Tornadoes · United States · South Carolina · 2024
EF1 tornado, Moncks Corner to Pinopolis, South Carolina, August 6, 2024
From Moncks Corner to Pinopolis, this EF1 tornado ran 3.9 miles across Berkeley County on August 6, 2024, touching down at 2:53 AM EDT and reaching 150 yards wide. It killed nobody and injured 2.
The rating scale
Tracks are drawn in the color of the rating. The Enhanced Fujita scale rates the damage rather than measuring the wind: the speeds are what that damage is taken to imply.
EF065 to 85 mph
Light damage. Surface peeled off some roofs, gutters and siding damaged, branches broken, shallow-rooted trees pushed over.
EF186 to 110 mphthis tornado
Moderate damage. Roofs badly stripped, mobile homes overturned or badly damaged, exterior doors lost, windows broken.
EF2111 to 135 mph
Considerable damage. Roofs torn off well-built houses, frame homes shifted on their foundations, mobile homes destroyed, large trees snapped or uprooted, cars lifted off the ground.
EF3136 to 165 mph
Severe damage. Whole stories of well-built houses destroyed, large buildings badly damaged, trains overturned, trees debarked, heavy cars lifted and thrown.
EF4166 to 200 mph
Devastating damage. Well-built houses leveled, structures with weak foundations moved some distance, cars thrown and large missiles generated.
EF5over 200 mph
Incredible damage. Strong frame houses swept off their foundations, car-sized missiles thrown more than 100 meters, steel-reinforced concrete badly damaged, high-rise buildings deformed.
Unrated
The survey recorded a tornado but could not put a number on it, most often because it crossed open country and damaged nothing a rating can be read from.
The record
- Rating
- EF1
- Date
- August 6, 2024
- Touchdown
- 2:53 AM EDT (06:53 UTC)
- Lifted
- 3:00 AM EDT (07:00 UTC)
- On the ground
- 7 minutes
- Path length
- 3.9 miles (6.2 km)
- Path width
- 150 yards (137 m)
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 2
- County
- Berkeley County
- Touchdown point
- 33.208, -79.981
- Lift-off point
- 33.237, -80.038
- Record number
- 2408060053-01
The damage survey
18 damage points were recorded along this path by NWS CHS, in the Damage Assessment Toolkit the survey teams carry. The strongest indicator was rated EF1. The highest wind the damage implies is 95 mph.
Survey points are preliminary and are the raw material the published rating was built from. Source: NWS Damage Assessment Toolkit.
What the Weather Service recorded
Debby first developed into a tropical storm about 100 miles west-southwest of Key West, Florida late afternoon on August 3rd, then gradually strengthened to a strong tropical storm while tracking north across the eastern Gulf of Mexico on August 4th. Debby then reached hurricane force strength late on August 4th about 100 miles west-northwest of Tampa, before continuing a north-northeast track across the eastern Gulf of Mexico and eventually making landfall near the Big Bend area of Florida as a Category 1 Hurricane during the morning of August 5th. Debby continued inland and weakened to a tropical storm while tracking northeast across northern Florida later on August 5th, then continued a gradual weakening trend while tracking across Southeast Georgia as a tropical storm (45 mph) before slowly emerging off the Southeast Coast at tropical storm strength (40 mph) near Tybee Island, Georgia on August 6th. Debby then tracked east and farther offshore early August 7th, then turned north and became a strong tropical storm (60 mph) over the Gulf Stream later that morning, before taking a more north-northwest track back toward the Southeast Coast and making landfall near Awendaw/Bulls Bay, South Carolina as a tropical storm (50 mph) around 2 AM on August 8th. A minimum surface pressure of 994 mb was recorded at Sullivan���s Island (XSLV), South Carolina prior to Debby making landfall. After landfall, Debby continued on a north-northwest track across South Carolina as a tropical storm into mid day August 8th, before weakening to a depression later that day and continuing a north path across North Carolina and Virginia into early August 9th. ||Across Southeast South Carolina, the main impacts associated with Debby included flash flooding due to widespread heavy rainfall, several nighttime tornadoes within rainbands and scattered tree damage associated with near tropical storm force winds. ||Prolonged heavy rainfall across Southeast South Carolina brought widespread flash flooding on August 5th and 6th, additional areas of flash flooding on August 7th, 8th and 9th, along with considerable and prolonged flooding of creeks, streams and main stem rivers for several days thereafter. Numerous homes and roads were flooded, leading to rescues and/or evacuations. Storm total rainfall amounts from August 4th to August 9th generally ranged between 4 to 22 inches with highest amounts across the Quad County Area (Berkeley, Dorchester, Charleston, Colleton) and particularly along a stretch from Summerville, Ridgeville, St George and Harleyville, South Carolina to Moncks Corner, South Carolina. A peak storm total rainfall of 22.02 inches was recorded by a CoCoRaHS observer approximately 6.6 miles southwest of Moncks Corner, South Carolina. A daily record rainfall of 4.71 inches was also set on August 6th at the Charleston International Airport (KCHS). Despite a large amount of rain and flash flooding, storm surge/coastal flooding did not lead to mentionable impacts locally. The highest water level at the Charleston (CHTS1) tide gauge was 1.06 ft MHHW during the evening of August 5th. No injuries or fatalities occurred with flash flooding/flooding.||Several rainbands associated with Debby brought 8 tornadoes (4 EF1 and 4 EF0) across coastal counties of Southeast South Carolina during the night of August 5th into early August 6th, causing damage to numerous trees and many structures. An EF1 tornado in Berkeley County caused 2 minor injuries when a car was flipped by the tornado. A total of 2 minor injuries and no fatalities occurred with tornadoes. ||Tropical storm force winds/gusts produced scattered tree damage and communication/power outages across several counties. One minor injury occurred when a tree fell down on a vehicle in Beaufort County, South Carolina. Strongest winds were recorded across coastal areas and nearby coastal waters. The highest sustained tropical storm wind (39 knots) and highest tropical storm wind gust (55 knots) occurred at Folly Beach South End (XFSE), South Carolina. Across nearby coastal waters, the highest sustained tropical storm wind (44 knots) and highest tropical storm wind gust (51 knots) occurred at the Edisto Buoy (41004). A total of 1 minor injury and no fatalities occurred by tropical cyclone winds.
A National Weather Service Storm Survey Team confirmed an EF1 tornado with an estimated maximum wind speed of 95 mph in Moncks Corner, South Carolina occurring from 153 AM to 200 AM EST.||The tornado, which originated in an outer rainband associated with Tropical Storm Debby, touched down just east of McCormick Circle, snapping two trees in the woods behind an Applebee's. The tornado then moved northwest, causing damage to the Applebee's sign and then turned west, flipping vehicles that led to 2 minor injuries. The tornado then continued on a west track, impacting an Arby's. This was the location of the strongest damage as numerous windows were blown out at the Arby's on both the west and east-facing sides of the building. The rooftop A/C was also blown into the Arby's parking lot. However, no other structural damage was noted and therefore the degree of damage was kept near the middle of the expected wind speed, or at 95 mph. The Walmart Supercenter to the northwest of Arby's also sustained some very minor roof fascia damage, which was starting to peel off from the main structure. The tornado then continued to move northwest and passed Mitton Road, where several trees were uprooted with a few branches greater than 3 inches in diameter broken. There was also a residence on Mitton Road that had roof damage to less than 20% of the structure. The tornado then moved northwest and weakened as it crossed Kitfield Road, where some branches (mostly 1-3 in diameter) were broken. There were also branches (1-3 in diameter) snapped northwest of this location on Lois Circle and Broughton Road. The tornado then continued a path northwest, before dissipating on the northern end of the Pinopolis Peninsula along the south end of Lake Moultrie.
From NOAA NCEI's Storm Events Database, the narrative the local forecast office wrote for Storm Data.
What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before the tornado touched down, 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 tornado touched down at Aug 6, 2:13 AM EDT, 40 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Aug 6, 2:13 AM EDT, 40 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Charleston SC
213 AM EDT Tue Aug 6 2024
.SYNOPSIS...
Tropical Storm Debby will impact the region through much of the
week. Potentially historic rainfall amounts will likely result
in severe to catastrophic flash flooding.
&&
.NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM THIS MORNING/...
Tonight: The synoptic pattern remains favorable for heavy rainfall
and flash flooding across much of the area through the night as
Debby slowly tracks across Southeast Georgia. Strong moisture
transport with some forcing contributions from the right entrance
region of a jet streak propagating across the Upstate into western
North Carolina, modest SBCAPE and PWATs surging to 2.60-2.80 within
a moist onshore flow will continue to support widespread heavy
rainfall with efficient rainfall rates reaching as high as 1-3
in/hr, potentially even higher at times locally. The core of the
heaviest rains should persist north-northeast of Debby's circulation
center, shifting slowly across Southeast Georgia and into Southeast
South Carolina. The potential for flash flooding will remain high
through the night and the issuance of additional Flash Flood
Warnings appears nearly certain. Rain totals through sunrise Tuesday
look to average 5-10 inches by around daybreak with a rainfall
maxima occurring across coastal counties, and the heaviest rains
trending further north into Southeast South Carolina heading toward
daybreak. A Flood Watch remains in effect for all counties through
Friday morning. See the Hydrology section below for additional
hydrologic details.
The risk for isolated tornadoes continues overnight where a
pronounced axis of instability and shear across coastal waters
extends across the coastal corridor, particularly across Southeast
South Carolina where ongoing bands of showers and thunderstorms
shift onshore. A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 7 AM across
coastal South Carolina counties, and includes Dorchester County.
Winds will continue to slowly increase overnight with the potential
for tropical storm force winds increasing south of I-16 and across
the entire coast through daybreak.
&&
.SHORT TERM /6 AM THIS MORNING THROUGH THURSDAY/...
The short term period will remain dominated by Debby and its
associated impacts with the latest NHC forecast track taking the
center of the storm off the Georgia coast and into the Atlantic
early Tuesday afternoon, then slowly arcing through the
Atlantic coastal waters midweek and back inland around the
Myrtle Beach area Thursday (subject to further updates of
course). Time over the warm Atlantic waters could bring some
renewed intensification through mid week and increased
winds/gusts across the coastal waters and along the coast. A
Tropical Storm Warning remains in effect for all coastal
counties through the period. A Tropical Storm Warning is also in
effect for the southeast Georgia inland counties along and
south of I-16, although confidence in those areas reaching
Tropical Storm force gusts remains lower.
But the primary impact for the forecast area will continue to
be a prolonged period of very heavy rainfall across the entire
forecast area through at least Tuesday/Tuesday night. Heaviest
of the rainfall (or at least the frequency of) might tend to
diminish some Wednesday into Thursday as the circulation center
traverses up through the northern reaches of the forecast area
and we lose the southeasterly tap moisture off the Atlantic. But
again, that will be very track dependent.
Finally, the risk for tropical tornadoes in rainbands will
persist into Tuesday/Tuesday night although the threat may tend
to lessen through the period as the center of Debby tracks into
the Atlantic and we move out of the preferential sector
(relative to the TC center) for tropical tornado development.
But again, all will depend on the ultimate track.
&&
.LONG TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY/...
Still quite a bit of uncertainty regarding the ultimate
timing/track of Debby during the latter half of the week with
the current official track moving the center of the system out
of our forecast area by later Thursday and back inland through
the Pee Dee region during the end of the week. We may continue
to see some rainfall from Debby wrapping back around and across
the northern part of the area through the end of the week until
the system ultimately gets picked up/absorbed by an upper level
trough slated to deepen across the Great Lakes into New England
late week and through the weekend. Once that happens, we will
transition back into the more typical August pattern of daily
shower and thunderstorm chances.
&&
.AVIATION /06Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
KCHS/KJZI/KSAV: Steady rains will continue to impact all terminals
into Tuesday morning as bands of showers and thunderstorms wrap
around the northeast edge of Tropical Storm Debby drawing slowly
closer to the Georgia coast. Prevailing MVFR/IFR conditions will
persist through the night, with perhaps some improvement in cigs
heading through Tuesday afternoon. Vsbys remain limited to 1/2SM at
times as rain/showers directly impact the terminals, especially at
the JZI and CHS terminals tonight. There is also a risk for low-
level wind shear at all terminals tonight into through much of
Tuesday afternoon.
Extended Aviation Outlook: Periodic showers and thunderstorms
may lead to occasional flight restrictions through the period.
&&
.MARINE...
Tonight: Conditions still continue to steadily deteriorate across
the waters with tropical storm conditions likely. The risk for
waterspouts will persist for much of the night as well as Tropical
Storm Debby draws closer, with the main concern ongoing with bands
of showers and thunderstorms shifting across South Carolina coastal
waters along a pronounced axis of instability and shear. A Tornado
Watch remains in effect for all waters until 7 AM for all South
Carolina waters, including the Charleston Harbor.
Tuesday through Saturday: The track and intensity of Debby will
determine the details of the marine forecast across the local
waters. The most recent NHC forecast would indicate Debby will
emerge off the southeast Georgia coast as a tropical storm
Tuesday afternoon and then meander offshore Wednesday into
Thursday. Debby is then expected to make landfall along the
South Carolina coast later Thursday. Given a potentially longer
residence time over waters, the storm could gain some strength
before making landfall. Mariners should prepare for hazardous
marine conditions through the week with tropical storm force
winds, very elevated seas, and potential for waterspouts in
rainbands. A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for all coastal
waters, including the Charleston Harbor. Conditions should
slowly improve late in the period.
Rip Currents/High Surf: Hazardous beach conditions are expected
through much of the week as Debby impacts the region. A High Risk of
rip currents is forecast for Tuesday and will likely continue
beyond. In addition, large breaking waves will impact the
beaches.
&&
.HYDROLOGY...
Debby remains on target to potentially produce historic rainfall
amounts that will result in areas of catastrophic flooding across
southeast Georgia and southeast South Carolina. A Flood Watch
remains in effect for all of southeast Georgia and southeast South
Carolina through Friday morning and Flood Advisories/Flash Flood
Warnings will be issued as need be.
The center of Debby will slowly advance through southern Georgia
into southeast Georgia overnight. Debby is then forecast to
slowly move off the Georgia coast Tuesday afternoon, potentially
strengthening and bringing additional intense rainfall to
coastal areas within the main core of the system. The combination
of deep tropical moisture and a slowly moving tropical system
will set the table for a prolonged period of intense rainfall.
The forecast continues to advertise rainfall totals of 10- 20
inches across all of southeast Georgia and southeast South
Carolina, with localized amounts of up to 30 inches possible.
Even more concerning is that the swath of heaviest rain is
likely to fall along the coastal corridor, including heavily
urbanized areas across Savannah, Hilton Head, Beaufort, and
Charleston. The entire forecast area remains in a rare High Risk
Excessive Rainfall Outlook through Tuesday from the Weather
Prediction Center, and the northern part of the forecast area
through Wednesday...further highlighting the potential for
widespread damaging flash flooding.
With these expected rainfall totals, impacts will be widespread and
severe, likely including numerous flooded homes and structures,
damage to roadways including washouts, and unprecedented flooding
along and near smaller creeks and streams. Additionally, there will
likely be an extended period of major flooding (possibly record
setting) along larger main stem rivers that continues well after
Debby moves away from the region. The most intense rainfall will
likely come in bands followed by periods of time of considerably
lighter rainfall or even no rain at all.
&&
.CHS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
GA...Tropical Storm Warning for GAZ099>101-114>119-137>141.
Flood Watch through Friday morning for GAZ087-088-099>101-
114>119-137>141.
High Risk for Rip Currents through this evening for GAZ117-119-139-
141.
Storm Surge Warning for GAZ117-119-139-141.
SC...Tropical Storm Warning for SCZ045-047>052.
Flood Watch through Friday morning for SCZ040-042>045-047>052.
High Risk for Rip Currents through this evening for SCZ048>051.
Storm Surge Warning for SCZ048>052.
MARINE...Tropical Storm Warning for AMZ330-350-352-354-374.
&&
NEAR TERM...
SHORT TERM...
LONG TERM...
AVIATION...
MARINE...Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 6, 1:13 AM EDT, 1 hour 40 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Charleston SC 113 AM EDT Tue Aug 6 2024 GAZ099>101-114>116-118-137-138-140-070515- Candler-Bulloch-Effingham-Tattnall-Evans-Inland Bryan-Inland Chatham- Long-Inland Liberty-Inland McIntosh- 113 AM EDT Tue Aug 6 2024 ...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING... ...TROPICAL STORM WARNING IN EFFECT... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southeast Georgia. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Flood Watch. Tropical Storm Warning. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Flood Watch. Tropical Storm Warning. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter assistance is not anticipated at this time. GAZ087-088-SCZ040-042-070515- Jenkins-Screven-Allendale-Hampton- 113 AM EDT Tue Aug 6 2024 ...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southeast Georgia and southeast South Carolina. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Flood Watch. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Flood Watch. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter assistance is not anticipated at this time. GAZ117-119-139-141-070515- Coastal Bryan-Coastal Chatham-Coastal Liberty-Coastal McIntosh- 113 AM EDT Tue Aug 6 2024 ...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING... ...HIGH RISK FOR RIP CURRENTS IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING... ...STORM SURGE WARNING IN EFFECT... ...TROPICAL STORM WARNING IN EFFECT... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southeast Georgia. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Flood Watch. High Risk for Rip Currents. Storm Surge Warning. Tropical Storm Warning. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Flood Watch. High Risk for Rip Currents. Storm Surge Warning. Tropical Storm Warning. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Please relay any reports of hazardous weather including, but not limited to large hail, damaging winds and flooding to the National Weather Service in Charleston at 1-888-383-2024. SCZ045-047-070515- Inland Berkeley-Inland Jasper- 113 AM EDT Tue Aug 6 2024 ...TORNADO WATCH 602 IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 AM EDT THIS MORNING... ...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING... ...TROPICAL STORM WARNING IN EFFECT... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southeast South Carolina. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Tornado Watch. Flood Watch. Tropical Storm Warning. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Tornado Watch. Flood Watch. Tropical Storm Warning. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Please relay any reports of hazardous weather including, but not limited to large hail, damaging winds and flooding to the National Weather Service in Charleston at 1-888-383-2024. SCZ048>051-070515- Beaufort-Coastal Colleton-Charleston-Coastal Jasper- 113 AM EDT Tue Aug 6 2024 ...TORNADO WATCH 602 IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 AM EDT THIS MORNING... ...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING... ...HIGH RISK FOR RIP CURRENTS IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING... ...STORM SURGE WARNING IN EFFECT... ...TROPICAL STORM WARNING IN EFFECT... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southeast South Carolina. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Tornado Watch. Flood Watch. High Risk for Rip Currents. Storm Surge Warning. Tropical Storm Warning. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Tornado Watch. Flood Watch. High Risk for Rip Currents. Storm Surge Warning. Tropical Storm Warning. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Please relay any reports of hazardous weather including, but not limited to large hail, damaging winds and flooding to the National Weather Service in Charleston at 1-888-383-2024. SCZ043-044-070515- Inland Colleton-Dorchester- 113 AM EDT Tue Aug 6 2024 ...TORNADO WATCH 602 IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 AM EDT THIS MORNING... ...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southeast South Carolina. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Tornado Watch. Flood Watch. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Tornado Watch. Flood Watch. Tropics: Tropical storm force winds will be possible Tuesday through Thursday as Debby moves through the area. Tropical Storm Watches and Warnings could be needed. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Please relay any reports of hazardous weather including, but not limited to large hail, damaging winds and flooding to the National Weather Service in Charleston at 1-888-383-2024. AMZ330-350-352-070515- 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- 113 AM EDT Tue Aug 6 2024 ...TORNADO WATCH 602 IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 AM EDT THIS MORNING... ...TROPICAL STORM WARNING IN EFFECT... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for Atlantic coastal waters. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Tornado Watch. Tropical Storm Warning. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Tornado Watch. Tropical Storm Warning. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Please relay any reports of hazardous weather including, but not limited to large hail, damaging winds and flooding to the National Weather Service in Charleston at 1-888-383-2024. AMZ354-374-070515- 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- 113 AM EDT Tue Aug 6 2024 ...TROPICAL STORM WARNING IN EFFECT... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for Atlantic coastal waters. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Tropical Storm Warning. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Tropical Storm Warning. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Please relay any reports of hazardous weather including, but not limited to large hail, damaging winds and flooding to the National Weather Service in Charleston at 1-888-383-2024. SCZ052-070515- Tidal Berkeley- 113 AM EDT Tue Aug 6 2024 ...TORNADO WATCH 602 IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 AM EDT THIS MORNING... ...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING... ...STORM SURGE WARNING IN EFFECT... ...TROPICAL STORM WARNING IN EFFECT... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southeast South Carolina. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Tornado Watch. Flood Watch. Storm Surge Warning. Tropical Storm Warning. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Tornado Watch. Flood Watch. Storm Surge Warning. Tropical Storm Warning. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Please relay any reports of hazardous weather including, but not limited to large hail, damaging winds and flooding to the National Weather Service in Charleston at 1-888-383-2024.
In the hours before
Local storm report, Aug 6, 1:32 AM EDT, 1 hour 21 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston SC
132 AM EDT Tue Aug 06 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0120 AM Tropical Cyclone 2 E Hanahan 32.92N 79.99W
08/06/2024 Berkeley SC Emergency Mngr
Dorchester County Emergency Manager reported a tree
down at the intersection of Yeamans Hall and North Rhett
Avenue due to Tropical Storm Debby.
&&
Event Number CHS2400890
ACDLocal storm report, Aug 6, 1:35 AM EDT, 1 hour 18 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston SC
135 AM EDT Tue Aug 06 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1220 AM Flood 3 WSW Knightsville 33.00N 80.28W
08/06/2024 Dorchester SC Emergency Mngr
Dorchester County Emergency Manager reported that Twin
Lakes Road is impassable from Weir Street to the Boat
Landing due to flooding from Tropical Storm Debby
&&
Event Number CHS2400891
ACDLocal storm report, Aug 6, 1:36 AM EDT, 1 hour 17 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report...Corrected
National Weather Service Charleston SC
136 AM EDT Tue Aug 06 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0120 AM Tropical Cyclone 2 E Hanahan 32.92N 79.99W
08/06/2024 Berkeley SC Broadcast Media
Charleston Media reported a tree down at the
intersection of Yeamans Hall and North Rhett Avenue due
to Tropical Storm Debby.
&&
Corrected remarks...source
Event Number CHS2400890
ACDLocal storm report, Aug 6, 1:41 AM EDT, 1 hour 12 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston SC
141 AM EDT Tue Aug 06 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0937 PM Tornado Kiawah Island 32.61N 80.08W
08/05/2024 Charleston SC Public
Social Media reported trees downs at Burroughs Hall at
Govenors Drive due to Tropical Storm Debby.
&&
Event Number CHS2400892
ACDLocal storm report, Aug 6, 1:45 AM EDT, 1 hour 8 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston SC
145 AM EDT Tue Aug 06 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1259 AM Tropical Cyclone 3 ENE Beaufort 32.46N 80.64W
08/06/2024 Beaufort SC Public
Social Media reported tree damage, structures damaged,
and vehicle damage at 490 block of Sams Point Road due
to Tropical Storm Debby. It was also reported that power
flashes were observed at this time.
&&
Event Number CHS2400893
ACDLocal storm report, Aug 6, 2:21 AM EDT, 32 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Charleston SC
221 AM EDT Tue Aug 06 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0217 AM Tropical Cyclone 6 NE Dale 32.62N 80.62W
08/06/2024 Colleton SC Emergency Mngr
Colleton County Emergency Manager reported a tree down
on the 4300 block of Wiggins Road due to Tropical Storm
Debby.
&&
Event Number CHS2400894
ACDThe air that afternoon
The radiosonde launches on either side of the tornado, from the nearest station that was launching then, drawn and analyzed the way Storm Lab does: the same diagram, the same parcel and shear definitions SPC's mesoanalysis uses.
Charleston AFB, SC (KCHS), 00:00Z
6.9 hours before the tornado, 36 km from the path. August 6, 2024.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 178 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -8 J/kg
- Surface CAPE
- 498 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 620 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 30 kt
- 0-1 km bulk shear
- 28 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 175 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 159 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.1
- Supercell composite
- 1.1
- 0-3 km lapse rate
- 5.2 K/km
Charleston AFB, SC (KCHS), 12:00Z
5.1 hours after it, 36 km from the path. August 6, 2024.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 195 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -6 J/kg
- Surface CAPE
- 351 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 625 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 17 kt
- 0-1 km bulk shear
- 27 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 51 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 61 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.2
- 0-3 km lapse rate
- 4.9 K/km
The surface observations
Moncks Corner (MKS), 5 km from the path, in the two hours either side.
| Time (UTC) | Temp (°F) | Dew point (°F) | Wind | Gust (kt) | Pressure (mb) | Weather |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 00:00 UTC |
From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of airport observations.
The radar
The Charleston,SC radar (KCLX), 115 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 06:49 UTC.
Open the radar archive at this moment, over the track
Reflectivity and velocity, decoded from the Level II archive in the browser. Volumes take a few seconds to open the first time.
This ground now
The live radar over the trackEvery 2024 tornado in South CarolinaEvery tornado in South Carolina since 1950Warnings in force in South Carolina nowThe forecast where you are
The other tornadoes of August 6, 2024
8 more were confirmed in the United States that day.
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 6 | 8:19 AM EDT | EF2 | Saint Joseph, MI | 8.5 | 700 | |||
| August 6 | 3:40 PM EDT | EF1 | Lorain, OH | 11.9 | 200 | $95,000 | ||
| August 6 | 3:54 PM EDT | EF1 | Cuyahoga, OH | 1.8 | 250 | $50,000 | ||
| August 6 | 4:00 PM EDT | EF1 | Cuyahoga, OH | 16.9 | 350 | $2.0 million | ||
| August 6 | 4:09 PM EDT | EF0 | Brunswick, NC | 0.3 | 40 | $5,000 | ||
| August 6 | 4:20 PM EDT | EF1 | Summit, OH | 3.3 | 150 | $194,000 | ||
| August 6 | 4:31 PM EDT | EF1 | Lake, OH | 4.7 | 200 | $30,000 | ||
| August 6 | 5:30 PM EDT | Unrated | Mercer, PA | 0.0 | 20 | $3,000 |
What this means
Ratings are the survey's, read off the damage rather than measured; the rating scale is above. Tornado counts rise through the record as reporting improved, so a year in the 1950s is not comparable with one today except for the strongest tornadoes, which were always noticed.
Sources
NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database, 1950-2025, the official record kept by NOAA's Storm Prediction Center.