Elsa initially developed as a Tropical Depression over the central tropical Atlantic late in the evening of June 30th, 2021. The system quickly tracked to the west-northwest and became Tropical Storm Elsa on the morning of July 1st, 2021 about 850 miles east-southeast of the Windward Islands. Elsa strengthened to a hurricane and crossed the Windward Islands on July 2nd, 2021. Over the next several days, Elsa moved across the eastern Caribbean and weakened back to a Tropical Storm as it interacted with the higher terrain of the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Cuba. Elsa moved into the eastern Gulf of Mexico late in the evening of July 5th, 2021 and moved north along the west coast of Florida. Elsa made landfall as a Tropical Storm in Taylor County along the north Florida coast on the morning of July 7th, 2021. After landfall, Elsa weakened and tracked northeastward across portions of Georgia and South Carolina through July 8th, 2021. The primary impacts to southeast Georgia and southeast South Carolina included heavy rainfall, a few tornadoes, and gusty winds. Rainfall amounts peaked in the 6-8 inch range across portions of Charleston, Chatham, Beaufort, and Colleton counties. The heavy rainfall did produce some street flooding, causing some roadways to become impassable in and around Savannah and Charleston. Peak winds occurred along the Chatham, Jasper, and Beaufort county coasts where a Weatherflow site in Calibogue Sound measured a 70 knot wind gust. Elsewhere, wind gusts peaked in the 35-45 knot range producing scattered wind damage.

Tornado in CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA
From 08-JUL-21 00:00:00 to 08-JUL-21 00:02:00 (EST-5)
Location: EDISTO IS
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A National Weather Service (NWS) storm survey team determined that an EF-1 tornado occurred near Edisto Island in Charleston County. The beginning point for the tornado was detected by a NWS drone in a corn field near the end of Sunnyside Mills Road. The tornado had a discontinuous path northward across Store Creek, then across a large corn field, ending near the intersection of Cypress Trees Lane and Highway 174. Along the path, there were many hard and softwood trees snapped and uprooted, particularly near Cypress Trees Lane, and also at a few residences toward the beginning of the path just south of Store Creek. The maximum strength of the tornado was estimated to be EF-1, with peak winds of 95 mph, particularly toward the end of the path just south of Highway 174.

Tornado in CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA
From 08-JUL-21 01:36:00 to 08-JUL-21 01:38:00 (EST-5)
Location: TEN MILE
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A National Weather Service (NWS) storm survey team determined that an EF-1 tornado occurred near Awendaw in Charleston County. The tornado touched down in the private community of Wando Farms, where it snapped more than a dozen medium to large pine trees, and snapped large limbs off of very large live oak trees. One resident had the front door of their home blown in. The tornado then moved north, and appears to weaken as it crossed the Wando River and the surrounding marsh area. The tornado then ended near the intersection of Ronlin Farm Road and Woodville Road where it snapped and uprooted several trees around a few homes. The tornado was estimated to be an EF-1, with peak winds of 95 mph, with the highest winds likely near the beginning of the path.

Tornado in BEAUFORT, SOUTH CAROLINA
From 07-JUL-21 22:44:00 to 07-JUL-21 22:45:00 (EST-5)
Location: PARRIS IS NAS
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A National Weather Service (NWS) storm survey team determined that an EF-1 tornado occurred near Parris Island in Beaufort County. The tornado path was very short on the southern end of Parris Island, and was likely the same storm that moved into Port Royal several minutes later. However, the storm survey team could not confirm a continuous path from Parris Island northward to the Port Royal area. Many pine trees were snapped in this location, which was directly adjacent to the old Page Field runway complex. The maximum strength of the tornado was estimated to be EF-1, with peak winds of 97 mph.

Tropical Depression in NORTHERN COLLETON, SOUTH CAROLINA
From 07-JUL-21 22:00:00 to 08-JUL-21 05:00:00 (EST-5)
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Colleton County Emergency Management reported numerous trees and powerlines down across the county. All total, 19 trees were reported down. Four trees were down in Walterboro and the rest were scattered across the county.

Tropical Depression in TIDAL BERKELEY, SOUTH CAROLINA
From 08-JUL-21 04:00:00 to 08-JUL-21 05:00:00 (EST-5)
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A tree was reported down in the 900 block of Cochran Street.

Tropical Storm in CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA
From 07-JUL-21 23:00:00 to 08-JUL-21 05:00:00 (EST-5)
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Multiple trees and powerlines were reported down across Charleston County from multiple sources. A tree was reported down on a fence and a house on Martin Street in Ravenel. Another tree was reported down on Mitchell Road near Adams Run. Large tree branches were reported down and blocking Wappoo Drive at Hinson Avenue on James Island. Another large tree limb was snapped off in front of a home in Wagener Terrace. A tree was also reported down in the Grimball Gates neighborhood. An off duty National Weather Service employee reported a tree down on Ponderosa Drive in the West Ashley area. Also, some minor beach erosion was reported on Folly Beach.

Tornado in BEAUFORT, SOUTH CAROLINA
From 07-JUL-21 22:50:00 to 07-JUL-21 22:52:00 (EST-5)
Location: PORT ROYAL
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 1.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A National Weather Service (NWS) storm survey team determined that an EF-1 tornado occurred near Port Royal in Beaufort County. This tornado was likely part of the same storm that hit Parris Island just to the south. It began near 11th Street, between Paris and London Avenues, where it snapped several trees including one tree that hit a home on 11th Street. The tornado continued northward across 14th and 15th Streets, close to Paris Avenue. Many hardwood trees and large limbs were snapped in this area, which also took down some powerlines along Paris Avenue. The tornado then moved across the southern portion of Paris Avenue West, snapping more trees and limbs with some falling on a few homes and buildings. Finally, the tornado crossed Ribaut Road, ending just north of the intersection of Ribaut and Royal Palms Roads. All total, the tornado damaged at least 44 buildings in Port Royal and caused an estimated one million dollars in damage. The maximum strength of the tornado was estimated to be EF-1, with peak winds of 95 mph.

Tropical Storm in BEAUFORT, SOUTH CAROLINA
From 07-JUL-21 22:00:00 to 08-JUL-21 05:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Numerous trees and powerlines were reported down across Beaufort County. Hilton Head Island Emergency Management reported at least 32 trees down across the island, including 8 that fell on houses mostly on the southern end of the island. Elsewhere in the county, Beaufort County Emergency Management reported 74 total trees down, 10 reports of powerlines down, and 5 reports of structural damage. Numerous trees were reported down at Haig Point on Daufuskie Island. Also, strong winds associated with Elsa generated a large wave that caused close to $100,000 in damage along the Port Royal waterfront. The wave was estimated to be 8 to 10 feet and sent two ships into wooden pilings along the Port Royal waterfront, cracking more than 30 pilings. The wave and resulting damage likely occurred between 10 pm and 11 pm on July 7th, 2021 which is around the same time that the Weatherflow site in Calibogue Sound measured a 70 knot (81 mph) wind gust.