South Carolina, 2020

Damaging Winds and Lightning Strike in South Carolina, August 30, 2020

August 30, 2020 · NWS CHS · 3 events in 2 counties and zones

A weak front draped across the area along with an upper level disturbance shifting off the Southeast Coast led to the development of strong to severe thunderstorms across Southeast South Carolina.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$4,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
3

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS CHS wrote it up.

A weak front draped across the area along with an upper level disturbance shifting off the Southeast Coast led to the development of strong to severe thunderstorms across Southeast South Carolina.

What forecasters said that day

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 Aug 30, 4:25 PM EST, 38 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 30, 4:25 PM EST, 38 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 30, 2:36 AM EST, 14 hours 27 minutes before
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In the hours before

Special weather statement, Aug 30, 4:46 PM EST, 17 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Aug 30, 4:48 PM EST, 15 minutes before
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The radar

The Charleston,SC radar (KCLX), 48 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:05 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 thunderstorm wind, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.

Lightning, Beaufort

When
August 30, 5:03 PM EST to 5:04 PM EST
Where
Beaufort County, 2.44 mi WNW of Bluffton
Property damage
$4,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
32.240, -80.910

A Beaufort County emergency manager reported a lightning strike to a residence along Farnsleigh Road which produced minor roof damage.

Thunderstorm Wind, Beaufort

When
August 30, 5:10 PM EST to 5:11 PM EST
Where
Beaufort County, 0.9 mi NW of Pritchardville
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
911 Call Center
Coordinates
32.240, -80.980

The Beaufort County 911 Call Center reported a tree fell on a car near the intersection of Okatie Highway and May River Road. Numerous large tree limbs were also reported down along Okatie Highway near this location.

Thunderstorm Wind, Jasper

When
August 30, 5:25 PM EST to 5:26 PM EST
Where
Jasper County, 0.9 mi SW of Switzerland
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
32.420, -81.010

Law Enforcement reported a tree down at the intersection of Kato Bay Road and Crow Field Road.

What these are

Lightning
A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.
Thunderstorm Wind
Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in South Carolina in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in South Carolina, August 2020

Sources

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: 915125, 915122, 915123.