The combination of easterly swell of 3-4 feet every 8 seconds combined with breezy winds along the coast with the sea breeze to produce a moderate risk of rip currents at area beaches. Several rip currents were reported at the beach on Tybee Island.
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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.
The combination of easterly swell of 3-4 feet every 8 seconds combined with breezy winds along the coast with the sea breeze to produce a moderate risk of rip currents at area beaches. Several rip currents were reported at the beach on Tybee Island.
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 24, 6:06 AM EST, 6 hours 54 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Charleston SC 706 AM EDT Sun May 24 2026 .WHAT HAS CHANGED... Aviation section updated for the 12Z TAFs. && .KEY MESSAGES... - 1) Increased chances for showers and thunderstorms through early this week. && .DISCUSSION... KEY MESSAGE 1: Increased chances for showers and thunderstorms through early this week. The forecast area will remain on the edge of a 590 dm H5 ridge centered over the western Atlantic, and a secondary center over southern FL today. However, SW to NE oriented heights across the region will likely result in a weak disturbance or two to track across the Coastal Plain of SC/GA today. The passage of a weak disturbance seen in satellite water vapor may allow a few showers to develop over the nearshore waters this morning, possibly tracking onshore. By mid day, temperatures are expected to warm into the mid to upper 80s with dewpoints in the low to mid 70s. SBCAPE values are forecast to increase to around 2000 J/kg, with pockets of 2500 J/kg. Steady SE winds should allow a sea breeze to develop during the morning hours, then drifting inland through this afternoon. Recent runs of the HRRR and HREF indicate that the deep convection may develop along and ahead of the sea breeze over the I-95 corridor as early as 16Z. Coverage should increase into the early to mid afternoon hours, however, Corfidi vectors indicate slow storm motions, generally 10 kts or less. Given PW values between 1.8-1.9 inches, slow storm motions, and moderate instability, localized heavy rainfall is possible with the storms inland of I-95. In fact, the 0Z HREF highlights inland GA with another round of heavy rain this afternoon, with a 30% of 3"/hr and a 70% of 1"/hr rainfall. It is possible that one or two storms may develop high echo tops, collapsing water-loaded updrafts may yield a risk of damaging wind gusts. SPC has highlighted portions of SE GA with a Marginal Risk for severe thunderstorms. Memorial Day: Conditions are not expected to change much from today, with comparable temperatures and moisture content. The sea breeze will again be the focus for the initial thunderstorms, then coverage should expand across inland areas. Locally heavy rainfall is possible generally along and west of I-95. Later this week, the ridge of high pressure off to our east strengthens, continuing our warm and moist conditions across the southeast United States. This is expected to bring a summer- like pattern, with showers and thunderstorms forming daily along an early afternoon sea breeze before expanding across inland areas into the early evening hours, which will continue to bring much needed rainfall to the region. Temperatures remain above average, with daily highs in the upper 80s to lower 90s and overnight lows in the mid 60s to mid 70s, possibly resulting in record high minimum (warm overnight low) temperatures. As a surface low pressure moves off the northeast coast late this week, a cold front is expected to push through the southeast region. The trend has been for later in the week, Thursday into Friday, with cooler high temperatures in the upper 70s to lower 80s expected during the later half of the weekend. && .AVIATION /12Z SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... 12Z TAFs: VFR conditions expected across the terminals this morning. Showers may track onshore for develop along a early forming sea breeze around daybreak this morning, highlighted with a mention of VCSH beginning 15Z. Recent runs of the HRRR and HREF indicated that a broken band of showers and thunderstorms will develop near, perhaps just inland, of the terminals after 16Z. Storm motions should remain limited to 5 to 10 kts. Each TAF will feature a PROB30 until late this afternoon for TSRA. Showers should dissipate with the loss of heating around sunset this evening. Extended Aviation Outlook: TEMPO flight restrictions possible with showers and thunderstorms at CHS/JZI/SAV terminals during the afternoon hours into the middle of next week. && .MARINE... Today and tonight: High pressure centered over the western Atlantic will remain remain over the marine zones. As a result, winds will generally remain from the SSE through the period, favoring speeds between 10 to 15 kts. Slight increases in wave heights may occur through today, peaking overnight between 3 to 5 ft. Monday through Thursday: Conditions are forecast to remain below Small Craft Advisory criteria into the middle of next week, with daily chances for showers and thunderstorms. High pressure to the east will drive onshore ESE flow each day, with wind speeds mostly topping out in the 10-15 knot range. Each afternoon and evening there could be some local enhancement along the land/sea interface with the diurnal sea breeze. Seas will average 2-4 feet through the period. Rip Currents: A modest easterly swell around 3ft/8s and sea breeze influences each afternoon will keep the rip current risk in the moderate category at all area beaches through Monday. && .CHS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... GA...None. SC...None. MARINE...None. && APT/NED
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Charleston SC 625 AM EDT Sun May 24 2026 GAZ087-088-099>101-114-115-137-216>219-238>241-SCZ040-042>045- 147>152-251030- Jenkins-Screven-Candler-Bulloch-Effingham-Tattnall-Evans-Long- Inland Bryan-Coastal Bryan-Inland Chatham-Coastal Chatham- 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- 625 AM EDT Sun May 24 2026 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: - Rip Current .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. See the Graphical Hazardous Weather Outlook for more information about the following possible hazardous weather: - Rip Current && The Graphical Hazardous Weather Outlook can be found at: https://www.weather.gov/erh/ghwo/?wfo=chs
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Charleston SC
148 PM EDT Sun May 24 2026
SCZ044-045-150-152-241815-
Dorchester SC-Inland Berkeley SC-Tidal Berkeley SC-Charleston SC-
148 PM EDT Sun May 24 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT BERKELEY AND DORCHESTER COUNTIES
UNTIL 215 PM EDT...
At 148 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Sangaree, moving northeast at 25 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
North Charleston, Summerville, Goose Creek, Hanahan, Ladson,
College Park, Sangaree, Crowfield Plantation and Jedburg.
This includes I-26 between mile markers 193 and 209.
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 3310 8025 3326 8012 3303 7983 3288 8015
3303 8030
TIME...MOT...LOC 1748Z 220DEG 19KT 3301 8014
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
CPMThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 rip current. Local standard time, as filed.
Two swimmers were rescued from a rip current off of Center Street on Tybee Island. Multiple moderate to strong rip currents were reported by lifeguards between Taylor Street to the South Beach jetty.
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: 1342329.