A cluster of strong thunderstorms developed in the early morning hours just off the southeast Georgia coast. These thunderstorms tracked to the northeast along the southeast South Carolina coast and produced strong damaging wind gusts.
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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.
A cluster of strong thunderstorms developed in the early morning hours just off the southeast Georgia coast. These thunderstorms tracked to the northeast along the southeast South Carolina coast and produced strong 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 Charleston, SC wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Sep 1, 11:37 PM EST, 3 hours 19 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Charleston SC 1237 AM EDT Sat Sep 2 2017 .SYNOPSIS... A warm front will linger north of the region through early Saturday as the remnants of Harvey move through the Tennessee Valley. A cold front will approach from the northwest this weekend, then become stationary into early next week. Another cold front is expected to approach the region during the second half of next week. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM THIS MORNING/... Some fairly sizable changes were made to the forecast through sunrise. Water vapor imagery shows a shortwave over the Florida Panhandle moving northeast. This feature is supporting numerous showers/tstms over Northeast Florida and far southern Southeast Georgia. Current radar trends suggest this activity will approach breach the Altamaha River in a few hours with high resolution guidance showing convection redeveloping/overspreading the coastal counties through daybreak. Have raised pops considerably; ranging from 20% well inland to 30-50% far south and coastal areas. && .SHORT TERM /6 AM THIS MORNING THROUGH MONDAY/... Saturday: The remnant low pressure formerly known as Harvey will continue to travel northeast away from the forecast area as a stalled front persists across North Carolina. A cold front will approach the area from the northwest. Continued southwest flow will maintain ample moisture over the region as the upper level trough approaches from the west. Divergence overhead will contribute to the formation of scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms over land zones, with the best potential shifting offshore into the coastal waters late in the day. Temperatures through the period will be within 1-2 degrees of normal. Sunday: A relatively drier day is anticipated, as surface pressures climb slightly while upper-level Atlantic ridging creeps closer to the forecast area. While the cold front is anticipated to remain near or over the forecast area, notably less impressive instability and shear parameters will persist over much of the area. At this time, the majority of precipitation appears to remain offshore or near the coast. Near-normal temperatures are anticipated. Monday: Atlantic high pressure will continue to extend into the forecast area as some deeper moisture manages to return overhead and peak surface-based CAPEs rebound somewhat compared to Sunday. The latest guidance does depict weak upper level convergence persisting for much of Monday, implying that weak atmospheric descent will aid in limiting convective coverage. This is supported by lower-mid level omega fields in several models exhibiting sinking motion. Despite this, showers and thunderstorms cannot be entirely ruled out, and slight chance POPs will continue to serve the forecast well, with best potential remaining near the coast. Near-normal temperatures will continue. && .LONG TERM /MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/... An unsettled pattern is expected as a large mid/upper level trough expands over the Central U.S. A cold front associated with this feature should approach our area midweek. With southerly flow ahead of the front and increasing moisture, there should be increasing chances of showers and thunderstorms through Wednesday. && .AVIATION /06Z SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... Primary concerns: * Tstm possibilities at KSAV next few hours KCLX/KJAX radar shows convection gradually spreading north out of Northeast Florida ahead of a shortwave over the Florida Panhandle. Most of this activity is expected to pass south and east of the KSAV terminal over the next few hours, but it will be close enough to justify a VCTS beginning around 08z for now. It is very possible lower conditions, including prevailing TSRA, may be needed at some point, but with instability waning, prefer to hold any mention of TEMPO or prevailing TSRA. Amendments will be issued as needed. Activity should clear the terminal by 11z or so. For KCHS, impacts are not nearly clear cut with most activity is expected to remain offshore. Will monitor trends there for a possible amendment, but will hold off on any mention of TSRA for now. Otherwise, VFR today. Low probabilities for tstms impacting KSAV later this afternoon, but values are too low to justify a mention at this time. Extended Aviation Outlook: Brief flight restrictions will be possible due to direct impacts from showers/thunderstorms, mainly each afternoon/evening, with greatest chances Saturday and Tuesday. && .MARINE... Today and Tonight: Convection disturbed the synoptic flow earlier this evening but we expect a return to general southwest overnight. Speeds will remain less than 15 kt with seas 2-3 ft nearshore waters and 3-4 ft offshore waters. A few tstms could still crop up overnight near the land breeze. Saturday through Tuesday: Coastal waters will remain primarily under the influence of Atlantic high pressure, generating S to SW winds through early Sunday, peaking 15-20 knots. Latest guidance suggests winds may briefly veer NW Sunday morning for a few hours as a nearly- stationary front tips into the coastal waters. Initiation of a seabreeze circulation combined with the dissipation of the front should permit the winds to back SW or S again by Sunday afternoon. Generally southerly flow is expected to persist into Tuesday, but conditions look favorable for a weak landbreeze to turn light winds offshore for a few hours Monday morning. Seas ranging 2-4 feet initially will gradually subside to 1-2 ft by Sunday. && .CHS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... GA...None. SC...None. MARINE...None. &&
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Charleston SC 331 AM EDT Sat Sep 2 2017 AMZ330-350-352-354-374-GAZ087-088-099>101-114>119-137>141-SCZ040- 042>045-047>052-030745- 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- 331 AM EDT Sat Sep 2 2017 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...Sunday through Friday. The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter assistance is not anticipated at this time.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
312 AM EDT SAT SEP 02 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0302 AM MARINE TSTM WIND 1 SSW TYBEE ISLAND 31.99N 80.85W
09/02/2017 M41 MPH CHATHAM GA MESONET
THE SOUTH TYBEE WEATHER FLOW SENSOR REPORTED A WIND
GUST TO 36 KT.
&&
EVENT NUMBER CHS1700624PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
319 AM EDT SAT SEP 02 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0309 AM MARINE TSTM WIND 1 N TYBEE ISLAND 32.02N 80.84W
09/02/2017 M41 MPH CHATHAM GA MESONET
THE NORTH TYBEE ISLAND WEATHERFLOW SENSOR REPORTED A
WIND GUST TO 36 KT.
&&
EVENT NUMBER CHS1700625Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Charleston SC
326 AM EDT SAT SEP 2 2017
SCZ048-020800-
Beaufort-
326 AM EDT SAT SEP 2 2017
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT PORTIONS OF BEAUFORT COUNTY...
At 326 AM EDT, National Weather Service doppler radar indicated
strong thunderstorms along a line extending from near Bluffton to 8
miles east of Folly Field, and moving north at 35 mph.
HAZARD...strong winds 45 to 55 mph.
IMPACT...Expect minor damage to tree limbs and blowing around of
light, unsecured objects.
Some locations in the path of these storms include...
Hilton Head Island, Bluffton, Beaufort, Port Royal, Shell Point,
Hilton Head Airport, Fripp Island and Parris 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 nws.charlestonsc@noaa.gov.
&&
LAT...LON 3219 8088 3241 8077 3236 8040 3229 8042
3225 8058 3214 8069
TIME...MOT...LOC 0726Z 190DEG 30KT 3220 8082 3215 8055PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
340 AM EDT SAT SEP 02 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0335 AM MARINE TSTM WIND HILTON HEAD AIRPORT 32.23N 80.69W
09/02/2017 M41 MPH BEAUFORT SC AWOS
THE AWOS AT THE HILTON HEAD AIRPORT REPORTED A WIND
GUST TO 36 KT.
&&
EVENT NUMBER CHS1700626Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Charleston SC
349 AM EDT SAT SEP 2 2017
SCZ050-052-020815-
Tidal Berkeley-Charleston-
349 AM EDT SAT SEP 2 2017
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT PORTIONS OF CHARLESTON AND
BERKELEY COUNTIES...
At 349 AM EDT, National Weather Service doppler radar indicated a
strong thunderstorm near Folly Beach, or 10 miles southwest of Fort
Sumter, moving north at 30 mph.
HAZARD...strong winds 45 to 55 mph.
IMPACT...Expect minor damage to tree limbs and blowing around of
light, unsecured objects.
Some locations in the path of this storm include...
Charleston, North Charleston, Mount Pleasant, Goose Creek, Hanahan,
Downtown Charleston, Fort Sumter and I-26/I-526 Interchange.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
flooding of low lying and poor drainage areas. Do not drive your
vehicle through flooded roadways.
&&
LAT...LON 3291 7975 3275 7980 3273 7985 3267 7986
3259 7997 3255 8008 3295 8007 3295 8003
3290 8001 3291 7998 3293 8000 3294 8000
TIME...MOT...LOC 0749Z 187DEG 28KT 3261 7997PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
356 AM EDT SAT SEP 02 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0354 AM MARINE TSTM WIND 1 SW FOLLY BEACH 32.65N 79.94W
09/02/2017 M56 MPH AMZ350 SC MESONET
THE WEATHERFLOW SENSOR AT FOLLY BEACH REPORTED A WIND
GUST TO 49 KT.
&&
EVENT NUMBER CHS1700627The Charleston,SC radar (KCLX), 110 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 07:58 UTC.
9 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
The Weatherflow site at Fort Sumter measured a 51 knot wind gust. The peak gust of 61 knots occurred 10 minutes later.
A trained spotter reported a large tree down in the 900 block of Folly Road on James Island.
The Weatherflow site on the Folly Beach pier measured a 54 knot wind gust.
The Weatherflow site at the Isle of Palms pier measured a 50 knot wind gust.
A report of a tree down near the intersection of Fred Street and Fort Johnson Road was received via social media.
A trained spotter reported several large limbs down on Stillwater Drive.
A National Weather Service employee reported 2 large trees down near the intersection of Highway 41 and the entrance to the Park West subdivision.
Charleston County dispatch reported multiple trees down along Seewee Road near Highway 17.
Charleston Fire Department reported a tree down on Guerins Bridge Road near Woodville Road.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in South Carolina in 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyWarnings in South Carolina, September 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: 718377, 718370, 718376, 718378, 718371, 718372, 718373, 718374, 718375.