Waterspout — Edisto Beach Sc To Savannah Ga Out 20nm, Atlantic South

2017-05-23 · near Tybee Island, Edisto Beach Sc To Savannah Ga Out 20nm, Atlantic South

Event narrative

A National Weather Service storm survey team confirmed an EF2 tornado that caused damage to Fort Pulaski and then exited into the Atlantic Ocean north of Tybee Island as a strong waterspout. As the waterspout tracked to the east-northeast, the Coast Guard reported that it capsized the 47 foot fishing vessel named Miss Debbie. The Coast Guard received an emergency position indicating radio beacon about 1.6 miles northeast of the northern end of Tybee Island. After several days of search and rescue operations including the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, the 3 male crew members were presumed to have drowned. Based on radar data, the waterspout continued to track to the east-northeast before dissipating.

Wider weather episode

A strong line of thunderstorms develop across portions of southeast Georgia and southeast South Carolina in the afternoon hours. This line eventually impacted the coast and the adjacent Atlantic coastal waters, primarily producing strong wind gusts. The event also included a tornado that moved through Fort Pulaski and then into the coastal waters, becoming a waterspout.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (32.0328, -80.8825)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 699162. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.