0 and MLCAPE values over 1500 J/kg. This led to scattered convective development across the forecast area, but with weak mean 800-300mb flow, storm motions were under 10-15kts.
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 CAE wrote it up.
A fairly typical summertime pulse environment took shape the afternoon and evening of 5/24 with PWAT's between 1.80-2.0 and MLCAPE values over 1500 J/kg. This led to scattered convective development across the forecast area, but with weak mean 800-300mb flow, storm motions were under 10-15kts. As a result, strong thunderstorms persisted over Sardis GA for nearly 2 hours with efficient rain rates, causing flash flooding south of Sardis.
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 Columbia, SC wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 24, 1:12 PM EST, 4 hours 44 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Columbia SC 212 PM EDT Sun May 24 2026 .WHAT HAS CHANGED... Thunderstorms developing this afternoon, favoring the southeastern portion of the area. Aviation discussion updated for 18Z TAF. && .KEY MESSAGES... - 1. Daily shower and thunderstorm chances continue into the upcoming week, with localized flash flooding possible through Tuesday. && .DISCUSSION... Key Message 1: Daily shower and thunderstorm chances continue into the upcoming week, with localized flash flooding possible through Tuesday. Today/Tonight: Showers and thunderstorms have developed early this afternoon near the I-95 corridor and hires models do indicate the activity will gradually advance farther inland, although much of the heaviest rain is expected to fall in areas that have not received significant amounts in the past two days, limiting the overall flash flood threat. PWATs remain high, between 1.8 to 2 inches, well above average and forecast soundings indicate efficient rainfall which could lead to localized flash flooding, especially in training storms. Overall, the severe threat appears lower than yesterday with the wedge front shifted a bit southward, limiting surface based instability, although once again isolated strong precip-loaded downdrafts could lead to a damaging wind gust or two. A weak shortwave will likely spark additional convection across central Georgia later this afternoon into evening which will continue to move eastward. Latest CAMs have this activity weakening as it approaches our area tonight, likely due to the shortwave lifting to the north and west and a loss of daytime heating. Still it will be worth monitoring, especially for areas of northern Lexington and Richland counties where significant rain fell last evening and flash flood guidance indicates 1-2" per hour rates could lead to flash flooding. Southwest flow will persist at least through the first half of the week with the synoptic pattern favoring ridging offshore and an upper low over east Texas. NAEFS mean indicates PWATs remain around or above the 99th percentile through Tuesday. Heavy rain and isolated flash flooding will be possible with afternoon convection, although a strong trough strengthening in the Pacific Northwest leads to strengthening ridging over our area which would limit forcing somewhat. With moisture so high and moderate destabilization each afternoon, will likely get scattered to widespread storms developing, favoring the sea breeze and propagating inland. Storm coverage Wednesday through the end of the week may be a bit more limited as southwest flow weakens but isolated diurnal showers and storms will remain possible. && .AVIATION /18Z SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... Restrictions from showers/storms possible this afternoon and evening before more stratus is possible overnight into Monday morning. Skies are gradually becoming VFR with cloud bases lifting this afternoon and winds picking up near 4-7 kts out of the southeast generally. An area of convection is currently moving near OGB, and activity is expected to continue near here over the coming hours as the inland pushing sea breeze is expected to bring more storms near here. The other TAF sites are a bit tricky as model guidance has trended towards keeping this initial activity away until after 21-22z as another round of showers/storms gets going, but the possibility remains outflow boundaries develop additional storms near the other TAF sites. The main restrictions with convection are expected to come from heavy rain (lower vsby's), though some gusty winds could be possible in the strongest storms. This evening a broken line of showers/storms is expected to approach the CSRA, bringing more possible restrictions from convection near AGS/DNL/AIK mainly from 22z through around 02z. This activity may reach the Columbia terminals as well. Showers may linger into the overnight before gradually diminishing into Monday morning. There is fairly good consensus another round of stratus and possibly patchy fog should develop late tonight, with MVFR to IFR ceilings expected after 05-08z, continuing into Monday morning. Winds likely remain light and out of the southeast overnight before becoming a bit more southerly after daybreak Monday through the end of the TAF period. EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK...Abundant low level moisture will bring more rounds of morning restrictions from fog and/low low clouds to start the next work week. Scattered afternoon showers and thunderstorms are possible each day into the middle of the week. && .CAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SC...None. GA...None. && DISCUSSION...96 AVIATION...DH
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Columbia SC
116 PM EDT Sun May 24 2026
SCZ037-038-136-137-241745-
Central Orangeburg SC-Southeastern Orangeburg SC-Calhoun SC-
Clarendon SC-
116 PM EDT Sun May 24 2026
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southeastern
Calhoun, southwestern Clarendon and central Orangeburg Counties
through 145 PM EDT...
At 115 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Bowman, or 12 miles southeast of Brookdale, moving north at 25 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and half inch 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...
Orangeburg, Brookdale, Bowman, Elloree, Santee State Park, Claflin
College, South Carolina State University, Santee, Cameron, Vance,
Poplar Creek Landing, Stumphole Landing, Yonder Field, Wilkinson
Heights, and Creston.
This includes the following highways...
Interstate 26 between mile markers 144 and 167.
Interstate 95 between mile markers 88 and 103.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3335 8043 3331 8080 3358 8089 3365 8040
TIME...MOT...LOC 1715Z 184DEG 20KT 3338 8069
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
MGSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Columbia SC
526 PM EDT Sun May 24 2026
GAZ077-SCZ035-242200-
Burke GA-Barnwell SC-
526 PM EDT Sun May 24 2026
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southeastern Burke
and southwestern Barnwell Counties through 600 PM EDT...
At 525 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Sardis, or 10 miles south of Plant Vogtle, moving northeast at 25
mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 45 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...
Plant Vogtle, Sardis, Alexander, and Girard.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3291 8177 3295 8182 3295 8187 3299 8192
3309 8192 3319 8175 3310 8165 3309 8165
3309 8161 3305 8157 3306 8156 3304 8156
TIME...MOT...LOC 2125Z 235DEG 22KT 3299 8175
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
MGThe Charleston,SC radar (KCLX), 79 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:54 UTC.
1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Burke County dispatch reported that the 15100 block of Hwy 23 was flooded with water covering both lanes.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Georgia in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyWarnings in Georgia, May 2026
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: 1333624.