A weak stationary front along with a moderately unstable atmosphere between an upper trough of low pressure inland and a ridge of high pressure offshore led to thunderstorms capable of producing hail across Southeast South Carolina.
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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 weak stationary front along with a moderately unstable atmosphere between an upper trough of low pressure inland and a ridge of high pressure offshore led to thunderstorms capable of producing hail across Southeast South Carolina.
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 6, 2:56 PM EST, 1 hour 48 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Charleston SC 356 PM EDT Thu Aug 6 2020 .SYNOPSIS... A weak stationary front will linger in the vicinity through the weekend, dissipating by early next week. Thereafter, the region will remain situated between Atlantic high pressure and an inland trough of low pressure. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM FRIDAY MORNING/... The area will remain under a stationary front and between an upper- level trough and surface Atlantic high pressure tonight. Through early afternoon, showers/thunderstorms have generally remained in the SC Lowcountry along the sea breeze. As we reached peak heating, radar imagery showed that multiple outflow boundaries have formed across the area as well as cumulus/towering cumulus. Coverage is expected to increase across SE GA through this evening as activity moves in from the southwest. Most of the guidance has any showers/thunderstorms diminishing this evening after the loss of daytime heating. Overnight, maintained slight chance POPs as a weak shortwave trough approaches the area from the west. Low temperatures are expected to be mid to high 70s. && .SHORT TERM /6 AM FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH SUNDAY/... Friday through Sunday: Aloft, the forecast area will sit on the eastern periphery of a weak trough, along the border of the Atlantic ridge. At the surface, a nearly stationary boundary will meander around Georgia and the Carolinas. Overall, a fairly common looking summertime pattern, with perhaps a bit more convective coverage thanks to the presence of the trough and the boundary. At least scattered coverage of thunderstorms is expected each day, with time periods where different areas will need locally higher rain chances. Models also hint at nocturnal thunderstorm activity, primarily for the coastal waters, but could impact coastal areas each night. It's hard to call the severe threat particularly significant, but with boundary interactions we will likely see a couple of strong to marginally severe storms each day. Storm motion will likely be slow and precipitable water values will be over 2 inches, especially Friday. Locally heavy rainfall will be possible. Look for highs in the low to mid 90s. Lows should range in the low to mid 70s away from the coast and upper 70s to low 80s at the beaches. && .LONG TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/... A typical mid-summer pattern will prevail, featuring at least normal coverage of diurnal thunderstorms and typically hot/humid conditions. The stationary front will dissipate early week and will give way to an inland trough of low pressure. Also, the upper trough over the eastern Conus is progged to weaken/shift west, and the Atlantic Ridge should build/expand over the region. This could translate to somewhat diminished coverage of diurnal precipitation, as compared with the relatively active period through this weekend. However, given the persistence of PWAT values over 2 inches, scattered thunderstorms should continue to readily develop along the sea breeze/outflow boundaries each day. && .AVIATION /20Z THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... KCHS: As the sea breeze pushes inland, convection is expected to diminish later this afternoon. Have included a TEMPO for thunderstorms and gusty winds through 20Z. KSAV: An outflow boundary has formed near the terminal, initializing convection. Have included a TEMPO for thunderstorms and gusty winds through 21Z. After the convection moves out of the area this afternoon/evening, VFR is expected to prevail. Showers/thunderstorms could develop again tomorrow, causing brief restrictions but confidence is too low to include any mention in this TAF set. Extended Aviation Outlook: Brief flight restrictions are possible due to showers/thunderstorms, just about any time but mainly each afternoon and evening. Otherwise, VFR. && .MARINE... Marine: Southerly winds will remain 10-15 knots with occasional higher gusts during coastal convection. Friday through Tuesday: Atlantic high pressure will drive a prevailing south to southwest flow through early next week. Winds will peak each afternoon and evening with the diurnal sea breeze and with modest nocturnal surging. Speeds should top out around 15 knots through the period. Seas will average 2-3 feet. && .CHS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... GA...None. SC...None. MARINE...None. && NEAR TERM... SHORT TERM...BSH LONG TERM... AVIATION...BSH MARINE...BSH
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Charleston SC 308 AM EDT Thu Aug 6 2020 AMZ330-350-352-354-370-372-374-GAZ087-088-099>101-114>119-137>141- SCZ040-042>045-047>052-070900- 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 South Santee River SC to Edisto Beach SC extending from 20 to 40 NM- Waters from Edisto Beach SC to Savannah GA extending from 20 to 40 NM-Waters from Savannah GA to Altamaha Sound GA 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- 308 AM EDT Thu Aug 6 2020 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...Friday through Wednesday. The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter assistance is not anticipated at this time.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Charleston SC
449 PM EDT Thu Aug 6 2020
GAZ116-137-138-062130-
Inland Liberty-Inland Bryan-Long-
449 PM EDT Thu Aug 6 2020
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT PORTIONS OF BRYAN...LIBERTY AND
LONG COUNTIES...
At 449 PM EDT, National Weather Service doppler radar indicated
strong thunderstorms along a line extending from near McIntosh to Gum
Branch, and moving north at 15 mph.
HAZARD...strong winds 45 to 55 mph and excessive cloud to ground
lightning.
IMPACT...Expect minor damage to tree limbs and blowing around of
light, unsecured objects. All outdoor activities should
cease. Move indoors immediately.
Some locations in the path of these storms include...
Hinesville, Fort Stewart, McIntosh, Walthourville, Midway,
Flemington, Allenhurst and Gumbranch.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Excessive cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
Lightning can strike 15 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
&&
LAT...LON 3209 8145 3202 8175 3177 8174 3182 8137
TIME...MOT...LOC 2049Z 183DEG 13KT 3188 8150 3183 8169<!doctype html>
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</html>The Charleston,SC radar (KCLX), 43 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:41 UTC.
1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
A Jasper County sheriff deputy reported penny size hail at Exit 5 along Interstate 95.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in South Carolina in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in South Carolina, August 2020
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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 915230.