The Top Choice for Hardwood, Carpet, and Tile Flooring in Seabrook Island

UPDATE 8:33 AM — All tornado warnings have expired.

__

UPDATE 8:23 AM — A tornado warning for Georgetown County is in effect until 8:45 a.m.

A severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located at 8:14 a.m. near DeBordieu Colony, moving north at 55 mph.

__

UPDATE 8:09 AM — A tornado warning for Georgetown County has been extended through 8:30 a.m.

A severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located at 7:37 near Santee Coastal Reserve, moving north at 60 mph.

Warnings in Berkeley and Charleston counties have been canceled.

__

UPDATE 7:27 AM — Portions of Berkeley and Charleston counties are under a tornado warning until 8 a.m.

A severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located 9 miles northwest of McClellanville at 7:25 a.m., moving north at 35 mph.

Locations impacted include Newland and Shulerville.

Western Georgetown and southeastern Williamsburg County are also under a tornado warning until 8 a.m.

VIPIR radar indicated a possible tornado near Lambert, which is about 14 miles north of McClellanville.

__

UPDATE 7:02 AM — A tornado warning was issued for northeastern Georgetown County and eastern Williamsburg County until 7:30 a.m.

A severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located near Plantersville, or 8 miles northwest of Pawleys Island at 6:58 a.m. It is moving north at 60 mph.

__

UPDATE 6:37 AM — A tornado warning is in effect for Georgetown County until 7 a.m.

A severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located near Winyah Bay Entrance at 6:34 a.m., moving north at 60 mph.

__

UPDATE 6:18 AM — A tornado warning is in effect for Berkeley and Charleston counties until 6:45 a.m.

A severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located near Isle of Palms at 6:16 a.m. It is moving north at 60 mph.

Locations impacted include Mount Pleasant, Isle Of Palms, Sullivan’s Island, Awendaw, Mount Pleasant Regional Airport, Boone Hall Plantation, Cainhoy, Wando, Mount Pleasant Towne Centre and Sullivans Island.

__

UPDATE 6:13 AM — A flash flood warning is in effect for Berkeley and Charleston counties until 11:45 a.m. heavy rain enters the area.

Pockets of heavy rain coupled with ongoing high tide will produce an increased risk of flash flooding around the Charleston metropolitan area, according to the National Weather Service.

Impacts are expected to be greatest in downtown Charleston, but Folly Beach, James Island, West Ashley, North Charleston, and Mount Pleasant could also see significant flooding.

Forecasts said up to 2 inches per hour is possible through the mid to late morning.

__

UPDATE 5:59 AM — A tornado warning is in effect for southwestern Georgetown County and southeastern Williamsburg County until 6:30 a.m.

A severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located over Hampton Plantation State Park at 5:54 a.m., moving north at 60 mph.

Locations impacted include Sampit, Andrews, and Warsaw.

__

UPDATE 5:51 AM — Tornado warnings are in effect for portions of Berkeley and Charleston counties.

A severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located over McClellanville at 5:47 a.m., moving north at 60 mph. The warning is in effect until 6:15 a.m.

Another storm capable of producing a tornado was located 6 miles north of Sangaree at 5:50 a.m., moving north at 60 mph. The warning is in effect until 6:30 a.m.

__

UPDATE 5:37 AM — The tornado warning for Charleston County has been canceled.

__

UPDATE 5:32 AM — The tornado warning has expired in Berkeley and Dorchester counties.

__

UPDATE 5:20 AM — A severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located near Seabrook Island at 5:18 a.m., moving north at 55 mph.

A tornado warning is in effect until 5:45 a.m.

Locations impacted include Johns Island, West Ashley, Hollywood, Ravenel, Seabrook Island, Kiawah Island, Meggett, Wadmalaw Island, Angel Oak Park and Rantowles.

__

UPDATE 5:09 AM — A tornado warning has been issued for portions of Berkeley and Dorchester counties until 6 a.m.

A severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located at 5:08 a.m. near Ridgeville, moving north at 70 mph.

Locations impacted include Summerville, Dorchester, Ridgeville, Harleyville, Jedburg, Pringletown, Francis Beidler Forest, Spring Hill, Sandridge and Ebenezer.

__

UPDATE 5:00 AM — Helene has weakened to a tropical storm as it moves inland over Georgia, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Maximum sustained winds are 70 mph with higher gusts. Continued weakening is expected.

The storm is moving north at around 30 mph. It is expected to turn toward the north Friday morning with the center moving over central and northeastern Georgia.

It is then expected to turn northwestward and slow down over the Tennessee Valley on Friday afternoon and Saturday.

A tropical storm warning remains in effect across the Lowcountry.

__

UPDATE 4:56 AM — A tornado warning has been issued for Charleston County near Capers Inlet until 5:30 a.m.

A severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located at 4:53 a.m., moving north at 70 mph.

Impacted locations include Mount Pleasant, Isle Of Palms, Awendaw, Capers Inlet, Garris Landing, Mount Pleasant Regional Airport, Price Inlet, and Whitehall.

The tornado warning for Dorchester County was also extended until 5:30 a.m.

Colleton County Fire-Rescue has reported numerous downed trees on roadways.

__

UPDATE 4:39 AM — A tornado warning has been issued for lower Charleston County near Rockville until 5 a.m.

A severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located at 4:36 a.m., moving north at 75 mph.

Locations impacted include Edisto Beach, Johns Island, Hollywood, Ravenel, Seabrook Island, Meggett, Rockville, Bears Bluff, Yonges Island and Adams Run.

__

UPDATE 4:32 AM — Parts of Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester counties are under a tornado warning until 5:15 a.m.

A severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located near Summerville at 4:30 a.m., moving north at 60 mph.

Locations impacted include North Charleston, Summerville, Ladson, Ridgeville, Jedburg, Knightsville, Sangaree, Lincolnville, New Hope and Lotts Crossroads.

__

UPDATE 4:30 AM — The tornado warning for Charleston County has expired.

__

UPDATE 4:12 AM — The tornado warning for Colleton County has been canceled.

__

UPDATE 4:03 AM — A severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located over Seabrook Island at 4 a.m., moving north at 65 mph.

A warning is in effect until 4:30 a.m.

Locations impacted include Johns Island, Hollywood, Ravenel, Seabrook Island, Kiawah Island, Meggett, Rockville, Yonges Island, Bears Bluff, and Wadmalaw Island.

__

UPDATE 3:45 AM — A severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located 7 miles southeast of Kiawah Island at 3:42 a.m., moving north at 70 mph.

A tornado warning is in effect for portions of Charleston County until 4:30 a.m.

Locations impacted include North Charleston, Johns Island, West Ashley, James Island, Hollywood, Folly Beach, Ravenel, Kiawah Island, Meggett, and Maybank Bridge.

The warning area includes I-526 between mile markers 11 and 15 and near mile marker 17.

Portions of Colleton County are also under a tornado warning until 4:15 a.m.

Locations impacted include Walterboro, Round O, Ritter, Canadys, Green Pond, Ashepoo, Thayer, Lowcountry Regional Airport, Drawdy, Colleton Medical Center, and I-95 in South Carolina between mile markers 55 and 69.

A severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located near Ashepoo, moving north at 65 mph at 3:48 a.m.

__

UPDATE 3:27 AM — A severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located at 3:19 a.m. near Fripp Island, moving north at 70 mph.

A tornado warning is in effect for portions of Colleton County until 4 a.m.

Locations impacted include Bennetts Point, Ashepoo, Green Pond, Fripp Island, White Hall, Wiggins, Chisolm Point, Coosaw Island, Sams Point, and Eddings Point.

__

UPDATE 2:55 AM — A severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located over Edisto Beach at 2:53 a.m., moving north at 65 mph.

A tornado warning is in effect for portions of Charleston and Colleton counties until 3:30 a.m.

Locations impacted include Edisto Beach, Meggett, Adams Run, Edisto Island, Jacksonboro, Fenwick, Parkers Ferry, and Edisto Beach State Park.

__

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD)- Hurricane Helene will continue to bring pockets of heavy rain, gusty winds, and a tornado threat to the Lowcountry through Friday morning as it tracks across the southeastern U.S.

Helene made landfall as a powerful Category 4 storm in Florida’s Big Bend region around 11:10 p.m. on Thursday, according to the National Hurricane Center.

It had maximum stained winds of 140 mph and was moving north-northeast at 24 mph.

Forecasters said the storm is expected to turn toward the north overnight, taking the center over Georgia. It is then expected to turn northwestward and slow down as it moves over the Tennessee Valley into Saturday.

A tropical storm warning is in effect across the Lowcountry. Bands of showers and thunderstorms will continue to roll in off of the Atlantic Ocean over the next several hours and another 1-2″ of rain is possible.

Wind speeds could range from 25-35 mph with gusts to 60 mph throughout the Charleston area into Friday morning.

“[The storm] is going to move into Georgia and once it does it’s going to pull more rain bands our way,” Storm Team 2 Chief Meteorologist Rob Fowler said. “It looks like it’s going to be a very busy overnight for us as we still see some strong thunderstorms and any of these could produce a tornado or what could be a tornado.”

A tornado watch has been extended for much of South Carolina through 8 a.m. Friday.

Flooding has already prompted multiple road closures in downtown Charleston. City leaders implemented the mayor’s flood mitigation plan in anticipation of flooding from heavy rainfall and high tide.

The next high tide will be at 4:36 a.m., according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association.

DOWNLOAD THE STORM TEAM 2 WEATHER APPAPPLE USERS CLICK HERE | ANDROID USERS CLICK HERE

It’s not particularly unusual to find abandoned boats along South Carolina’s coast, but then there’s the one on Bohicket Creek near Seabrook Island — a 120-foot long, welded steel former Navy mine sweeper stuck in seagrass and pluff mud.

Beside it is a 30-foot cabin cruiser, both owned by the same man, authorities say, who has been unreachable for more than the year the boats have been in the creek, not too far from the North Edisto River.

So far, the boats are not leaching chemicals or fuel into the waterway, according to a test done by an agency associated with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The March 2023 tests done at the request of the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources said no contamination was found.

“It could be an ecological disaster. It wouldn’t take much,” said Andrew Wunderley, executive director of Charleston Waterkeeper, a nonprofit founded in 2009 to protect Charleston’s waterways.

The Navy ship was sold by the General Services Administration March 12, 2021 for $81,600, Mary Simms, GSA’s regional public affairs officer said. She said the agency does not reveal buyer’s names.

The Coast Guard has been aware of the vessel being in South Carolina waters since 2021. Lt. Michael Allen said, and it is checked periodically.

He said if contaminants are found the Coast Guard would take emergency remediation.

“The owner has made minimal effort to comply with orders from the Coast Guard and has received fines,” Allen said.

The owner purchased the Navy vessel, then known as 120TR841, from the General Services Administration at a federal auction in March 2021, Allen said.

It was built by Wisconsin-based Marinette Marine in 1986.

Now called HAZAR, the vessel was not allowed by the Coast Guard to be operated because it did not have federal documentation, which is required because the vessel is too large to be issued a Certificate of Number by the state, Allen said.

The owner still has not obtained federal documentation, he said.

The challenge in getting the boats out of the creek is that no federal or state entity has sole legal authority to fully resolve this situation by itself, Allen said.

The Coast Guard has been working closely with representatives from Natural Resources and the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services to figure out what to do.

Laura Renwick of Environmental Services said the Bureau of Coastal Management began tracking the vessel in December 2022. Mail sent to the owner has been returned.

Allen said derelict and abandoned vessels are an issue in nearly all waters of the United States and fall primarily to local governments to handle them. There are so many no one interviewed was willing to hazard a guess.

Renwick said the state launched a pilot program, called Vessel Turn-in Program, this past spring. They received 65 applications from boat owners and is gathering information before holding a turn-in event in late summer or early fall.

“We’ve also contracted with two third-party companies and are working to finalize the details for the transport, processing, and disposal of the vessels,” she said.

Wunderley said most abandoned boats in the Charleston area are sailboats and typically end up ditched along the coast because the owner has run out of money to maintain them or they are at the end of their life span.

Several Charleston area cities, such as Folly Beach and Mount Pleasant, have active programs to tag abandoned boats and get them out of the water.

The challenge is in outlying areas of the watershed where boats are better hidden.

But there’s no hiding a 120-foot Navy ship. It can be seen from Cherry Point Public Boat Landing on Wadmalaw Island and from Seabrook Island.

Allen said the situation can be remedied in a number of ways, including getting the owner to remove it. He could obtain the Certificate of Documentation.

“The Coast Guard has made it clear to the owner on multiple occasions that we would work with them to authorize limited vessel movement, with conditions, to ensure safety, security and environmental stewardship in the Port,” Allen said.

The Coast Guard could remove the environmental contamination, but it must be shown there is an immediate threat of pollution. The remediation would be done on site.

“If it is necessary to move the vessel to safely mitigate a pollution threat, this movement would have to be coordinated with the state,” Allen said. “In short, where do we move the vessel to? This would have to be known and coordinated with the state, a private property owner, or involved shipyard.”

Wunderly said a scrapyard is the best place for the vessel.

“There should be some scrap value to it,” he said.

This story was originally published August 17, 2024, 6:00 AM.

Get one year of unlimited digital access for $159.99

#ReadLocal

Most of South Carolina is now free from drought as late-July rain and Tropical Storm Debby covered much of the state.

The S.C. Drought Response Committee, meeting via conference call Tuesday, downgraded 38 counties to normal conditions due to all the recent rain. Oconee, Anderson, and Pickens counties remain in incipient drought and the drought status was downgraded only one level -- from moderate to incipient -- for Abbeville, McCormick, Edgefield, Greenwood and Laurens counties.

Hope Mizzell and Elliot Wickham, with the S.C. State Climatology Office, presented drought indicators and data showing that Tropical Storm Debby brought the majority of the state between 5 to 10 inches of rain, with some locations reporting 15 to 20 inches. The counties maintained in some level of drought missed the rain, reporting less than 2 inches (See table).

Expand

“Excessive rainfall amounts in most of the state, primarily due to Tropical Storm Debby, have resulted in dramatic increases in streamflow and groundwater levels for the Coastal Plain and a significant part of the Piedmont,” said Scott Harder, hydrologist with the S.C. Department of Environmental Services. “These wet conditions supported the downgrade of the drought status to normal conditions for the entire northeast and southern Drought Management Areas (DMAs), most of the central DMA, and the southern half of the western DMA. However, counties in the upper Savannah basin and a few counties in the central DMA received notably less rainfall, and streamflow conditions have not improved as much compared to the rest of the state. Persistent below-normal flows in the upper Savannah basin have contributed to declining lake levels for Hartwell and Thurmond and has resulted in the Army Corps of Engineers declaring a Stage 1 drought level for the Savannah lakes last week. Therefore, an incipient drought status was retained for Oconee, Anderson and Pickens counties, and the drought status was downgraded only one level from moderate to incipient for Abbeville, McCormick, Edgefield, Greenwood, and Laurens counties.”

John Irwin, Laurens County cattleman and representative from the central Drought Management Area encouraged the committee to only downgrade the drought one level in Laurens and Greenwood, from moderate to incipient, based on lower rainfall totals from Debby and subsoil moisture deficiency. “It is just going to take time with the sporadic showers we are receiving to fully recover,” Irwin said.

The S.C. Forestry Commission (SCFC) has seen below average fire occurrence in recent weeks. Doug Mills, SCFC equipment and fleet manager, reported there are still a few areas that have high Keetch-Byram Drought Index numbers, but the rain and higher relative humidity has reduced fire danger in many areas.

According to Yvonne Kling, Aiken Soil and Water Conservation District chair and a drought committee member representing the western part of the state: “At the beginning of the summer farmers were in a world of hurt due to lack of spring and early summer rainfall. The recent rains some of the state has received has pulled most of us out of drought and greatly improved the grass and hay situation, but it seems it is too late for some crops. It is not a question of too little too late, but too much too late for most. We are grateful for the improved outlook for precipitation as we head to fall and figure out what profits can be made in the future for agriculture.”

Sam Quinney, agricultural outreach director with the S.C. Department of Agriculture (SCDA) said that agricultural producers are feeling the reprieve from the drought status across the state.

“SCDA and other agencies will keep a close eye on the drier conditions on the northwest side of the state and its effects on producers,” Quinney said. “Growers in the Lowcountry and Pee Dee regions are facing excess moisture issues from the heavy rains, including flooding, field and crop damage, and increased mold and disease pressure. As water levels return to a normal status, agricultural producers pray for somewhat normal growing conditions to finish out the 2024 growing season on a positive note. Please continue to pray for growers and the hardships they face this growing season and in the future.”

Drought Response Committee Chairman Ken Rentiers extended his appreciation to all committee members, meeting participants, and the Governor’s Office for their diligence over the past months in monitoring the intensifying drought, providing information, and participating in the committee meetings. The drought may be over for 38 counties, but it is important to recognize that some counties are still very much dealing with drought impacts. The State Climatology Office and the Drought Response Committee will remain vigilant in monitoring conditions and the committee will reconvene Sept. 4.

Debby was downgraded from a tropical storm to a tropical depression on Thursday, Aug. 8, and is heading north, but that doesn't mean it is finished with the Carolinas.

"Debby is expected to produce an additional 3 to 6 inches of rainfall with locally higher amounts, across portions of southeastern North Carolina leading to maximum storm total amounts as high as 15 inches," the National Hurricane Center said in a 5 p.m. briefing. "Additional rainfall of 1 to 3 inches over portions of eastern South Carolina will bring maximum storm total amounts as high as 20 to 25 inches. Considerable flooding is expected across portions of eastern South Carolina and southeast North Carolina through Friday."

From USA TODAY:Tropical Storm Debby pounding North Carolina; death toll rises to 7: Live updates

Rainfall totals so far from Tropical Storm Debby

Here are rainfall totals through Thursday morning in North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia from Debby, as reported by the National Weather Service out of Charleston, South Carolina, and Wilmington, North Carolina.

The NWS notes that observations are collected from a variety of sources with varying equipment and exposures. Not all data listed is considered official.

NORTH CAROLINA

Bladen County

Brunswick County

Columbus County

New Hanover County

Pender County

Robeson County

SOUTH CAROLINA

Allendale County

Beaufort County

Berkeley County

Charleston County

Colleton County

Darlington County

Dillon County

Dorchester County

Florence County

Georgetown County

Horry County

Jasper County

Marion County

Marlboro County

GEORGIA

Bryan County

Bulloch County

Candler County

Chatham County

Effingham County

Evans County

Jenkins County

Liberty County

Long County

McIntosh County

Screven County

Todd Runkle is the Carolinas Connect editor and also a content coach at the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at trunkle@gannett.com.

Debby continues to slam most of South Carolina with extreme rainfall. Gusty winds have been affecting coastal areas, and we've seen several tornadoes hit near our coast. Storm surge has been surprisingly absent so far, but our coastline remains at risk. We'll continue to deal with these impacts for another 48 hours or so as Debby wanders over our coast or just offshore.

This will bring much of the state another 48-72 hours of heavy rainfall, so the extreme rain and flooding remain our primary problem from Debby.

The forecast rainfall above (for this morning through Friday night) comes on top of 48-hour rainfall totals of generally 8-14 inches (through 8 a.m. today) across the Lowcountry, where severe flooding is ongoing. Another 6-12 inches of rainfall will make the flooding much worse. Flash flooding will also be widespread across the Pee Dee region, and major river flooding is likely to occur in the coming days across this region, especially considering the amount of rain that will fall on the land of vinegar sauce that drains into our rivers. Comparisons to October 2015, Matthew, and Florence you'll hear for this area are all valid as we have a historic rain and flooding event underway.

Adjacent areas of the Central Savannah River Area and Midlands also will see extreme rainfall and flooding, along with the Catawba River Area. Less rain, mostly beneficial, will fall over the Upstate, but isolated flash flooding is a concern there.

Storm surge hasn't been much of an issue so far despite gusty onshore winds, and I will entertain no complaints about that. However, it remains a concern for our coastline. A surge of about two feet remains possible across the Lowcountry coastal areas, and a 2-4 foot surge may occur along the Grand Strand Wednesday night into Thursday, assuming Debby follows the forecast track.

Gusty winds have caused damage over parts of South Carolina, and minor wind damage remains a concern. With Debby forecast to track out over the Atlantic and regain some strength before moving ashore again, another period of gusty winds is a threat, mostly for the Grand Strand and further inland over the Pee Dee region Wednesday night into Thursday. The odds of Debby becoming a hurricane before moving back ashore have dropped to near zero, but there is a risk for minor to moderate wind damage.

So far, we have reports of up to six tornadoes in South Carolina from Debby, five in the Lowcountry, and one in Horry County. The actual count of tornadoes won't be known until the National Weather Service surveys the damage and that won't happen until after Debby moves away. The risk for isolated tornadoes continues this afternoon along our coast, especially along the Grand Strand, and a tornado watch is currently in effect.

This watch is in effect until 5 p.m., but we will see more watches issued through the next two days, especially for the Pee Dee region. So, remain alert for more tornado watches and warnings; be ready to take shelter and decide on a place to go in advance because you often don't get much lead time for tornado warnings. You can find more tornado safety information from the National Weather Service.

Flooding, tornadoes, and wind, oh my! Debby is bringing a variety of serious hazards to South Carolina. However, you shouldn't be caught unprepared. If you need help with preparation or advice on what to do during a storm, SCEMD and Ready.gov have you covered.

We continue to track the tropical wave over the Caribbean Sea. It's not causing much thunderstorm activity today, and it's increasingly looking like it will take the low road through Central America and pass nowhere near us. Two other tropical waves are over the middle of the tropical Atlantic and off the West African coastline. While both need to be monitored and could develop in several days, it is far too soon to say whether either will affect South Carolina.

This loop of visible satellite images from midday Tuesday shows Debby over South Carolina and tropical waves over the Caribbean and tropical Atlantic.

Source: University of Wisconsin RealEarth