Scattered thunderstorms developed across inland portions of southeast Georgia in the early evening hours near a surface trough. These thunderstorms moved toward the coast and produced 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.
Scattered thunderstorms developed across inland portions of southeast Georgia in the early evening hours near a surface trough. These thunderstorms moved toward the coast and produced 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 Jul 19, 2:48 PM EST, 3 hours 34 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Charleston SC 348 PM EDT Wed Jul 19 2023 .SYNOPSIS... A weak front will stall over the area late week into the weekend, then high pressure will rebuild early next week. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... Fixed low-amplitude ridging lingers across the southwest CONUS with downstream troughing across the Atlantic coast. Periodic rounds of convection continue along the northeast periphery of the ridge with the latest decaying round of showers/thunder moving into northern Georgia and the western Carolinas. Here at home, sea breeze is largely pinned at the coast and CINH continues to keep convection at bay with only minimal shallow Cu development in our area thus far. There are some small showers northwest of the CWA that have developed recently but still a county or two away. Tonight: Other than the showers to our northwest sneaking into the far western part of the CWA, I don't expect much in the way convection through the rest of the afternoon. Meanwhile, convectively induced impulse from the upstream decaying convection will be pressing into the region this evening. This should be enough to kick off showers and thunderstorms this evening and potentially lingering into the overnight hours, although the exact timing/location remains nebulous. Otherwise, temperatures will dip back into the middle and upper 70s for most, around 80 at the coast. && .SHORT TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... A broad upper ridge will remain west of the area on Thursday. Weak shortwave energy is forecast to drop through the northern zones late Thursday afternoon into the evening which could spur clusters of thunderstorms. Bulk shear values may increase to 30-35 kt late in the day and CAPE values will be above 2,000 J/kg in this area. There will therefore be a risk for severe thunderstorms, mainly in the Charleston Tri-County area. Damaging winds look to be the main threat. High temps in the mid to upper 90s and mid-70s dewpoints will result in heat indices of 106-112F, so a Heat Advisory may be needed for a portion of the area. A deep layered ridge will exist on Friday, with hot temperatures persisting. Highs in portions of southeast GA could exceed 100F, while upper 90s will prevail elsewhere. Strong mid-level subsidence should limit convective development during the day and the sea breeze will likely struggle to move inland. Late in the afternoon through the evening, a weak shortwave could ripple through, bringing a better chance for convective development. The main issue will be heat indices potentially exceeding 110F. A Heat Advisory will probably be needed for at least the coastal counties. Upper height falls expected on Saturday as a broad upper trough shifts into the eastern United States. Decreasing thicknesses should bring a slight break from the heat, though highs will still reach the low to mid 90s. Upper levels will be much more favorable for afternoon convection, so we have 50-65% PoPs Saturday afternoon. && .LONG TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... A weak surface front stalled over the area Sunday will support better coverage of showers and thunderstorms during the day. A more typical summer pattern will then exist Monday through Wednesday with near-normal highs and scattered diurnal convection. && .AVIATION /19Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... Uncertainty lingers over convective initiation this afternoon. Recent mesoanalysis reveals quite a bit of convective inhibition out there and with limited Cu development thus far. Possible we may not get any convection to fire through the afternoon. Upstream, there is a convective system rolling southeastward through Tennessee. Convectively induced impulse with that system will be pressing down through the region tonight and we may get showers/storms to develop at that juncture. But given the uncertainty, I've removed any mention of showers/storms from the terminal forecasts. Later updates may add convection back into the terminal forecasts once convective trends become clearer. Otherwise, VFR conditions this afternoon through Thursday midday. Extended Aviation Outlook: Mainly VFR. Brief flight restrictions possible Saturday and Sunday due to a greater coverage of showers and tstms. && .MARINE... Tonight: Southwest winds will persist in the coastal waters through tonight...generally 10 to 15 knots with some higher gusts. Seas will run 2 to 3 feet. South to southwest winds will prevail Thursday through Tuesday. For the most part, conditions will remain below advisory criteria, though we could see some 25 kt gusts Thursday evening due to a brief tightening of the gradient. && .CHS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... GA...None. SC...None. MARINE...None. && NEAR TERM...Adam SHORT TERM...JRL LONG TERM...JRL AVIATION...Adam/JRL/NED MARINE...Adam/JRL/NED
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Charleston SC 333 PM EDT Wed Jul 19 2023 GAZ101-116>119-137>141-SCZ042>045-047>052-201945- Effingham-Inland Bryan-Coastal Bryan-Inland Chatham-Coastal Chatham- Long-Inland Liberty-Coastal Liberty-Inland McIntosh-Coastal McIntosh- Hampton-Inland Colleton-Dorchester-Inland Berkeley-Inland Jasper- Beaufort-Coastal Colleton-Charleston-Coastal Jasper-Tidal Berkeley- 333 PM EDT Wed Jul 19 2023 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southeast Georgia and southeast South Carolina. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Hazardous weather is not expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. Heat: Heat indices could reach 110 degrees Thursday and Friday. Heat Advisories could be needed. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter assistance is not anticipated at this time. AMZ330-350-352-354-374-201945- 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- 333 PM EDT Wed Jul 19 2023 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for Atlantic coastal waters. .DAY ONE...Tonight. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter assistance is not anticipated at this time. GAZ087-088-099-100-114-115-SCZ040-201945- Jenkins-Screven-Candler-Bulloch-Tattnall-Evans-Allendale- 333 PM EDT Wed Jul 19 2023 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southeast Georgia and southeast South Carolina. .DAY ONE...Tonight. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter assistance is not anticipated at this time.
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston SC
558 PM EDT Wed Jul 19 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0505 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 3 ESE Barton 32.91N 81.24W
07/19/2023 Hampton SC NWS Employee
3 trees down on US 321 between Fairfax and Luray.
&&
Event Number CHS2300734
JRLSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Charleston SC
610 PM EDT Wed Jul 19 2023
SCZ044-045-048>052-192245-
Inland Berkeley-Coastal Colleton-Coastal Jasper-Tidal
Berkeley-Charleston-Beaufort-Dorchester-
610 PM EDT Wed Jul 19 2023
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT PORTIONS OF BEAUFORT, CHARLESTON,
COLLETON, BERKELEY, DORCHESTER AND JASPER COUNTIES...
At 610 PM EDT, National Weather Service doppler radar indicated
strong thunderstorms along a line extending from near Jamestown to
near Bennetts Point to near Tillman, and moving east at 45 mph.
HAZARD...strong winds 45 to 55 mph and excessive cloud to ground
lightning.
SOURCE...Radar Indicated.
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...
North Charleston, Mount Pleasant, Hilton Head Island, Goose Creek,
Hanahan, Beaufort, Port Royal, and McClellanville.
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 3298 7934 3298 7951 3289 7955 3274 7983
3267 7986 3260 7996 3252 8015 3253 8021
3245 8032 3241 8033 3244 8041 3232 8041
3225 8071 3227 8102 3230 8101 3277 8035
3324 7951 3324 7946 3316 7937 3314 7927
TIME...MOT...LOC 2210Z 289DEG 39KT 3325 7965 3259 8048 3245 8106
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPHPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston SC
613 PM EDT Wed Jul 19 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0613 PM Hail Goose Creek 32.98N 80.03W
07/19/2023 M0.75 inch Berkeley SC Public
Public reported a single hailstone the size of a penny.
&&
Event Number CHS2300735
JRLSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Charleston SC
616 PM EDT Wed Jul 19 2023
GAZ087-088-100-SCZ040-042-192300-
Bulloch-Jenkins-Screven-Allendale-Hampton-
616 PM EDT Wed Jul 19 2023
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT PORTIONS OF SCREVEN, BULLOCH,
JENKINS, HAMPTON AND ALLENDALE COUNTIES...
At 616 PM EDT, National Weather Service doppler radar indicated
strong thunderstorms along a line extending from near Sardis to near
Herndon, and moving southeast at 30 mph.
HAZARD...strong winds 45 to 55 mph, up to penny sized hail and
excessive cloud to ground lightning.
SOURCE...Radar Indicated.
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. All outdoor activities should cease. Move indoors
immediately.
Some locations in the path of these storms include...
Millen, Sylvania, Butts, Hiltonia, Rocky Ford, Altman, Perkins, and
Emmalane.
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 3289 8212 3292 8208 3292 8195 3295 8186
3291 8176 3304 8155 3305 8157 3306 8158
3307 8155 3264 8135 3256 8202 3261 8200
3266 8208 3283 8215
TIME...MOT...LOC 2216Z 308DEG 27KT 3294 8173 3290 8214
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPHSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Charleston SC
645 PM EDT Wed Jul 19 2023
SCZ045-048>050-052-192330-
Inland Berkeley-Coastal Colleton-Tidal Berkeley-Charleston-Beaufort-
645 PM EDT Wed Jul 19 2023
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT PORTIONS OF BEAUFORT, CHARLESTON,
COLLETON AND BERKELEY COUNTIES...
At 644 PM EDT, National Weather Service doppler radar indicated
strong thunderstorms along a line extending from 7 miles south of
Lambert to near Maybank Bridge to near Parris Island, and moving east
at 15 mph.
HAZARD...strong winds 45 to 55 mph, up to nickel sized hail and
excessive cloud to ground lightning.
SOURCE...Radar Indicated.
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. All outdoor activities should cease. Move indoors
immediately.
Some locations in the path of these storms include...
North Charleston, Mount Pleasant, Goose Creek, Hanahan, Beaufort,
Port Royal, McClellanville, and Edisto Beach.
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 3299 7933 3298 7951 3289 7955 3274 7983
3267 7986 3260 7996 3252 8015 3253 8021
3245 8032 3241 8033 3244 8041 3238 8040
3229 8042 3226 8053 3239 8080 3282 8018
3282 8015 3284 8016 3328 7960 3314 7927
TIME...MOT...LOC 2244Z 288DEG 13KT 3322 7957 3276 8006 3234 8063
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPHSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Charleston SC
719 PM EDT Wed Jul 19 2023
GAZ088-101-SCZ040-042-047-192330-
Screven-Effingham-Allendale-Inland Jasper-Hampton-
719 PM EDT Wed Jul 19 2023
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT PORTIONS OF SCREVEN, EFFINGHAM,
HAMPTON, ALLENDALE AND JASPER COUNTIES...
At 719 PM EDT, National Weather Service doppler radar indicated
strong thunderstorms along a line extending from near Garnett to 6
miles southeast of Burtons Ferry Landing, and moving southeast at 15
mph.
HAZARD...strong winds 45 to 55 mph and excessive cloud to ground
lightning.
SOURCE...Radar Indicated.
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...
Estill, Furman, Scotia, Garnett, Lena, Pineland, Shirley, and
Tillman.
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 3244 8110 3270 8113 3291 8145 3266 8134
3257 8150 3248 8127
TIME...MOT...LOC 2319Z 311DEG 11KT 3259 8128 3286 8144
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPHThe Charleston,SC radar (KCLX), 60 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:22 UTC.
2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Screven County dispatch reported a tree down along Old Ogeechee Road.
Screven County dispatch reported a tree down along Dorsey Clark Road.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Georgia in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in Georgia, July 2023
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: 1122528, 1122529.