDT THU AUG 31 2017
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT COLUMBIA...MCDUFFIE AND CENTRAL
RICHMOND COUNTIES...
At 241 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located near Camak, or near
Warrenton, moving east at 25 mph.
Winds up to 40 mph are possible with this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Grovetown, Evans, Thomson, Fort Gordon, Martinez, Hephzibah, Harlem,
Blythe and Dearing.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
LAT...LON 3366 8244 3365 8243 3368 8236 3369 8235
3369 8222 3363 8220 3359 8214 3332 8199
3328 8216 3330 8218 3327 8228 3331 8234
3331 8239 3334 8244 3335 8255 3341 8255
3346 8259 3357 8263
TIME...MOT...LOC 1841Z 251DEG 22KT 3344 8259
CJRThe Columbia radar (KCAE), 125 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:29 UTC.
2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Columbia Co GA Sheriff reported tree in roadway at N Fairfield Dr and Sawdust Rd in Harlem.
Sheriff dispatch reported trees down along Old Louisville Rd and Young Dr.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Georgia in 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyWarnings in Georgia, August 2017
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: 715991, 715992.