Clusters of thunderstorms developed along a stationary front and impacted portions of southeast Georgia along the coast in the early afternoon. A few of these storms produced damaging wind gusts in Chatham County.
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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.
Clusters of thunderstorms developed along a stationary front and impacted portions of southeast Georgia along the coast in the early afternoon. A few of these storms produced damaging wind gusts in Chatham County.
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 May 25, 12:57 PM EST, 20 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Charleston SC 157 PM EDT Sun May 25 2025 .SYNOPSIS... An active weather pattern will persist throughout this week as a front lingers nearby and series of disturbances move across the region. Expect a cold front to sweep through mid-week. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... Quasi-stationary boundary will lift north of the Santee River this morning as a shortwave aloft passes to our north. Showers and storms associated with this wave are progressing through the Midlands early this morning, stretching toward the US Hwy 301 corridor as of sunrise. The better forcing with the wave is departing to the east, but the large convective cluster/MCS will only slowly move into the coastal plain over the next several hours. Additionally, the broad lift from the wave could spawn a few showers over the waters moving onto Lowcountry beaches through the morning. Onshore flow will allow the weak sea breeze to progress inland quickly midday, intersecting the cluster of convective activity across inland areas early afternoon, with easterly storm motions progressing the marginally-organized convection toward the coast late morning into early evening. A few stronger storms could bring a few wet microbursts and some mainly small hail. Additionally, storm motions on the order of 10-15 mph, with the potential for some localized back-building on the upshear side of the cold pools, could bring about some localized heavy rainfall. The greatest threat for heavy rainfall is roughly along and west of I-95 where the prob of 2+ inches of rainfall through this evening is mainly 20-50%. Tonight: Poorly organized convective cluster pushes off the Lowcountry coast later this evening, with mainly dry conditions expected thereafter. Ample low level moisture persists with the front remaining to our north with stratus expected to develop late. Lows are mild, upper 60s to mid 70s for most. && .SHORT TERM /MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... A relatively active pattern anticipated Monday through Wednesday. A quasi-stationary front will remain draped from west to east across the forecast area while a series of shortwaves ripple through. Relatively deep tropical moisture should remain in place with PWATs hovering above 1.9". The greatest shower and thunderstorm coverage is expected to occur during the daytime hours each day during which moderate instability develops while the front provides a focusing mechanism. We could see some locally heavy rainfall due to efficient rain producers training across the same areas. Severe thunderstorm threat is pretty low, but the possibility of some storm organization could allow for an isolated damaging wind gust or large hail report. && .LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY/... Strong shortwaves will move through Thursday and Friday, then a cold front will sweep through late Saturday, followed by dry high pressure. Fairly good coverage of mainly daytime showers and tstms expected until the front passes through. && .AVIATION /18Z SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... 18Z TAF - Wideley ranging conditions across the area this afternoon as scattered showers and thunderstorms continue, with sub-IFR conditions as thunderstorms move directly over a location and VFR outside of any thunderstorm activity. First area of showers and storms is pushing off into the southeastern South Carolina offshore waters, with the next round of thunderstorms moving across southeastern Georgia into southeastern South Carolina. Convective coverage decreases into the evening hours, though MVFR to IFR cigs/visbys are expected to develop as stratus builds down and patchy to areas of fog develops. Extended Aviation: Mainly nighttime ceiling restrictions expected starting Monday night as a front drops into the area. Additionally, brief visibility reductions possible in scattered showers and thunderstorms through the period, particularly during the afternoons and early evenings. && .MARINE... Quasi-stationary front lifts north of the Santee River this morning with light to moderate onshore flow prevailing today, becoming S to SW tonight. Seas remain main 2-3 ft with minimal incoming swell, but a building southerly windswell overnight. Monday through Thursday, winds/seas will remain well below advisory thresholds. One note to boaters: Stronger than normal currents can be expected on tidal waterways through the holiday weekend given large tidal ranges as we approach the Perigee on Monday. Early afternoon low tides will be followed by quickly rising water, which has, in the past, resulted in dangerous conditions as area sandbars quickly become submerged. Rip Currents: Rip Currents: With a somewhat modest swell and higher than normal tidal range, a Moderate risk for rip currents is expected today at all beaches. && .TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING... A lunar perigee will occur on Monday with a New Moon on Tuesday. The evening high tides at Charleston should produce coastal flooding, especially on Monday and Tuesday. Fort Pulaski could peak within minor flood stage on Tuesday. && .CHS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... GA...None. SC...None. MARINE...None. && NEAR TERM...CEB SHORT TERM...JRL LONG TERM...JRL AVIATION...APT/JRL MARINE...CEB/JRL
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Charleston SC 823 AM EDT Sun May 25 2025 GAZ087-088-099>101-114>119-137>141-SCZ040-042>045-047>052-261230- 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- 823 AM EDT Sun May 25 2025 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southeast Georgia and southeast South Carolina. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. See the Graphical Hazardous Weather Outlook for more information about the following possible hazardous weather: - Coastal Flood - Rip Current .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. See the Graphical Hazardous Weather Outlook for more information about the following possible hazardous weather: - Coastal Flood && The Graphical Hazardous Weather Outlook can be found at: https://www.weather.gov/erh/ghwo/?wfo=chs
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston SC
1202 PM EDT Sun May 25 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1116 AM Tstm Wnd Gst 2 WSW Folly Beach 32.64N 79.97W
05/25/2025 M51 mph Charleston SC Mesonet
&&
Event Number CHS2500324
DAKSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Charleston SC
1252 PM EDT Sun May 25 2025
SCZ048-051-251715-
Beaufort SC-Coastal Jasper SC-
1252 PM EDT Sun May 25 2025
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT BEAUFORT AND JASPER COUNTIES
UNTIL 115 PM EDT...
At 1252 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm
over Bluffton, moving east at 10 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 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...
Hilton Head Island, Bluffton, Forest Beach, Folly Field, Hilton
Head Airport, Calibogue Cay, Harbortown, Lawton, Sea Pines and
Brighton Beach.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Stay tuned to NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards, TV or your local news
source for the latest information from the National Weather Service.
&&
LAT...LON 3210 8100 3225 8093 3227 8060 3221 8061
3218 8065 3218 8067 3212 8072 3208 8079
3208 8080 3207 8081 3207 8082 3206 8083
TIME...MOT...LOC 1652Z 277DEG 10KT 3217 8090
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 TO 55 MPH
STPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston SC
107 PM EDT Sun May 25 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1118 AM Tstm Wnd Gst Marine Corps Air Statio 32.49N 80.70W
05/25/2025 M55 mph Beaufort SC ASOS
&&
Event Number CHS2500325
DAKPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston SC
118 PM EDT Sun May 25 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0116 PM Rain 1 WSW Folly Beach 32.65N 79.95W
05/25/2025 M4.67 inch Charleston SC Mesonet
&&
Event Number CHS2500326Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Charleston SC
134 PM EDT Sun May 25 2025
GAZ100-251800-
Bulloch GA-
134 PM EDT Sun May 25 2025
...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT BULLOCH COUNTY UNTIL 2
PM EDT...
At 134 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a line of strong
thunderstorms extending from over Brooklet to over Nevils, 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, Brooklet, Denmark, Leefield, Nevils, Emit, Grimshaw,
Akins, Arcola and Pretoria.
This includes I-16 between mile markers 121 and 132.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Stay tuned to NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards, TV or your local news
source for the latest information from the National Weather Service.
&&
LAT...LON 3227 8184 3235 8178 3245 8175 3244 8157
3231 8156 3221 8165
TIME...MOT...LOC 1734Z 289DEG 12KT 3240 8170 3234 8168 3226 8176
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
STSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Charleston SC
157 PM EDT Sun May 25 2025
GAZ100-251830-
Bulloch GA-
157 PM EDT Sun May 25 2025
...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT BULLOCH COUNTY UNTIL
230 PM EDT...
At 157 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a line of strong
thunderstorms extending from near Leefield to near Denmark, moving
east at 20 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 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...
Brooklet, Bay, Stilson, Denmark, Akins and Arcola.
This includes I-16 between mile markers 126 and 138.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
&&
LAT...LON 3218 8176 3233 8173 3239 8171 3241 8154
3225 8149 3222 8150 3218 8165
TIME...MOT...LOC 1757Z 268DEG 16KT 3236 8161 3227 8163 3224 8169
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 TO 55 MPH
STThe Charleston,SC radar (KCLX), 64 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:15 UTC.
2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Chatham County Emergency Management reported a tree down near the intersection of Oglethorpe Avenue and Drayton Street.
A report of a tree down on Waite Drive near the intersection of Government Road was received via social media.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Georgia in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyWarnings in Georgia, May 2025
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: 1263864, 1263865.