Scattered to numerous thunderstorms developed in the early afternoon hours across southeast Georgia and moved toward the coast. A few of these thunderstorms became strong enough to produce gusty winds and cloud to ground lightning strikes.
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.
Scattered to numerous thunderstorms developed in the early afternoon hours across southeast Georgia and moved toward the coast. A few of these thunderstorms became strong enough to produce gusty winds and cloud to ground lightning strikes.
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 20, 2:25 PM EST, 5 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Charleston SC 325 PM EDT Sat Jul 20 2024 .SYNOPSIS... High pressure will remain over the western Atlantic while a surface trough lingers inland. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM SUNDAY MORNING/... Weak mid-level lapse rates have limited convective development despite fairly strong instability and ample moisture. The sea breeze is only slowly beginning to push inland, having been pinned near the coast by a prevailing offshore flow. The main forcing mechanism is a potent shortwave in the CSRA, forecast to move ENE through southern SC early this evening. This is driving a more organized area of convection moving into our inland GA zones at the moment. We will likely see continued pop-ups along the sea breeze and outflow boundaries, but the greatest coverage will likely be moving from west to east ahead of the shortwave. It is uncertain how far east it will make it since we could be losing daytime heating by the time it gets to the coast. In this case, it would likely be in a diminishing state by the time it reaches our coastal zones. The severe potential looks pretty low given the lack of dry air aloft and weak lapse rates. However, 20-25 kt of bulk shear across the inland third of the area could allow for some storm organization and an isolated severe storm. && .SHORT TERM /6 AM SUNDAY MORNING THROUGH TUESDAY/... The forecast area will remain between mid level ridging over the Atlantic and fairly broad troughing to the west. At the surface, high pressure resides offshore, with a weak trough inland. This set- up will maintain a rich moisture feed into the area, with PWats remaining over 2 inches through most of the period. Scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms will be possible each day given the high moisture content and weak shortwave energy rotating through at times, in addition to the typical mesoscale boundaries such as the sea breeze. Highest coverage will be in the afternoon and evening when instability is maximized, but some activity could continue into the overnight. As is typical this time of year, a few strong to severe thunderstorms capable of producing damaging wind gusts are possible. Locally heavy rain is also possible. High temperatures will average in the low to mid 90s with heat indices peaking 100-105F in most locations, with some 105-108 values closer to the coast. Lows span the 70s. && .LONG TERM /TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY/... The offshore ridge looks to expand westward across the area midweek, before likely weakening late week as a trough passes by to the north. Diurnally driven showers and thunderstorms will be possible each day. NBM continues to be aggressive in regards to PoPs in the long term, so we opted to cap rain chances below 70%. Highs generally top out in the upper 80s to lower 90s with lows in the 70s. && .AVIATION /19Z SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... The main focus for the 18Z TAF period is pinning down timing and location of convection. Showers and thunderstorms will increase in coverage through the afternoon, though initially the best coverage may be inland. We do not feel confident enough to do more than a VCTS at any of the terminals this afternoon. Some showers could continue into the evening hours as an upstream convective complex moves through. The risk for low stratus and/or fog late tonight is not sufficient enough to show anything in the TAFs at this time. Extended Aviation Outlook: Convection could produce brief flight restrictions, especially each afternoon/evening. && .MARINE... S to SW flow will continue tonight with a slight wind speed enhancement this evening as a nocturnal jet develops. A 10-15 kt sea breeze in Charleston Harbor through early evening will settle back to a 5-10 kt breeze overnight. Sunday through Thursday: Typical summertime regime for the upcoming week. South to southwest flow will persist through the period with speeds 15 knots or less. The strongest winds will be along the coast each afternoon as the sea breeze develops. We could also see a slight wind enhancement along the coast overnight due to a nocturnal jet. Seas will average 2-4 ft. Rip Currents: A low-end moderate risk of rip currents is forecast for Sunday due to the 2-3 ft swell period of 8-9 seconds, combined with greater than normal tidal range and daytime onshore winds. && .CHS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... GA...None. SC...None. MARINE...None. && NEAR TERM...JRL SHORT TERM...ETM LONG TERM...ETM AVIATION...ETM/JRL MARINE...ETM/JRL
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Charleston SC 255 PM EDT Sat Jul 20 2024 GAZ117-119-139-141-SCZ048>051-211900- Coastal Bryan-Coastal Chatham-Coastal Liberty-Coastal McIntosh- Beaufort-Coastal Colleton-Charleston-Coastal Jasper- 255 PM EDT Sat Jul 20 2024 ...MODERATE RISK FOR RIP CURRENTS IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY MORNING THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southeast Georgia and southeast South Carolina. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Moderate Risk for Rip Currents. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter assistance is not anticipated at this time. GAZ087-088-099>101-114>116-118-137-138-140-SCZ040-042>045-047-052- 211900- Jenkins-Screven-Candler-Bulloch-Effingham-Tattnall-Evans- Inland Bryan-Inland Chatham-Long-Inland Liberty-Inland McIntosh- Allendale-Hampton-Inland Colleton-Dorchester-Inland Berkeley- Inland Jasper-Tidal Berkeley- 255 PM EDT Sat Jul 20 2024 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southeast Georgia and southeast South Carolina. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter assistance is not anticipated at this time. AMZ330-350-352-354-374-211900- 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- 255 PM EDT Sat Jul 20 2024 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for Atlantic coastal waters. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. 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
251 PM EDT Sat Jul 20 2024
GAZ087-099-100-201930-
Jenkins GA-Candler GA-Bulloch GA-
251 PM EDT Sat Jul 20 2024
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT JENKINS...CANDLER AND BULLOCH
COUNTIES UNTIL 330 PM EDT...
At 250 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 10
miles north of Aline, moving east at 15 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and penny size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is possible.
Locations impacted include...
Statesboro, Metter, Portal, Pulaski, Register, Hopeulikit, Aline,
Georgia Southern, Union and Parish.
This includes I-16 between mile markers 96 and 115.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Monitor the weather situation closely and be alert for threatening
weather conditions.
This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional
information and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
&&
LAT...LON 3261 8200 3261 8201 3264 8204 3268 8188
3244 8174 3227 8197 3232 8224 3235 8224
3235 8225 3242 8220 3243 8219 3247 8218
3252 8215 3256 8208 3254 8203 3256 8203
TIME...MOT...LOC 1850Z 258DEG 14KT 3249 8221
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
NEDThe Charleston,SC radar (KCLX), 101 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:30 UTC.
1 lightning, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Local broadcast media reported that lightning struck a car driving on Interstate 16 near exit 104, damaging the electrical system and disabling the vehicle. None of the passengers were injured.
A picture was posted on social media of a large tree limb blown down near Griffin Lake.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Georgia in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyWarnings in Georgia, July 2024
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: 1202081, 1202082.