Isolated thunderstorms developed in the afternoon hours along the sea breeze and ahead of a cold front. A couple of thunderstorms became strong enough to produce 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.
Isolated thunderstorms developed in the afternoon hours along the sea breeze and ahead of a cold front. A couple of thunderstorms became strong enough to produce 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 May 31, 12:33 PM EST, 6 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Charleston SC 133 PM EDT Fri May 31 2019 .SYNOPSIS... A cold front will approach the area today then cross the region tonight. A trough of low pressure will persist over the weekend until another cold front pushes through Sunday night or Monday. High pressure will then build north of the region through the middle of next week. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... A more progressive upper flow exists today now that the upper ridge has been suppressed to the northern Gulf of Mexico. Above the surface the flow is primarily westerly. A shortwave is expected to brush the area late this afternoon into the evening. Ahead of the shortwave, weak NVA will be present. This may limit convective development until late afternoon when the upper vorticity energy approaches. However, southwest flow at the surface will allow another good sea breeze to develop early this afternoon, likely pushing inland by mid-afternoon. Isolated to scattered showers and tstms will be possible along the sea breeze though total coverage should be limited. 12Z RAOB modified for afternoon temp/dewpt gives 1250 J/kg SBCAPE and -5C LI, though more interestingly the DCAPE is 1400 J/kg. Though we cannot rule out an isolated damaging wind event with afternoon convection, the best chance for severe weather will be closer to the evening when the shortwave arrives. This evening and tonight: The chance for some organization to convection will begin in the evening hours as the shortwave moves into the central Carolinas and mid-level increases into the 40-50 knot range. Environmental shear is progged to increase into the 35- 40 knot range in the early evening as a result. The amount of instability available is difficult to pinpoint during this time thanks to the earlier isolated to scattered convection that is expected to develop. However, given that we have seen temperatures around 100 degrees for the last 6-7 days with virtually no convection, we should have an energetic untapped environment available. The main question revolves around what upstream convection will look like in the early evening. The best dynamics will certainly be displaced to the north in the path of the main shortwave, and it is unclear how convection will evolve on the tail end of the trough. It is this uncertainty that makes it difficult to go with rain chances any higher than the 40 percent range, and also why it makes sense that the Storm Prediction Center has left our South Carolina zones in the Marginal Risk day 1 outlook area. Certainly the potential exists for developing multi-cell clusters capable of producing damaging wind gusts. While is also possible in the stronger storms, wind will remain the biggest potential threat. Also, the best chance for strong to severe storms will be across southeast South Carolina with a lesser threat the further southwest you go into southeast Georgia. Convection should push off the coast in the late evening hours a dry forecast will prevail inland for the latter part of the tonight period. Expect lows in the low 70s for most areas, though some upper 60s will be possible well inland. && .SHORT TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... This weekend: In the wake of a departing low pressure area off of the Mid Atlantic coast, warm and dry weather appears likely both Saturday and Sunday across the region. Northwest flow aloft will dominate while a weak surface trough lingers along coastal SC and GA. The only hint for potential spotty convection remains late Sunday along the northern SC zones near a pinned sea breeze. Temps will remain above climo with warmer temps on Sunday with mid 90s common. A cold front will move into the region Sunday night or early Monday, losing definition over south GA on Monday as it is forecast to stall. The models continue to indicate conditions unfavorable for convective rains with low levels generally mixing out and the sea breeze close to the coast with deep layered instability off the coast. Hot weather will linger over southeast GA with highs at least in the mid 90s with upper 80s to lower 90s across SC zones. && .LONG TERM /MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/... Surface high pressure north of the area early next week is forecast to move offshore by mid week. Northwest flow aloft will prevail with a gradual addition of low level return flow and weak mid level disturbances. This pattern should result in at a slight uptick in diurnal convection over southeast GA on Tuesday and the entire region from mid week on. Temperatures should run above climo values by mid week with lower to mid 90s common. && .AVIATION /18Z FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... An early burst of convection moved quickly through KSAV terminal this afternoon. Large-scale subsidence should limit further convective potential this afternoon. At KCHS, the sea breeze should soon develop, potentially spurring a few vicinity showers. Later this afternoon into early this evening continue to look like the best window for thunderstorms as an upper disturbance moves through. Gusty winds and reduced visibility will be the main concerns. Once the storms and the associated front move offshore in the late evening hours, VFR will prevail. Extended Aviation Outlook: VFR will prevail. && .MARINE... Today: A weak front will approach from the west with the subtropical high to the east. The gradient will tighten a bit and south to southwest winds in the 15-20 knot range will be common. There is potential for gusts to 25 knots in the Charleston County waters and the outer Georgia waters, but conditions appear too marginal for a Small Craft Advisory. In Charleston Harbor, locally enhanced winds are expected in and around the harbor especially with the afternoon sea breeze. Similar to Thursday, gusts to 25 knots should be frequent enough to warrant a Small Craft Advisory and we have issued one from 16z-00z. Seas should average 2 to 4 feet, highest around 20 nm and beyond. This evening and tonight: Southwest winds will gradually turn westerly and then northwesterly late as the front slips offshore. Speeds should top out in the 15-20 knot range, mainly in the first part of the period through midnight. Thunderstorms along and ahead of the front could impact the waters this evening through the early morning hours, producing strong wind gusts and frequent lightning. Seas could tick upward to around 5 feet for portions of the waters early on, but should come down into the 2-4 feet late. This weekend: Light offshore flow both Saturday and Sunday mornings will back to south or southwest each afternoon as diurnal influences from the sea breeze oscillations kick in. Speeds may reach 15 kt briefly along the Charleston sea breeze each afternoon/early evening, otherwise light speeds and seas 2-3 ft. A cold front will move south of the waters early next week and this will result in surface winds veering onshore across the waters. The models suggest some potential for tighter gradients but SCA conditions are not anticipated at this times. Seas will increase to 3-4 ft by mid week. && .EQUIPMENT... WFO Charleston SC will only conduct upper-air soundings at 12Z until further notice due to a shortage of helium. && .CHS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... GA...None. SC...None. MARINE...Small Craft Advisory until 8 PM EDT this evening for AMZ330. && NEAR TERM...BSH/JRL SHORT TERM... LONG TERM... AVIATION...JRL MARINE...BSH EQUIPMENT...
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Charleston SC 407 AM EDT Fri May 31 2019 GAZ087-088-099>101-114>119-137>141-SCZ040-042>045-047>052-010815- 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- 407 AM EDT Fri May 31 2019 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southeast Georgia and southeast South Carolina. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. Severe Thunderstorms: Ahead of an approaching cold front, isolated to scattered thunderstorms are expected to develop this afternoon and evening. A few of these thunderstorms could become strong enough to produce damaging wind gusts and large hail. The best chance for strong to severe thunderstorms will be across southeast South Carolina during the afternoon and evening hours. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter assistance is not anticipated at this time. AMZ330-350-352-354-374-010815- 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 from 20 to 60 NM- 407 AM EDT Fri May 31 2019 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for Atlantic coastal waters. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. Strong Thunderstorms: Ahead of an approaching cold front, thunderstorms are expected to develop inland and move across portions of the adjacent coastal waters this afternoon and evening. These thunderstorms could be strong enough to produce strong wind gusts, mainly for the South Carolina coastal waters including the Charleston Harbor during the afternoon and evening hours. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter assistance is not anticipated at this time.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Charleston SC
117 PM EDT Fri May 31 2019
GAZ118-119-SCZ047-051-311745-
Coastal Chatham-Inland Chatham-Inland Jasper-Coastal Jasper-
117 PM EDT Fri May 31 2019
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT PORTIONS OF CHATHAM AND JASPER
COUNTIES...
At 117 PM EDT, National Weather Service doppler radar indicated a
strong thunderstorm over I-16/I-95 Interchange, moving east at 25
mph.
HAZARD...strong winds 45 to 55 mph and up to penny sized hail.
IMPACT...Expect minor damage to tree limbs and blowing around of
light, unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to plants,
trees and crops is possible. Damage to windshields is
unlikely.
Some locations in the path of this storm include...
Savannah, Pooler, Bluffton, Wilmington Island, Fort Pulaski National
Monument, I-16/I-95 Interchange, Bellinger Hill Area and Garden City.
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 3199 8130 3216 8129 3218 8097 3216 8095
3215 8097 3213 8096 3214 8094 3213 8092
3212 8093 3211 8089 3208 8091 3208 8087
3199 8081 3195 8083
TIME...MOT...LOC 1717Z 269DEG 22KT 3207 8123
MTEThe Charleston,SC radar (KCLX), 76 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 17:37 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A trained spotter reported four large tree limbs down, each around 6 to 8 inches in diameter. Also, a power pole was down off of Abercorn Street and the spotter estimated winds gusting to around 60 mph.
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, May 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: 823975.