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KCLX radar reflectivity image of the squall line pushing through the Charleston CWA at 1755 Z (1255 pm EST)

Severe Weather Outbreak - January 2, 2006

SUMMARY:
A large outbreak of severe thunderstorms impacted much of southeast South Carolina, southeast Georgia and the adjacent Atlantic coastal waters on Monday, January 2, 2006 as a powerful storm system moved across the Ohio Valley and the Mid-Atlantic states. The combination of unusually warm, unstable air at the surface with very cold air aloft resulted in the development of widespread showers and thunderstorms across the region. Numerous instances of high winds, wind damage and large hail were reported to forecasters at the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Charleston, SC for a 10 hour period, between 12 pm and 10 pm.

Click here for a map of damage reports from GA and SC. A summary of local storm reports can be found here.

The outbreak occurred in three distinct waves. The first wave of severe weather developed across interior portions of southeast Georgia where thunderstorms quickly evolved into a squall line between 11 am and 1 pm. The squall line moved rapidly east northeast (on the order of 50-60 mph) across a good portion of southeast Georgia and south coastal South Carolina and produced many instances of large hail and damaging wind between Reidsville, GA to just north of Savannah, GA to as far northeast as Charleston, SC. Hail to the size of nickels and quarters were reported with damaging winds in excess of 60 mph. The squall line cleared the Charleston County coast by mid afternoon, but continued to produce high winds across the adjacent Atlantic waters for several more hours. Winds in excess of 40 knots were reported at buoys 41008 and 41004 as this line of severe thunderstorms moved through.

Click here for a KCLX reflectivity image of the squall line at 1755 Z (1255 PM EST). Click here for a KCLX reflectivity image of the squall line approaching Tattnall County, GA at 1712 Z (1212 PM EST) and here for a KCLX velocity image of the squall line approaching Tattnall County, GA at 1712 Z (1212 PM EST).

Tattnall County damage - January 2, 2006 Tattnall County damage - January 2, 2006 Tattnall County damage - January 2, 2006 Tattnall County damage - January 2, 2006

The second wave of severe weather occurred with a mini-supercell that initially developed across Appling County, Georgia around 430 pm. This storm moved northeast between 60-70 mph and produced large hail and some damaging winds across portions of Tattnall, Evans, Bulloch, Bryan and Effingham Counties in southeast Georgia and portions of Jasper County in southern South Carolina between 445 pm and 545 pm. Although the storm weakened across central Jasper County, it still produced pea to dime size hail across portions of Beaufort, Colleton and Charleston Counties. Two people were injured in Ridgeland, SC around 542 pm when high winds blew several large tree limbs down onto a car.

Click here for a KCLX reflectivity image of the storm approaching Pembroke, GA at 2204 Z (504 PM EST).

The third and final wave of severe weather occurred with a classic, long track supercell severe thunderstorm that moved across much of central Georgia into Jenkins County. The storm entered western Jenkins County, about 8 miles south of Herndon, shortly before 9 pm and moved across the southern portions of the county between 9 and 930 pm. Wind damage was reported in the community of Butts and Scarboro. The supercell also produced a weak tornado (rated F0 with winds of 60-70 mph) south of the city of Millen, just before 915 pm. The tornado overturned and severely destroyed a mobile home and damaged some nearby structures before dissipating. High, non-tornadic winds also produced wind damage in portion of Screven County, Georgia.

Click here for an infrared satellite image at 0125 Z (825 PM EST) with the lightning strikes overlaid. Click here for a KCLX velocity image of the tornadic circulation south of Millen, GA at 0211 Z (904 PM EST).

Jenkins County damage - January 2, 2006 Jenkins County damage - January 2, 2006 Jenkins County damage - January 2, 2006

Click here for the public information statement issued on the FO tornado south of Millen.


Warning Summary Table:
(click the county name for a copy of the warning)
County, State Warning Type Valid Time Severe Weather Reported? Warning Lead Time (min) *
Tattnall, GA SVR 1217-1245 pm Yes 13
Effingham, GA SVR 107-145 pm Yes 3
Bulloch, GA SVR 107-145 pm Yes 3
Effingham, GA TOR 128-200 pm Yes 12
Chatham, GA TOR 128-200 pm No --
Jasper, SC TOR 141-215 pm Yes 9
Beaufort, SC SVR 155-230 pm Yes 10
Colleton, SC SVR 211-245 pm Yes 11
Charleston, SC SVR 216-300 pm Yes 17
Tattnall, GA SVR 436-515 pm Yes 18
Evans, GA SVR 453-530 pm Yes 8
Liberty, GA SVR 453-530 pm No --
Bryan, GA SVR 501-530 pm Yes 8
Effingham, GA SVR 517-545 pm Yes 6
Jasper, SC SVR 536-600 pm Yes 6
Jenkins, GA SVR 843-930 pm Yes 27
Screven, GA SVR 910-1000 pm Yes 15
Bulloch, GA SVR 918-945 pm No --
SVR=Severe Thunderstorm Warning
TOR=Tornado Warning
* Warning Lead Time is calculated based on the time of the first severe weather report


Product History:
(click the product name for a copy of the product)
Product Name Time Issued
Special Weather Statement Jan 1, 2006 @ 432 am
Public Information Statement Jan 1, 2006 @ 338 pm
Public Information Statement Jan 1, 2006 @ 358 pm
Special Weather Statement Jan 1, 2006 @ 416 pm
Special Weather Statement Jan 1, 2006 @ 914 pm
Public Severe Weather Outlook Jan 2, 2006 @ 426 am
Special Weather Statement Jan 2, 2006 @ 500 am
Mesoscale Discussion Number 17 Jan 2, 2006 @ 1143 am
Public Information Statement Jan 2, 2006 @ 1145 am
Public Severe Weather Outlook Jan 2, 2006 @ 1213 pm
Severe Thunderstorm Warning Jan 2, 2006 @ 1217 pm
Severe Weather Statement Jan 2, 2006 @ 1229 pm
Severe Weather Statement Jan 2, 2006 @ 1242 pm
Severe Thunderstorm Warning Jan 2, 2006 @ 107 pm
Severe Weather Statement Jan 2, 2006 @ 116 pm
Watch County Notification Jan 2, 2006 @ 123 pm
Tornado Watch Number 8 Jan 2, 2006 @ 125 pm
Tornado Warning Jan 2, 2006 @ 128 pm
Severe Weather Statement Jan 2, 2006 @ 107 pm
Severe Weather Statement Jan 2, 2006 @ 139 pm
Tornado Warning Jan 2, 2006 @ 141 pm
Special Marine Warning Jan 2, 2006 @ 147 pm
Severe Weather Statement Jan 2, 2006 @ 150 pm
Severe Thunderstorm Warning Jan 2, 2006 @ 155 pm
Severe Weather Statement Jan 2, 2006 @ 157 pm
Severe Weather Statement Jan 2, 2006 @ 209 pm
Severe Thunderstorm Warning Jan 2, 2006 @ 211 pm
Special Marine Warning Jan 2, 2006 @ 213 pm
Severe Thunderstorm Warning Jan 2, 2006 @ 216 pm
Special Marine Warning Jan 2, 2006 @ 221 pm
Severe Weather Statement Jan 2, 2006 @ 223 pm
Severe Weather Statement Jan 2, 2006 @ 224 pm
Marine Weather Statement Jan 2, 2006 @ 227 pm
Severe Weather Statement Jan 2, 2006 @ 229 pm
Severe Weather Statement Jan 2, 2006 @ 237 pm
Severe Weather Statement Jan 2, 2006 @ 239 pm
Marine Weather Statement Jan 2, 2006 @ 241 pm
Severe Weather Statement Jan 2, 2006 @ 245 pm
Severe Weather Statement Jan 2, 2006 @ 250 pm
Severe Weather Statement Jan 2, 2006 @ 258 pm
Marine Weather Statement Jan 2, 2006 @ 305 pm
Special Marine Warning Jan 2, 2006 @ 311 pm
Marine Weather Statement Jan 2, 2006 @ 314 pm
Marine Weather Statement Jan 2, 2006 @ 346 pm
Marine Weather Statement Jan 2, 2006 @ 349 pm
Special Marine Warning Jan 2, 2006 @ 411 pm
Watch County Notification Jan 2, 2006 @ 429 pm
Severe Thunderstorm Warning Jan 2, 2006 @ 436 pm
Severe Weather Statement Jan 2, 2006 @ 446 pm
Severe Thunderstorm Warning Jan 2, 2006 @ 453 pm
Severe Weather Statement Jan 2, 2006 @ 458 pm
Severe Weather Statement Jan 2, 2006 @ 459 pm
Severe Thunderstorm Warning Jan 2, 2006 @ 501 pm
Severe Weather Statement Jan 2, 2006 @ 505 pm
Severe Weather Statement Jan 2, 2006 @ 507 pm
Severe Weather Statement Jan 2, 2006 @ 509 pm
Severe Thunderstorm Warning Jan 2, 2006 @ 517 pm
Severe Weather Statement Jan 2, 2006 @ 520 pm
Severe Weather Statement Jan 2, 2006 @ 530 pm
Severe Thunderstorm Warning Jan 2, 2006 @ 536 pm
Severe Weather Statement Jan 2, 2006 @ 540 pm
Marine Weather Statement Jan 2, 2006 @ 542 pm
Severe Weather Statement Jan 2, 2006 @ 555 pm
Mesoscale Discussion Number 26 Jan 2, 2006 @ 616 pm
Tornado Watch Number 12 Jan 2, 2006 @ 655 pm
Watch County Notification Jan 2, 2006 @ 658 pm
Watch County Notification Jan 2, 2006 @ 711 pm
Special Weather Statement Jan 2, 2006 @ 744 pm
Severe Thunderstorm Warning Jan 2, 2006 @ 843 pm
Severe Weather Statement Jan 2, 2006 @ 858 pm
Enhanced Severe Weather Statement Jan 2, 2006 @ 903 pm
Severe Weather Statement Jan 2, 2006 @ 910 pm
Severe Thunderstorm Warning Jan 2, 2006 @ 918 pm
Severe Weather Statement Jan 2, 2006 @ 921 pm
Mesoscale Discussion Number 28 Jan 2, 2006 @ 922 pm
Severe Weather Statement Jan 2, 2006 @ 923 pm
Severe Weather Statement Jan 2, 2006 @ 929 pm
Severe Weather Statement Jan 2, 2006 @ 931 pm
Severe Weather Statement Jan 2, 2006 @ 937 pm
Severe Weather Statement Jan 2, 2006 @ 943 pm
Severe Weather Statement Jan 2, 2006 @ 949 pm
Severe Weather Statement Jan 2, 2006 @ 1002 pm
Watch County Notification Jan 2, 2006 @ 1007 pm
Watch County Notification Jan 2, 2006 @ 1130 pm


Event Summary: Steve Taylor
Web design: Robert Bright

Please contact us with any questions or comments.

National Weather Service
Charleston Weather Forecast Office
5777 South Aviation Avenue
Charleston, S.C. 29406-6162
(843) 744-0303

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