A lingering cold front, weak meso low and remnant outflow boundaries along with an environment displaying deep moisture and modest instability led to strong thunderstorms capable of producing damaging winds and flooding across southeast South Carolina.
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.
A lingering cold front, weak meso low and remnant outflow boundaries along with an environment displaying deep moisture and modest instability led to strong thunderstorms capable of producing damaging winds and flooding 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 16, 4:54 PM EST, 2 hours 12 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Charleston SC 554 PM EDT Wed Aug 16 2023 .SYNOPSIS... A cold front will linger over the region into Thursday. Another front could move into the area on Saturday, before high pressure returns early next week. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM THURSDAY MORNING/... Quick update has been issued to adjust near term pops a bit. Late afternoon KCLX radar data showed an expanding area of convection over parts of the Charleston Tri-County. This area of tstms will post a flood risk over the next 1-3 hours as it treks across Dorchester, Berkeley and possibly parts of Charleston County. Unofficial mesonet sites in northern Dorchester County have reported as much as 2 inches of rain in less than 30 min. Impressive rainfall rates like this will be capable of producing minor flooding of low-lying and poor drainage areas. Convection seems progressive enough that flash flooding will not be too much of an issue, but trends are being monitored. Farther south, convection aligning along outflow boundaries working north out of far Southeast Georgia will move north of the Altamaha River over the next few hours. Convection should refocus down that way and pops were adjusted slightly to reflect this. Some of this may leak north of the Savannah River later this evening as well before shifting offshore overnight. Overall, pops 60-80% look reasonable over the next few hours. && .SHORT TERM /6 AM THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH SATURDAY/... Mid level troughing will generally reside over the eastern CONUS through late week, as a stronger wave shifts across the Great Lakes and into the Northeast. The trough will begin to retreat over the weekend as a large ridge building over the central portion of the country expands eastward. At the surface, a weak front/trough will reside inland with higher pressure offshore. Weak shortwave energy passing through on Thursday will keep fairly high rain chances in the forecast, with better coverage expected closer to the coast and over the eastern half of the forecast area where the axis of deeper moisture resides. Held PoPs below 15% for Friday with drier air and little in the way of larger scale forcing. Showers and thunderstorms will then return in the forecast for Saturday with another front moving into the area, but models still show a decent bit of mid level dry air so coverage should stay isolated to scattered. High temperatures in the upper 80s to around 90 on Thursday will warm to the lower/mid 90s for Friday and Saturday. Lows will be in the 70s. && .LONG TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... A large mid level ridge over the central US will expand eastward early next week. High pressure should become the dominant feature at the surface. A cold front could impact the area very late or even beyond the long term period mid week. Highest rain chances will be on Sunday with a bit deeper moisture and some models indicating a weak wave moving towards the coast or even onshore. Less coverage is anticipated for Monday and Tuesday. Temperatures are expected to be near to slightly above normal. && .AVIATION /22Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... Showers and thunderstorms are beginning to develop across the region, with convection at or in the vicinity of the KCSH and KJZI terminals now. Expect coverage to increase through the afternoon with the best chances for TSTMS between 20Z and 00Z this evening. Any thunderstorms could produce brief flight restrictions. Otherwise, VFR weather will persist through early afternoon Thursday. A touch of shallow fog is possible tonight although confidence is too low to include in the terminal forecasts at this juncture. Extended Aviation Outlook: Periodic flight restrictions are expected through Thursday, mainly during the afternoon/evening hours in association with showers and tstms. && .MARINE... Southerly winds will persist across the coastal waters through tonight with some modest gustiness anticipated. But gusts and waves will remain below Small Craft Advisory. However, showers and thunderstorms will continue to impact the waters through tonight, particularly off the South Carolina coast. Expect higher winds and waves in and near thunderstorms. Thursday through Monday: Winds and seas are expected to remain below Small Craft Advisory criteria through the period. Winds will largely have a southerly component late week into the weekend, before a backing a bit to the east early next week. There will be some uptick in speeds Thursday night, but should top out in the 15-20 kt range. Otherwise, winds will average 15 knots or less. Seas will be 2-4 feet. && .CHS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... GA...None. SC...None. MARINE...None. &&
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Charleston SC 350 PM EDT Wed Aug 16 2023 AMZ330-350-352-354-374-GAZ087-088-099>101-114>119-137>141-SCZ040- 042>045-047>052-172000- 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- 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- 350 PM EDT Wed Aug 16 2023 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for Atlantic coastal waters, southeast Georgia and southeast South Carolina. .DAY ONE...Tonight. The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .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.
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Charleston SC 441 PM EDT Wed Aug 16 2023 SCZ045-162200- Inland Berkeley- 441 PM EDT Wed Aug 16 2023 ...STORMY AFTERNOON FOR THE SANTEE COOPER LAKES... Numerous thunderstorms will impact Lake Moultrie and the eastern portions of Lake Marion through 6 PM. These thunderstorms will be capable of producing wind gusts in excess of 30 knots, frequent cloud to water lightning and localized visibilities of 1 NM or less in heavy rainfall. Periods of locally higher waves can also be expected. Mariners are urged to seek safe harbor now before the strongest storms arrive. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... If caught on the open water, stay as low as possible and wear a personal flotation device. Remember, if you can hear thunder you are at risk for being struck by lightning. Stay tuned to NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards or the Internet for the latest information from the National Weather Service. &&
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Charleston SC
544 PM EDT Wed Aug 16 2023
SCZ043-044-162215-
Inland Colleton-Dorchester-
544 PM EDT Wed Aug 16 2023
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT PORTIONS OF COLLETON AND
DORCHESTER COUNTIES...
At 543 PM EDT, National Weather Service doppler radar indicated
strong thunderstorms along a line extending from near Canadys to near
Walterboro, and moving east at 15 mph.
HAZARD...excessive cloud to ground lightning.
SOURCE...Radar Indicated.
IMPACT...All outdoor activities should cease. Move indoors
immediately.
Some locations in the path of these storms include...
Walterboro, Cottageville, Round O, and Canadys.
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 3309 8038 3288 8050 3293 8073 3313 8059
TIME...MOT...LOC 2143Z 277DEG 15KT 3307 8056 3294 8067
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...<45 MPHPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston SC
600 PM EDT Wed Aug 16 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0550 PM Rain 1 ENE Dorchester 33.14N 80.38W
08/16/2023 M2.12 inch Dorchester SC Trained Spotter
A trained spotter measured 2.12 inches of rainfall that
fell within a 30 minute period near the cross streets of
Limestone Rd and Twin Oak Lane.
&&
Event Number CHS2301071
BRMPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston SC
659 PM EDT Wed Aug 16 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0648 PM Rain 5 NNE Walterboro 32.97N 80.64W
08/16/2023 U0.00 inch Colleton SC Emergency Mngr
Emergency manager reported water in roadway blocking
both lanes near the intersection of Jefferies Hwy and
Cottonwood Lane due to heavy rainfall.
&&
Event Number CHS2301072
BRMSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Charleston SC
721 PM EDT Wed Aug 16 2023
GAZ137-140-162345-
Inland McIntosh-Long-
721 PM EDT Wed Aug 16 2023
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT PORTIONS OF MCINTOSH AND LONG
COUNTIES...
At 721 PM EDT, National Weather Service doppler radar indicated a
strong thunderstorm over Tibet, moving northeast at 20 mph.
HAZARD...strong winds 45 to 55 mph.
SOURCE...Radar Indicated.
IMPACT...Expect minor damage to tree limbs and blowing around of
light, unsecured objects.
Some locations in the path of this storm include...
Tibet, Jones, and South Newport.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Report damage directly to the Charleston National Weather Service at
888-383-2024 when it is safe to do so. You can also email your
report to nws.charlestonsc@noaa.gov.
&&
LAT...LON 3163 8175 3176 8164 3170 8150 3170 8147
3169 8146 3168 8147 3164 8143 3165 8142
3164 8139 3151 8159
TIME...MOT...LOC 2321Z 223DEG 16KT 3163 8162
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPHPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston SC
805 PM EDT Wed Aug 16 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0749 PM Rain 5 WNW Round O 32.97N 80.61W
08/16/2023 M3.96 inch Colleton SC Mesonet
A personal weather station located along Cromwell Lane
measured 3.96 inches of rain as of 7:49pm. The heaviest
rainfall occurred between 6:49pm and 7:49pm when 2.52
inches of rain fell during this time period.
&&
Event Number CHS2301073
BRMThe Charleston,SC radar (KCLX), 56 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:06 UTC.
6 thunderstorm wind, 1 lightning, 1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
A Colleton County emergency manager reported a tree down due to a lightning strike near the 7800 Block of Round O Road.
A Beaufort County emergency manager reported a tree down due to thunderstorm|outflow along the 600 Block of River Road.
A Colleton County emergency manager reported a tree down due to thunderstorm|outflow near 3000 Clatty Farm Road.
A Colleton County emergency manager reported a tree down due to thunderstorm|outflow near 7000 Bennetts Point Road.
A Colleton County emergency manager reported a portion of Chisolm Road washed out where the paved section of the road meets the dirt portion. The roadway is expected to undergo repairs.
A Colleton County emergency manager reported a tree down due to thunderstorm|outflow near 4000 Bonnie Doon Road.
A Beaufort County emergency manager reported a tree down due to thunderstorm|outflow along the 100 Block of Broad River Road.
A Beaufort County emergency manager reported a tree down due to thunderstorm|outflow near the intersection of Harvey Road and Ivy Lane.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in South Carolina in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in South Carolina, August 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: 1134459, 1134464, 1134462, 1134461, 1134458, 1134460, 1134465, 1134463.