Scattered to numerous thunderstorms developed in the early afternoon hours within a warm and unstable airmass. A few of these thunderstorms became strong enough to produce damaging wind gusts.
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 CHS wrote it up.
Scattered to numerous thunderstorms developed in the early afternoon hours within a warm and unstable airmass. A few of these thunderstorms became strong enough to produce damaging wind gusts. One storm even produced a brief tornado after interacting with a mesoscale boundary.
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 4, 3:17 PM EST, 27 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Charleston SC 417 PM EDT Sat May 4 2019 .SYNOPSIS... Low pressure will advance toward the Southeast tonight into Sunday, before a cold front pushes through the area Sunday night. Drier high pressure with then prevail into the middle of next week. Unsettled weather could then return by the end of the week as another storm system approaches. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM SUNDAY MORNING/... This Evening: A broad mid/upper lvl trough of low pressure will advance over the East Conus with a south extending cold front shifting across the Deep South. South/southwest winds well ahead of this system will help continue to draw moisture from the Gulf of Mexico into the area, setting up at least chances of showers/thunderstorms over much of the area this evening and numerous ongoing showers and thunderstorms over inland areas of Southeast South Carolina. Although wind fields are not particularly impressive, a few strong and/or severe thunderstorms are possible into early evening hours with the primary threats being damaging winds, small to moderate size hail and frequent lightning. Brief moderate/heavy rainfall is also possible given PWATs around 1.70. Tonight: There is some uncertainty in regards to how long showers/thunderstorms will linger into early tonight, but the latest trend suggests most activity will wane within an hour or two after sunset with a fairly large break in overall convection early tonight through at least midnight. Some guidance hints at scattered showers and thunderstorms shifting into the region from the west late tonight into daybreak, mostly likely associated with ongoing thunderstorms currently over Alabama. Much of this activity could drift just south of the area through daybreak. However, scattered showers and thunderstorms remain in the forecast late, with most coverage anticipated west of I-95. Lows will be mild, only reaching the upper 60s inland to lower 70s along the coast. && .SHORT TERM /6 AM SUNDAY MORNING THROUGH TUESDAY/... Sunday: A weakening upper level disturbance will move through the area Sunday. This combined with ample moisture, daytime heating, the sea breeze, and any leftover boundaries from convection this afternoon and tonight will likely to result in the redevelopment of showers and thunderstorms, especially during the afternoon hours. Modest afternoon instability is expected to develop with surface based CAPE values up to 1000 to perhaps 1500 J/KG, especially closer to the coast. This combined 0-6KM Bulk Shear of 20 to 30 knots will likely result in pulse type thunderstorms with a low threat for strong to marginally severe thunderstorms. Showers and thunderstorms should diminish during the evening hours with the loss of heating and the stabilizing impacts of the earlier precipitation. Highs should be in the lower to mid 80s away from the coast with lows mainly in the mid to upper 60s. Monday and Tuesday: More settled weather is expected as zonal west to northwest upper level flow prevails as high pressure builds in. Cannot rule out a shower or thundershower especially during the afternoon hours, but the coverage is expected to be much less than that of Sunday. Above normal temperatures are expected. && .LONG TERM /TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY/... Moderate confidence this period. Mainly dry high pressure should prevail through Tuesday night with greater forecast uncertainty thereafter as models differ with respect to the timing of another approaching cold front and upper shortwave energy. For now we kept rain chances minimal but will likely need to be raised at some point once confidence increases. Temperatures will stay above normal through the period. && .AVIATION /20Z SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... Scattered to potentially numerous showers and thunderstorms are into early evening, some of which will likely impact the CHS and SAV terminals starting between until 22-23z. MVFR cigs/vsbys are possible during showers or thunderstorms with potentially IFR vsbys during heavy bouts of rain. Wind gusts around 20-30 kt are also possible with thunderstorms. VCSH could linger around the terminals into early tonight and latest guidance indicates another round of showers/thunderstorms potentially passing through the area late tonight. However, confidence remains too low to include late showers/thunderstorms in the 18Z TAF issuance. Gusty southwest winds are expected to develop at both terminals late morning Sunday, with gusts up to around 20 kt by 18Z Sunday. Showers and thunderstorms will also be possible by early Sunday afternoon, which could need to be included in future TAF issuances. Extended Aviation Outlook: Flight restrictions likely at times Sunday afternoon and into Sunday evening due to showers/thunderstorms ahead of an approaching cold front. Mainly VFR thereafter until a better chance of showers/storms returns, possibly as early as Wednesday. && .MARINE... This Evening and Tonight: A broad area of low pressure will track from the southern Mississippi River Valley to the southern Appalachians early tonight. The low is anticipated to further organize and gradually deepen over Virgina late. The pattern will will support conditions that remain below Small Craft Advisory levels across coastal waters. In general, southwest winds will gust up to 15-20 kt tonight, highest across northern South Carolina waters. Seas will range between 2-4 ft, highest across northern South Carolina waters and offshore Georgia waters. Sunday through Thursday: Breezy southwest winds will prevail ahead of an approaching cold front which will push through Sunday night. Pushed seas up a bit to near 5 feet on this forecast for some waters near 20 nm offshore by later Sunday based on the latest model guidance. Still not expecting Small Craft Advisories conditions at this point. Onshore winds will prevail through mid week with wind/sea conditions likely staying below Advisory levels. Rip Currents: A Moderate Risk of Rip Currents continues through Sunday. && .CLIMATE... Record high min temps for May 4: KCHS: 70/1990 KCXM: 73/last set in 1990 KSAV: 70/last set in 1984 Record high min temps for May 5: KCHS: 70/last set in 1996 KCXM: 73/last set in 2012 KSAV: 70/last set in 2012 && .CHS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... GA...None. SC...None. MARINE...None. && NEAR TERM...DPB/MTE SHORT TERM...MTE LONG TERM...RJB AVIATION...DPB MARINE...DPB/MTE CLIMATE...
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Charleston SC 319 PM EDT Sat May 4 2019 GAZ117-119-139-141-SCZ048>051-051930- Coastal Bryan-Coastal Chatham-Coastal Liberty-Coastal McIntosh- Beaufort-Coastal Colleton-Charleston-Coastal Jasper- 319 PM EDT Sat May 4 2019 ...MODERATE RISK FOR RIP CURRENTS IN EFFECT THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southeast Georgia and southeast South Carolina. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Moderate Risk for Rip Currents. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Moderate Risk for Rip Currents. Severe Thunderstorms: A weak cold front will approach the area from the west on Sunday and scattered to numerous thunderstorms are expected to move across southeast South Carolina and southeast Georgia. A few of these thunderstorms could become strong or marginally severe, and the primary threat will be damaging wind gusts. The main time period for severe thunderstorms will be the afternoon hours. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter assistance is not anticipated at this time. SCZ052-051930- Tidal Berkeley- 319 PM EDT Sat May 4 2019 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southeast South Carolina. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. Severe Thunderstorms: A weak cold front will approach the area from the west on Sunday and scattered to numerous thunderstorms are expected to move across southeast South Carolina and southeast Georgia. A few of these thunderstorms could become strong or marginally severe, and the primary threat will be damaging wind gusts. The main time period for severe thunderstorms will be the afternoon hours. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter assistance is not anticipated at this time. AMZ330-350-352-354-374-051930- 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- 319 PM EDT Sat May 4 2019 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for Atlantic coastal waters. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. Severe Thunderstorms: A weak cold front will approach the area from the west on Sunday and scattered to numerous thunderstorms are expected to move across southeast South Carolina and southeast Georgia. A few of these thunderstorms could become strong or marginally severe, and the primary threat will be damaging wind gusts. The main time period for severe thunderstorms will be the late afternoon through early evening hours. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter assistance is not anticipated at this time. GAZ087-088-099>101-114>116-118-137-138-140-SCZ040-042>045-047-051930- Jenkins-Screven-Candler-Bulloch-Effingham-Tattnall-Evans- Inland Bryan-Inland Chatham-Long-Inland Liberty-Inland McIntosh- Allendale-Hampton-Inland Colleton-Dorchester-Inland Berkeley- Inland Jasper- 319 PM EDT Sat May 4 2019 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southeast Georgia and southeast South Carolina. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. Severe Thunderstorms: Scattered to numerous thunderstorms will progress northeast across the area late this afternoon into early evening. A few thunderstorms could be strong and/or severe with damaging wind gusts, hail and frequent lightning, especially across inland areas in Southeast South Carolina. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. Severe Thunderstorms: A weak cold front will approach the area from the west on Sunday and scattered to numerous thunderstorms are expected to move across southeast South Carolina and southeast Georgia. A few of these thunderstorms could become strong or marginally severe, and the primary threat will be damaging wind gusts. The main time period for severe thunderstorms will be the afternoon hours. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter assistance is not anticipated at this time.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Charleston SC
327 PM EDT Sat May 4 2019
GAZ101-118-119-SCZ047-048-051-042000-
Effingham-Coastal Chatham-Inland Chatham-Inland Jasper-Coastal
Jasper-Beaufort-
327 PM EDT Sat May 4 2019
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT PORTIONS OF EFFINGHAM...
CHATHAM...BEAUFORT AND JASPER COUNTIES...
At 326 PM EDT, National Weather Service doppler radar indicated a
strong thunderstorm over Savannah Airport, or near Pooler, moving
northeast at 20 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...
Savannah, Pooler, Bluffton, Bellinger Hill Area, Garden City, Port
Wentworth, Hardeeville and Bloomingdale.
The Savannah International Airport reported a 49 mph wind gust at
324 PM EDT.
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 3202 8120 3217 8132 3239 8105 3216 8086
3214 8089
TIME...MOT...LOC 1926Z 235DEG 17KT 3214 8119Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Charleston SC
334 PM EDT Sat May 4 2019
GAZ088-SCZ040-042-042000-
Screven-Allendale-Hampton-
334 PM EDT Sat May 4 2019
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT PORTIONS OF SCREVEN...HAMPTON AND
ALLENDALE COUNTIES...
At 334 PM EDT, National Weather Service doppler radar indicated a
strong thunderstorm over Burtons Ferry Landing, or 12 miles southwest
of Allendale, moving northeast 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...Allendale,
Fairfax, Brunson, Sycamore, Seigling, Barton, Appleton, Burtons
Ferry Landing, and the Cooterfest in Allendale.
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.
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 3294 8113 3279 8150 3294 8161 3310 8138
3311 8137 3311 8127
TIME...MOT...LOC 1934Z 235DEG 21KT 3291 8149PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
339 PM EDT SAT MAY 04 2019
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0253 PM HAIL 5 ESE ISLANDTON 32.89N 80.85W
05/04/2019 E1.00 INCH COLLETON SC LAW ENFORCEMENT
LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED QUARTER SIZED HAIL NEAR THE
INTERSECTION OF STATE ROUTE 21 AND SC HIGHWAY 63. TIME
WAS ESTIMATED FROM RADAR DATA.
&&
EVENT NUMBER CHS1900323
SPRPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
340 PM EDT SAT MAY 04 2019
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0324 PM TSTM WND GST SAVANNAH AIRPORT 32.13N 81.20W
05/04/2019 M49 MPH CHATHAM GA ASOS
&&
EVENT NUMBER CHS1900324
SPRSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Charleston SC
402 PM EDT Sat May 4 2019
SCZ040-042-043-042030-
Allendale-Hampton-Inland Colleton-
402 PM EDT Sat May 4 2019
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT PORTIONS OF HAMPTON...COLLETON
AND ALLENDALE COUNTIES...
At 401 PM EDT, National Weather Service doppler radar indicated a
strong thunderstorm over Barton, or near Allendale, moving northeast
at 15 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...Allendale, the
Cooterfest in Allendale, Fairfax, Brunson, Sycamore, Ulmer,
Seigling, Millett and Martin.
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.
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 3311 8137 3312 8120 3305 8113 3305 8110
3303 8108 3306 8103 3301 8097 3287 8129
3312 8159 3316 8154
TIME...MOT...LOC 2001Z 222DEG 14KT 3296 8130Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Charleston SC
439 PM EDT Sat May 4 2019
GAZ118-119-042115-
Coastal Chatham-Inland Chatham-
439 PM EDT Sat May 4 2019
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT PORTIONS OF CHATHAM COUNTY...
At 438 PM EDT, National Weather Service doppler radar indicated a
strong thunderstorm over White Bluff, or near Savannah, moving
northeast at 15 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, Wilmington Island, Fort Pulaski National Monument,
Montgomery, Garden City, Port Wentworth and Thunderbolt.
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.
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 3203 8128 3218 8112 3218 8111 3217 8112
3215 8111 3212 8112 3208 8104 3210 8100
3204 8092 3204 8089 3205 8091 3207 8088
3204 8085 3189 8114
TIME...MOT...LOC 2038Z 230DEG 15KT 3201 8115The Charleston,SC radar (KCLX), 75 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:42 UTC.
3 thunderstorm wind, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
Chatham County Emergency Management reported power lines down on Mohawk Street.
The AWOS site at Hunter Army Airfield (KSVN) measured a 56 mph wind gust with a passing thunderstorm.
Chatham County Emergency Management reported power lines down on McKenzie Place.
A National Weather Service storm survey team confirmed an EF-1 tornado in Chatham County. The tornado began over the Wilmington River, just west of the Savannah Yacht Club on Whitemarsh Island. It developed rapidly as it hit the Savannah Yacht Club. At the time the tornado struck, a boat was being lifted by a crane at the dock. This boat was thrown from the crane back into the water. The boat crane was also pushed by the winds of the tornado off its track, which caused it to crash into a small building near the crane. This small building sustained significant roof damage. One person was reportedly injured inside the building, but the extent of their injuries was unknown. The tornado continued moving east-southeast , snapping and uprooting several trees in a residential area near the end of Bradley Creek Drive. One home in that area also had minor roof damage due to missing shingles. From this point, the tornado strengthened as it moved southeast over Bradley Creek and across portions of Turners Rock Road. This was the region where the most significant damage was found, with at least two dozen large hard and softwood trees either snapped or uprooted. Wind speeds in this area were estimated to be between 100 and 105 mph. The tornado then weakened as it moved on a more easterly path across Turner Creek and onto the western edge of Wilmington Island, just south of Johnny Mercer Boulevard. The tornado broke some tree limbs and branches around Walgreens, then damaged a sign near the Autoplex as it crossed Johnny Mercer Boulevard. Once across Johnny Mercer Boulevard, the weakening tornado skipped over Molly McGuire's restaurant, finally ending in the empty lot just east of the Goodwill store. The roof on the Goodwill store sustained minor damage.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Georgia in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Georgia, 2019Warnings 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: 823749, 823751, 823750, 823752.