Modest onshore flow combined with lingering astronomical influences from a recent full moon combined to create an enhanced risk of rip currents along the southeast Georgia coast.
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.
Modest onshore flow combined with lingering astronomical influences from a recent full moon combined to create an enhanced risk of rip currents along the southeast Georgia coast.
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 Jul 22, 9:18 AM EST, 42 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Charleston SC 1018 AM EDT Thu Jul 22 2021 .SYNOPSIS... A weak front will drop through the area today and tonight, then high pressure will build from the north through the weekend. Atlantic high pressure will rebuild early next week while a trough develops inland. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... Late Thursday morning: Forecast reasoning has not changed since earlier this morning. Within a very moist air mass featuring PWAT values as depicted by the 12z KCHS raob and GOES-E PWAT imagery, the potential for moisture/mass convergence will be enhanced by a deep synoptic scale trough/associated cyclonic flow, a sea breeze pinned at the coast by deep layer offshore flow and a weakening cold front approach the region from the north. As a result, we expect an active afternoon with at least numerous showers/thunderstorms, with greatest coverage near the coast. The primary concern continues to center on the potential for locally heavy rainfall due to ample moisture and expected erratic thunderstorm propagation. Localized rainfall amounts exceeding 2-3 inches could occur within an hour or two at a few locations, particularly near the coast. WPC has maintained a Marginal Risk for excessive rainfall near the coast. Also, precipitation loading due to very heavy rain could produce brief/damaging wind gusts a one or two locations, especially where mesoscale boundary/convective interactions occur. However, parameters do not appear favorable for a significant severe weather event. Tonight: Showers/storms linger into this evening before diminishing later this evening and overnight. Otherwise, expect a typically warm/humid night. We will assess the potential for patchy fog late tonight/early FRiday where rainfall occurs today/this evening, but significant fog appears unlikely. && .SHORT TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... Relatively dry high pressure will build down the Eastern Seaboard Friday through Saturday before shifting off the coast on Sunday. PWATs will generally range 1.5-1.8" during the period. Weak shortwave energy may bring a few showers and tstms to the area Friday afternoon. Saturday looks mainly dry though isolated convection is possible across far inland southeast GA where slightly better instability will exist. We are showing dry conditions on Sunday due to strengthening mid-level subsidence as the upper ridge builds more fully over the area. High temps each day will mainly be in the lower 90s. && .LONG TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... Deep layered high pressure will exist over the western Atlantic early to mid next week. A relatively dry airmass will continue on Monday before things begin to moisten back up Monday night and Tuesday. A few shortwaves will move through the area from the northwest Tuesday into Wednesday which combined with deep moisture should produce scattered to numerous showers and tstms. && .AVIATION /14Z THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... Coverage of showers/thunderstorms is expected to ramp up this afternoon. Periods flight restrictions appear likely, and locally gusty/shifting winds could also occur within/near stronger thunderstorms. Showers/storms diminish this evening with VFR for most of the overnight hours. That said, some low stratus may form late overnight and possibly spread toward the coasts and the terminal sites, particularly KCHS and KSAV. Extended Aviation Outlook: Brief flight restrictions remain possible each afternoon and early evening with showers/thunderstorms. && .MARINE... Today: Surface boundary will approach the region from the north leading continued W to SW flow generally running 10 to 15 knots and seas 2 to 3 feet. Showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop along the coast as we get into the afternoon and move out into the nearshore/open waters. Gusty winds/heavy rain is possible with any storms. Mariners should remain alert for Special Marine Warnings. NE to ENE winds expected Friday through Sunday as high pressure builds from the north. Robust sea breezes expected each afternoon with gusts in Charleston Harbor potentially topping 20 kt at times. A southerly flow resumes on Monday as Atlantic high pressure rebuilds. && .TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING... Minor saltwater flooding will be possible in the Charleston area perhaps as early as this evening but more likely with the evening high tides Friday through Sunday. Saturday and Sunday appear to be the days with the highest potential to reach or just exceed 7.0 ft MLLW in Charleston due to the stronger northeast winds. && .CHS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... GA...None. SC...None. MARINE...None. && NEAR TERM...SPR/TBA SHORT TERM...JRL LONG TERM...JRL AVIATION...JRL/SPR/TBA MARINE...JRL/SPR/TBA TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Charleston SC 1001 AM EDT Thu Jul 22 2021 GAZ087-088-099>101-114>119-137>141-SCZ040-042>045-047-048-051-052- 231415- 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 Jasper-Tidal Berkeley- 1001 AM EDT Thu Jul 22 2021 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southeast Georgia and southeast South Carolina. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. Heavy Rainfall: Numerous showers and thunderstorms will develop during the afternoon hours and persist into the early evening. Minor flooding of low-lying and poor drainage areas is possible. .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. SCZ049-050-231415- Coastal Colleton-Charleston- 1001 AM EDT Thu Jul 22 2021 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southeast South Carolina. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. Heavy Rainfall: Numerous showers and thunderstorms will develop during the afternoon hours and persist into the early evening. Heavy rainfall rates could produce minor flooding of low-lying and poor drainage areas. Also, heavy rain could persist around the time of the evening high tide, and this could enhance the potential for localized flooding near the coast, including downtown Charleston. Coastal Flooding: The evening high tides could produce minor salt water inundation in Charleston County this evening. A Coastal Flood Advisory is possible. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. Coastal Flooding: Evening high tides are forecast to produce minor salt water inundation late this week through the weekend. Coastal Flood Advisories could be required. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter assistance is not anticipated at this time. AMZ330-350-352-354-374-231415- 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- 1001 AM EDT Thu Jul 22 2021 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for Atlantic coastal waters. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. Strong thunderstorms: Thunderstorms could produce locally hazardous conditions, including gusty winds, frequent lighting and poor visibility in some marine areas this afternoon into this evening. Remain alert for Special Marine Warnings. .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.
1 rip current. Local standard time, as filed.
Tybee Island lifeguards reported numerous rip currents throughout the day. In the morning, the rip currents were moderate to strong in strength and by afternoon they were moderate. Some of the rip currents were as long as 300 to 400 feet and there were at least 5 rescues performed.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Georgia in 2021Every state in 2021This day in weather historyWarnings in Georgia, July 2021
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: 966127.