Severe weather in Beaufort, Jasper counties leads to road closures, power outages

After rapid-fire alerts for Beaufort and Jasper counties ranging from a severe thunderstorm watch to a tornado warning, damage from the upheaval triggered multiple road closures in Hardeeville and left thousands without power on Wednesday evening.

A tornado warning issued shortly before 8 p.m. sent a blaring 8:01 p.m. alert from Hardeeville emergency officials that urged residents to shelter in place. The Hardeeville alert came after a 7:55 p.m. tweet from the National Weather Service announcing that a “confirmed tornado was spotted near Rincon, Georgia.” The city prompted people to call 1-888-333-4465 to report downed power lines.

Shortly after NWS issued the tornado warning, the City of Hardeeville sent a 8:23 p.m. alert urging drivers to avoid I-95 in the exit 5 area. All lanes north and south were shut down due to a power line snaked along the roadway. Frontage Road and Moorer Avenue were also shut down, according to the alert. Throughout Hardeeville, multiple trees had fallen as the storm tore through the small city.

A tornado warning for Beaufort and Jasper counties lasted fewer than 30 minutes and was then downgraded to a severe thunderstorm warning lasting until 9:15 p.m.

After the storm ripped through the counties, nearly 1,700 people were without power in Jasper County and another 4,578 in Beaufort County around 9:30 p.m., as reported by PowerOutage.us. Several traffic lights in Bluffton and Hardeeville were out, according to a crowd source in the Bluffton/Hilton Head Ask and Answer Facebook group.

Throughout Wednesday, the counties were under a severe thunderstorm watch. By the evening, a tornado watch was issued by the NWS for Beaufort and Jasper counties around 7:40 p.m. But minutes later, the watch was upped to a warning shortly before 8 p.m. for Hilton Head, Bluffton and Burton after a confirmed tornado was spotted near Rincon, Georgia.

When a watch alert is dispatched by NWS, it means tornadoes are possible in and near the watch area. Watches are issued by the Storm Prediction Center for counties where tornadoes may occur, and the watch area is typically large. It gives people time to prepare in case a warning alert is issued, signifying the weather event is imminent or likely with the potential to cause a threat to life or property.

The tornado warning expired for both counties at 8:15 p.m. Wednesday. However, Beaufort and Jasper counties remained under a tornado watch until 10 p.m.

Listen to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on for more information about the following hazards

Both counties were also under a hazardous weather outlook for the potential for severe thunderstorms, which was set to expire at 9:15 p.m. Wednesday. The service identifies severe thunderstorms as any storm that produces damaging winds or those with a speed of over 58 mph, and/or 1 inch in diameter, and/or a tornado.

On Wednesday afternoon, Bluffton and Hilton Head Island were at an moderate risk for severe thunderstorms, meaning widespread severe thunderstorms are “likely” that can be long-lived, widespread and intense, the service outlined.

North of the Broad River was at an enhanced risk, which indicates numerous severe storms are “possible” that are more persistent, an/or widespread, with a few being intense.

“The main concern for the storms will be damaging wind, which may be widespread over the southernmost part of the state,” wrote State Climate Office’s severe weather liaison Frank Strait. “This is because of the unusually strong wind aloft; thunderstorm downdrafts can pull the momentum of these strong winds to the surface.”

Strong winds can cause damage to trees, mobile homes, roofs and cars. They can also cause widespread power outages. To prepare, bring loose indoor items inside, watch for downed trees and power lines and heed any warnings put out by NWS.

“When you must travel through a severe weather minefield, you’ll want to keep up with which county you’re in and have your phone’s severe weather notifications set to alert for your current location,” Strait urged.

Large hail can impact cars and sensitive vegetation, while associated rainfall can localized minor flooding of low-lying and poor drainage areas. Strait said that Beaufort and Jasper counties are at most risk of seeing enough rain to cause flash flooding because of wet soil from recent rainfall combined with heavy rainfall potential through the Wednesday evening.

On Thursday, severe thunderstorms are possible between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. in Beaufort County. By around 7 a.m., the sky will remain cloudy and the temperature will climb to 86. Showers and a possible thunderstorm could happen before 8 p.m.

The NWS reports that Friday will be mostly sunny with a high of 89 degrees.