A large cluster of showers and thunderstorms developed along the southeast Georgia coast in the afternoon hours and produced a few instances of flash flooding in Chatham County. Several rain gauges in the area observed rainfall totals of 3-4 inches, with hourly rainfall rates of 2-3 inches.
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 large cluster of showers and thunderstorms developed along the southeast Georgia coast in the afternoon hours and produced a few instances of flash flooding in Chatham County. Several rain gauges in the area observed rainfall totals of 3-4 inches, with hourly rainfall rates of 2-3 inches.
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 27, 1:44 PM EST, 2 hours 57 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Charleston SC 244 PM EDT Wed May 27 2026 .WHAT HAS CHANGED... All sections have been updated. && .KEY MESSAGES... - 1) Hot and humid conditions with periods of showers and thunderstorms across SE GA/SC this evening and Thursday. Locally heavy downpours are possible. - 2) An unsettled wet pattern is expected to develop Friday into the weekend, increasing the potential for heavy rainfall and localized flooding. && .DISCUSSION... KEY MESSAGE 1: Hot and humid conditions with periods of showers and thunderstorms across SE GA/SC this evening and Thursday. Locally heavy downpours are possible. A warm and moist airmass will remain in place through Thursday as deep moisture continues to advect northward along the western periphery of Atlantic high pressure. With PWATs increasing to around 2 inches this afternoon, scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms will initiate along and west of the sea breeze during the mid to late afternoon hours. The upper ridge in the Atlantic will help to suppress convection, mainly along the coast. However, a slightly weaker ridge Thursday could allow for more robust development/coverage. Additionally, a weak cold front will begin to drop southward toward the forecast area Thursday providing additional source of lift. While severe potential should remain limited today and Thursday, deeper convection could produce heavy downpours dropping a quick inch or two, and possibly isolated minor flooding. HREF probabilities indicate a 20-40% chance for 1" or greater rainfall from these storms through this evening, with chances increasing to 40-70% for Thursday. A Flood Advisory could be needed where heavier storms track over the same area; the greater chances occurring Thursday. However, impacts are expected to remain localized, with much of the rainfall beneficial given the ongoing drought conditions. Humidity may range a bit higher on Thursday as the upper ridge weakens and the area of rain soaked ground increases. Given high temperatures in upper 80s to around 90 and dewpoints in the low to mid 70s, conditions will remain hot and humid. Coastal counties could see heat index values between 100 to 103 degrees. KEY MESSAGE 2: An unsettled wet pattern is expected to develop Friday into the weekend, increasing the potential for heavy rainfall and localized flooding. As noted in days past, will see a sfc cold front stall near the region Friday, resulting in a prolonged period of unsettled weather. While showers and perhaps a few storms may be ongoing by Friday morning, expect coverage to become more widespread during the afternoon and evening hours. This pattern will continue into Saturday and Sunday as the aforementioned front and sfc low lingers along the coast. Given the stationary nature of the front, combined with slow storm motion (10-15 kt), do want to emphasize that any storm may be capable of producing locally heavy rainfall - especially as PWATs near 2 inches. In terms of accumulations, latest guidance still maintains anywhere from 2 to 4 inches over a 72 hour period spanning Friday through Sunday. However, there has been a subtle shift southward in the axis of higher accumulations. Though this axis could still shift more in the coming forecast cycles, do think it's a trend worth keeping an eye on. In regard to severe weather, latest soundings do show ample lift and moisture - however, with shear remaining meager, think our chances for seeing severe storms will be rather limited. Otherwise, look for afternoon highs in the low to mid 80s to become common, with overnight lows falling into the 60s. && .AVIATION /18Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... 27/18z TAF Discussion: Ongoing showers and thunderstorms will continue to develop along the sea breeze and inland of the terminals through this evening. Convection will generally track northeast likely impacting the terminals later this afternoon/early evening. The TAFs are highlighted with TSRA TEMPOs at KSAV and KCHS between 19-22Z. For now, the TAF for KJZI does not include the TEMPO group as the sea breeze is located further inland, and overall lower confidence of impacts from convection. Guidance has struggled with low stratus and some 2-3 kft ceilings could develop at times through this evening. However, it should be brief, so this was not explicitly mentioned. Southerly winds with gusts around 20 kt will be common through the evening before waning overnight. Low stratus and MVFR ceilings could return overnight after midnight, but maintained VFR in this issuance. Extended Aviation Outlook: Brief flight restrictions possible within showers and thunderstorms at CHS/JZI/SAV terminals during the afternoon hours into the later half of the week. More periodic flight restrictions are possible Friday into the weekend as the potential for widespread showers/thunderstorms increases. In addition, patchy overnight fog and/or stratus cannot be ruled out after recent rains. && .MARINE... Tonight: The marine zones will remain under the influence of broad high pressure. South winds should remain between 10-15 kt with gusts up to 20 kt. Wave heights will range between 3-5 ft. Thursday through Sunday: Conditions are generally forecast to remain below Small Craft Advisory criteria into the weekend, with daily chances for showers and thunderstorms. A surface front pushes down into the region overnight into Friday, with a surge in winds 15 to 20 knots behind the front Friday afternoon before the front stalls. The surface front lingers across the region throughout the weekend, and a surface low pressure or two may form along the front, possibly pinching the pressure gradient a couple times throughout the weekend. This would bring brief periods periods of Small Craft Advisory level winds and seas, though confidence in timing and location are currently low. Rip Currents: An elevated rip current risk will remain through the week with a modest easterly swell around 3 to 4 feet every 8 seconds and sea breeze influences. A moderate risk of rip currents is in place for all area beaches through Thursday. && .CHS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... GA...None. SC...None. MARINE...None. && BRS/SST
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Charleston SC 540 PM EDT Wed May 27 2026 GAZ087-088-099>101-114-115-137-216>219-238>241-SCZ040-042>045- 147>152-282145- 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- 540 PM EDT Wed May 27 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southeast Georgia and southeast South Carolina. .DAY ONE...Tonight. See the Graphical Hazardous Weather Outlook for more information about the following possible hazardous weather: - Rip Current .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. 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
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston SC
359 PM EDT Wed May 27 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0330 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 4 NNW Moncks Corner 33.25N 80.04W
05/27/2026 M48 mph Berkeley SC Official NWS Obs
The NWS observation site at Pinopolis on the south end
of Lake Moultrie measured a 48 mph wind gust.
&&
Event Number CHS2600372
BSHPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston SC
528 PM EDT Wed May 27 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0520 PM Flood 2 N Pooler 32.14N 81.25W
05/27/2026 Chatham GA Trained Spotter
Caller reported water at doorway of groundfloor
apartments at Preserve at Godley Station.
&&
Event Number CHS2600373
DAKThe Charleston,SC radar (KCLX), 61 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:42 UTC.
2 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Chatham County Emergency Management reported that the intersection of Canal Street and Park Avenue was closed due to flooding. The roadway intersection was covered with 12-18 inches of water and one vehicle was stalled out in the flood waters.
Chatham County Emergency Management reported a flooded vehicle in the roadway on Pooler Parkway.
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: 1342331, 1342332.