Hardwood Flooring in Hilton Head Island, SC

An astronomical phenomenon called a “king tide” will bring unusually high tides and possible minor flooding to the Beaufort County area this weekend. Peak water levels are expected Saturday morning, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Known by scientists as a “perigean spring tide,” a king tide occurs when a new or full moon coincides with the moon’s perigee — a point around its monthlong orbit when it’s closest to the Earth. The combined gravitational pull of these events causes oceans to swell higher than usual in coastal areas.

High tides around Hilton Head Island typically fall between six and eight feet. With a full moon occurring Friday, those highs will reach up to a foot higher, according to NOAA forecasts:

High tides will dip back below 8 feet beginning Tuesday. The highest predicted tide next month is 8.34 feet during the Dec. 15 full moon.

Downtown Beaufort was already experiencing slight flooding Thursday morning, as pictures showed large pools of water in the parking lot of Safe Harbor.

“It’s King Tide week for Beaufort!” the City of Beaufort/Town of Port Royal Fire Department posted alongside the photos. Chief Ross Vezin reminded residents not to drive through flooded roadways.

Rainfall Thursday afternoon and evening could contribute to the elevated water levels, but the National Weather Service’s Charleston Office predicts the rain will amount to less than a tenth of an inch.

Thursday afternoon: Showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 74. South wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Thursday night: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly before 8pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51. Southwest wind 7 to 10 mph becoming northwest after midnight.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 67. North wind 10 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.

Friday night: Clear, with a low around 49. North wind 5 to 7 mph.

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 70. North wind 5 to 7 mph.

Saturday night: Clear, with a low around 49.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 72.

Sunday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 52.

This story was originally published November 15, 2024, 7:54 AM.

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Hurricane season can bring Lowcountry creatures to the surface, from alligators walking through busy streets to odd pink blobs washing up in the surf. Better known as Sea Pork, these unusual creatures are actually a distant relative to humans.

Jerry Staub, one of the directors for Shore Beach Services on Hilton Head, said that the creatures often wash up on shore on the north and south ends of the island after rough weather and high surf.

After Hurricane Helene’s path across the Lowcountry at the end of September, locals posted evidence of the strange looking creatures on social media. Staub said that he came across just a few pieces while covering a three-mile area on the north end of the island after the storm.

Dr. Kim Ritchie, a University of South Carolina-Beaufort professor in the department of natural sciences, said that sea pork, like sponges or coral, are usually attached to hard surfaces, like the rock jetties near Hunting Island, but they can get dislodged during storms and end up on the beach.

According to Dr. Joseph Staton, a professor of Biology and Marine Sciences at USCB, once they end up on the beaches, like Portuguese man’o war and cannonball jellyfish, the sea pork will likely not survive.

Sea Pork can be found all along the Atlantic seaboard and the Gulf of Mexico, Staton said. The pink blob turns pale gray as it dies, resembling pork, but it is also called sea squirt (since it tends to spray water when it is removed its wet home), and is a member of the tunicate family (since their squishy interiors are protected by a thick exterior, known as a tunic.)

Whatever you call it, sea pork is actually a distant relative to humans. During their larvae stage, sea pork share several similar characteristics to human embryos in the womb, Staton said.

Like barnacles, sea pork are sessiles, which means once they pick a spot, they do not move. Like oysters, sea pork are filter feeders. According to Staton, compounds from creatures within the sea pork family have been extracted to treat some cancers and HIV because of their ability to fight off fungi and bacteria.

Despite their strange appearance, sea pork are harmless to touch, but according to Staub, can get smelly as they dry up on the beaches.

The Gamecocks are headed to Orlando, Florida.

Following a 9-3 season that included wins over Texas A&M, Missouri and Clemson, No. 15 South Carolina will play in the Citrus Bowl on Dec. 31 against No. 20 Illinois (9-3).

It will be the first time the Gamecocks have played in the Citrus Bowl since 2014. The game airs at 3 p.m. on ESPN on New Year’s Eve.

“This was the best-possible outcome, in our opinion, of where we could be playing,” coach Shane Beamer said Sunday on a teleconference. “What a statement. Obviously, the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl had a choice on who they wanted us. And they chose us.”

Earlier Sunday, it was expected that Alabama — which missed out on the College Football Playoff — would get invited to the Citrus Bowl, which has its pick of any non-playoff squad. Instead, it’ll be the Gamecocks playing in one of the premier SEC-affiliated bowl games.

When Alabama missed the playoff, Beamer texted with a number of veteran leaders about bowl possibilities. The best case, of course, was still the Citrus Bowl, but the Gator Bowl and other options were very much in play.

Then Beamer was greeted in his office by a visitor. Athletic director Ray Tanner, like he just won the Super Bowl MVP, delivered some joy.

“Get ready for Disney World,” Tanner said.

“I gave him a bear hug. I can’t lie,” Beamer said. “There was a lot of excitement, for sure. And the text messages that I started getting from our players — they feel the same way.”

The news is perhaps bittersweet for some South Carolina fans. The Gamecocks finished the season on a six-game win streak and put an exclamation point on their College Football Playoff case with a victory at No. 12 Clemson.

But, citing head-to-head losses against Alabama and Ole Miss, the selection committee slotted South Carolina at No. 14 in the rankings and essentially said there was no scenario that would vault the Gamecocks into the 12-team playoff.

The next day, a clearly-frustrated Shane Beamer railed against the committee’s reasoning but also assured fans that his team still deeply cared about winning the bowl game.

“The players on this team are extremely motivated to try and go get a 10th win,” Beamer said “That’s really important to a lot of guys.”

This will be the third bowl game in Beamer’s four seasons in Columbia. In his first season, the Gamecocks beat North Carolina in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl and the head coach was doused with the condiment. The next year, though, South Carolina fell to Notre Dame in the Gator Bowl.

The South Carolina head coach was clear to point out the history at stake. Sure, the playoff disappointment will sting, Beamer noted, but this 2024 Gamecocks team has a chance to do what just four others have done in the 117 years the University of South Carolina has been playing football: Win double-digit games.

“We’re gonna handle it the right way,” Beamer said. “There were some examples last season of teams that dealt with disappointment and handled it the right way and handled it the wrong way. We talked about being the team that handles it the right way.”

Beamer is likely referring to the 2023 Florida State team, which didn’t earn a spot in the playoff despite an undefeated season. Over a dozen key pieces for Seminoles either hit the transfer portal or opted out of the game and Florida State went on to lose to Georgia by 60 in the Orange Bowl.

As of last week, Beamer said no players had told him they will be opting out. Still, for likely NFL Draft picks such as defensive tackle TJ Sanders and edge Kyle Kennard, there’s definitely a decision to make.

Bowls listed by season

This story was originally published December 8, 2024, 2:41 PM.

Cinemark Theatres has brought back its Holiday Movie Clubhouse program for 2024, showing classic holiday films on the big screen at discounted prices from now through Dec. 18.

Here’s what to know so you can watch your favorite movies on the big screen.

Through the Holiday Movie Clubhouse program, moviegoers can watch classic holiday films on the big screen for $5 a ticket, according to a Cinemark news release. Ticket holders can get $1 off all kids’ snack packs and popcorn-and-drink combos of any size.

Holiday Movie Clubhouse showings began on Nov. 30, with screenings scheduled for the following Wednesdays and Saturdays.

The remaining schedule is as follows:

The Holiday Movie Clubhouse will end on Wednesday, Dec. 18, the release said.

No sign-up is necessary. Simply purchase tickets for select screenings online at Cinemark.com/hmc or on the Cinemark app. You can also purchase discount tickets in person at more than 250 participating locations.

No. Films being shown as part of the Holiday Movie Clubhouse have show times every Wednesday and Saturday through Dec. 18. Movie times can be selected when making a ticket purchase.

These are the South Carolina locations participating in the Holiday Movie Clubhouse. A full list of all participating locations can be found online.

Bluffton

Cinemark Bluffton, 106 Buckwalter Parkway

Myrtle Beach

Cinemark Myrtle Beach, 2100 Coastal Grand Circle

Summerville

Cinemark Summerville, 4488 Ladson Road

Cinemark Holdings, Inc., was founded in 1984 and now operates a total of 499 theaters with 5,680 screens throughout the United States and 13 Latin American countries.

Cinemark theaters have been go-to spots for family outings, dates and solo excursions.

According to Cinemark’s website, the chain has ranked either No. 1 or No. 2 in box office revenues in 80% of its top 25 markets. Cinemark owns brands including Century Theatres, Rave Cinemas and Gamescape, a family arcade-entertainment center.