544
NOUS42 KCHS 100314
PNSCHS
SCZ150-101515-
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
1114 PM EDT SUN AUG 9 2026
..NWS DAMAGE SURVEY FOR 08/08/26 TORNADO EVENT
FOLLY BEACH, SC WASHOUT WATERSPOUT/TORNADO
RATING: EF0
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND: 55 MPH
PATH LENGTH /STATUTE/: 0.05 MILES
PATH WIDTH /MAXIMUM/: 15 YARDS
FATALITIES: 0
INJURIES: 0
START DATE: 08/08/2026
START TIME: 12:36 PM EDT
START LOCATION: 2 NE FOLLY BEACH / CHARLESTON COUNTY / SC
START LAT/LON: 32.6704 / -79.9057
END DATE: 08/08/2026
END TIME: 12:37 PM EDT
END LOCATION: 2 NE FOLLY BEACH / CHARLESTON COUNTY / SC
END LAT/LON: 32.6709 / -79.9065
SURVEY SUMMARY:
A WATERSPOUT DEVELOPED FROM A SHOWER JUST OFFSHORE OF FOLLY
BEACH, SC NEAR THE WASHOUT AREA AROUND 1235 PM. THE WATERSPOUT
MOVED SLOWLY WEST-NORTHWEST BEFORE COMING ONSHORE AS A TORNADO
AROUND 1236 PM, NEAR THE FORT ROAD AND EAST ASHLEY AVENUE INTERSECTION
AT THE WASHOUT.
THE TORNADO MOVED ACROSS THE BEACH, THROWING A FEW TENTS/UMBRELLAS,
CHAIRS, SURFBOARDS AND BEACH COVERINGS INTO THE AIR BEFORE
DISSIPATING JUST BEYOND EAST ASHLEY AVENUE APPROXIMATELY 30
SECONDS AFTER REACHING LAND. DAMAGE WAS MINIMAL, WITH ONLY MINOR
IMPACTS SEEN ON VIDEO AT THE BEACH GIVEN A LACK OF VEGETATION AND
STRUCTURES IN THE VICINITY. DESPITE THE TORNADO MOVING DIRECTLY
OVER A GROUP OF PEOPLE, NO INJURIES HAVE BEEN REPORTED.
BASED ON PUBLIC VIDEO FOOTAGE AND THE LACK OF DAMAGE INDICATORS,
THE TORNADO IS RATED EF0 WITH MAXIMUM WINDS ESTIMATED TO BE NEAR
55 MPH.
EF SCALE: THE ENHANCED FUJITA SCALE CLASSIFIES TORNADOES INTO THE
FOLLOWING CATEGORIES:
EF0.....65 TO 85 MPH
EF1.....86 TO 110 MPH
EF2.....111 TO 135 MPH
EF3.....136 TO 165 MPH
EF4.....166 TO 200 MPH
EF5.....>200 MPH
NOTE:
THE INFORMATION IN THIS STATEMENT IS PRELIMINARY AND SUBJECT TO
CHANGE PENDING FINAL REVIEW OF THE EVENT AND PUBLICATION IN
NWS STORM DATA.
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