An upper and surface trough and daytime heating led to scattered severe thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening.
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 CAE wrote it up.
An upper and surface trough and daytime heating led to scattered severe thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening.
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 Jul 18, 12:06 PM EST, 2 hours 6 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Columbia SC 106 PM EDT Thu Jul 18 2019 .SYNOPSIS... An upper and surface trough will move into the region today and provide better chances of scattered afternoon and evening thunderstorms today and Friday. A surface trough will continue to support scattered afternoon thunderstorms through the weekend. An upper-level trough will dig into the eastern US early next week with a frontal boundary entering the region mid-week. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... Upper level trough over the Carolinas this afternoon and overnight as ridge has shifted slightly south of the area. With strong insolation, relatively steep low to mid level lapse rates resulting in moderate instability and perhaps strong late in the afternoon. SB CAPE around 2500 J/kg. Some mid level dry air noted on soundings and relatively high LFC with inverted V suggest some potential for strong gusty winds. So can't rule out an isolated severe pulse storm. With the potential for short wave energy, enhanced lift may result in stronger potential for convection. The latest high resolution models develop convection in the Piedmont and move southeast across the Midlands (likely scattered) and possibly increase toward the coastal plain. Precipitable water near 1.89 inches so some heavy rain possible but storm movement should limit amounts. Max temps in the mid to upper 90s with heat index around 107 degrees. Muggy tonight with lows in the mid 70s. && .SHORT TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/... Temperatures will again be in the mid to upper 90s with maximum Heat Index values from 100 to around 105. Expect scattered thunderstorms each afternoon and evening. An upper ridge will be centered north of the forecast area Friday with a weak inverted trough to our south. At the surface, a lee-side trough will provide convergence for convective development. PWAT values will remain high as abundant moisture resides over the region with values around 2 inches. All these factors support scattered thunderstorm development and a high chance (40%-50%) of rain. Rain chances are not as high on Saturday as the upper trough flattens out with little vorticity advection into the region. Severe weather potential each day is low given the tall, skinny CAPE profiles and little dry air aloft to promote strong downdrafts. With less convective coverage Saturday it may be a slightly warmer than Friday with fewer thunderstorms to disturb diurnal heating. Overnight lows will continue to be warmer than normal with values in the mid 70s each night. && .LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... Late this weekend into early next week, an upper ridge prevails over the forecast area with PWAT water values dropping to around 1.5-1.8 inches. The presence of a lee-side surface trough will continue to promote scattered diurnal convection. Midweek, a deep upper level trough is forecast to dig into the eastern US. This will push a cold front into the Southeast before stalling near the forecast area. This will support cooler daytime temperatures and higher rainfall chances. The highest convective activity will depend on the location and timing of the front which will be better known over the next several days. At this time, rainfall appears likely on Tuesday and Wednesday for at least portions of the area. The ECMWF has leaned closer to the GFS towards the end of the extended, keeping the stalled upper level trough over the eastern US for a longer period of time. High temperatures will remain above normal Sunday and Monday with highs in the mid 90s but then fall to near normal with increased clouds and precipitation on Tuesday and Wednesday with highs in the mid to upper 80s. && .AVIATION /18Z THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... Upper and surface trough, diurnal heating, and sufficient atmospheric moisture expected to result in increased convective coverage this afternoon/evening. High resolution models suggest scattered coverage. Isolated severe pulse storm possible. Satellite showing cumulus developing northwest of CAE at 16z with thunderstorms in north GA moving southeast. Will add tempo groups to terminals 20-24z. Convection will diminish mid to late evening with mainly mid level ceilings overnight although there could be some stratus late. MVFR fog possible at fog prone sites AGS/OGB. EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK...Scattered afternoon/evening thunderstorms and some potential for late night/early morning stratus/fog through the period. && .CAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... GA...None. SC...None. &&
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Columbia SC 409 AM EDT Thu Jul 18 2019 GAZ040-063>065-077-SCZ016-018-020>022-025>031-035>038-041-115-116- 190815- Lincoln-McDuffie-Columbia-Richmond-Burke-Chesterfield-McCormick- Newberry-Fairfield-Kershaw-Edgefield-Saluda-Lexington-Richland-Lee- Aiken-Sumter-Barnwell-Orangeburg-Calhoun-Clarendon-Bamberg- Northern Lancaster-Southern Lancaster- 409 AM EDT Thu Jul 18 2019 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the Midlands of South Carolina and the Central Savannah River area of Georgia. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. Very warm temperatures combined with low level moisture will result in heat indices well over 100 degrees and as high as 107 degrees. Isolated severe thunderstorms are also possible this afternoon and evening as an upper disturbance moves into the region. Damaging wind gusts will be the primary threat. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. Heat indices over 100 degrees will continue through the weekend. Isolated severe thunderstorms will also be possible on Friday with moderate instability and the upper disturbance over the area. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
The Greer radar (KGSP), 123 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:10 UTC.
3 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Trees and power lines were downed in Lincolnton.
Power line down on Thompson Hwy. Time estimated.
Tree down in Mistletoe State Park. Time estimated.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Georgia in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyWarnings in Georgia, July 2019
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: 831195, 831196, 831197.