####018009123#### WTUS82 KCHS 292134 HLSCHS GAZ087-088-099>101-114>119-137>141-SCZ040-042>045-047>052-300545- Hurricane Idalia Local Statement Advisory Number 13 National Weather Service Charleston SC AL102023 534 PM EDT Tue Aug 29 2023 This product covers southeast South Carolina and southeast Georgia **IDALIA CONTINUES TO STRENGTHEN IN THE EASTERN GULF OF MEXICO** NEW INFORMATION --------------- * CHANGES TO WATCHES AND WARNINGS: - A Tropical Storm Warning has been issued for Allendale, Jenkins, and Screven - A Hurricane Watch has been issued for Beaufort, Coastal Bryan, Coastal Chatham, Coastal Colleton, Coastal Jasper, Coastal Liberty, Coastal McIntosh, Inland Bryan, Inland Chatham, Inland Jasper, Inland Liberty, Inland McIntosh, and Long * CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS: - A Tropical Storm Warning, Storm Surge Watch, and Hurricane Watch are in effect for Beaufort, Coastal Bryan, Coastal Chatham, Coastal Colleton, Coastal Jasper, Coastal Liberty, and Coastal McIntosh - A Tropical Storm Warning and Hurricane Watch are in effect for Inland Bryan, Inland Chatham, Inland Jasper, Inland Liberty, Inland McIntosh, and Long - A Tropical Storm Warning and Storm Surge Watch are in effect for Charleston - A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Allendale, Bulloch, Candler, Dorchester, Effingham, Evans, Hampton, Inland Berkeley, Inland Colleton, Jenkins, Screven, Tattnall, and Tidal Berkeley * STORM INFORMATION: - About 540 miles south-southwest of Charleston SC or about 470 miles south-southwest of Savannah GA - 26.1N 84.8W - Storm Intensity 100 mph - Movement North or 360 degrees at 16 mph SITUATION OVERVIEW ------------------ Hurricane Idalia continues to track northward across the eastern Gulf of Mexico while strengthening. Idalia is still forecast to make landfall as a major hurricane in the Big Bend region of Florida Wednesday morning. After making landfall, Idalia is forecast to track just inland through southeast Georgia and southeast South Carolina Wednesday evening through early Thursday morning. Local impacts from Idalia will begin as early as Wednesday morning as heavy rainfall begins to overspread southeast Georgia and southeast South Carolina from southwest to northeast. Heavy rainfall is expected to continue through Wednesday night across the region with 1 to 3 inches of rain forecast along the coast and 4 to 8 inches forecast for inland locations. Tropical Storm force winds are expected to develop across southeast Georgia late Wednesday morning, especially along the coast, with conditions deteriorating Wednesday afternoon and into Wednesday night as Tropical Storm force winds spread up the coast and into portions of southeast South Carolina. Tornadoes will be possible across the area Wednesday afternoon and Wednesday night, particularly along the coast, and waterspouts will be possible across the adjacent Atlantic coastal waters. Finally, there is the potential for storm surge Wednesday evening through early Thursday morning along the southeast Georgia and southeast South Carolina coasts, where inundation up to 4 feet above ground level is possible. POTENTIAL IMPACTS ----------------- * FLOODING RAIN: Protect against life-threatening rainfall flooding having possible extensive impacts across southeast Georgia and southeast South Carolina, especially inland of the coast. Potential impacts include: - Major rainfall flooding could prompt many rescues. - Rivers and tributaries could rapidly overflow their banks in multiple locations. Small streams, creeks, canals, ditches may become dangerous rivers. Flood control systems and barriers could become stressed. - Flood waters could enter many structures within multiple communities; some structures become uninhabitable or are washed away. Flood waters could cover multiple escape routes. Streets and parking lots become rivers of moving water with underpasses submerged. Driving conditions become dangerous. Many road and bridge closures with some weakened or washed out. - Drinking water and sewer services could be negatively impacted. - Hazardous containers and materials could possibly be present in flood waters. * SURGE: Protect against life-threatening surge having possible significant impacts across coastal areas of southeast Georgia and southeast South Carolina. Potential impacts in this area include: - Areas of inundation of saltwater along immediate shorelines and in low-lying spots farther inland near rivers and creeks, with storm surge flooding accentuated by waves. Damage to several buildings, mainly near the coast. - Sections of near-shore escape routes and secondary roads become weakened or washed out, especially in normally vulnerable low spots. - Moderate to major beach erosion with heavy surf breaching dunes. Strong and numerous rip currents. - Minor to moderate damage to marinas, docks, boardwalks, and piers. Several small craft broken away from moorings, especially in unprotected anchorages. Some navigation aids possibly displaced well off station, creating difficult navigation near inlets and waterways. * WIND: Protect against dangerous wind having possible significant impacts across southeast Georgia and southeast South Carolina. Potential impacts in this area include: - Some damage to roofing and siding materials, along with damage to porches, awnings, carports, and sheds. A few buildings experiencing window, door, and garage door failures. Mobile homes damaged, especially if unanchored. Unsecured lightweight objects become dangerous projectiles. - Several large trees snapped or uprooted, but with greater numbers in places where trees are shallow rooted. - Some roads impassable from large debris, and more within urban or heavily wooded places. A few bridges and access routes impassable. - Travel by vehicle or on foot increasingly difficult. Danger of death or injury from falling objects such as trees or electric wires outside. - Scattered power and communications outages, but more prevalent in areas with above ground lines, which could persist for hours or days. - Some poorly secured small craft could break loose from their moorings. * TORNADOES: Protect against a dangerous tornado event having possible significant impacts across southeast Georgia and southeast South Carolina, especially closer to the coast. Potential impacts include: - Isolated to scattered tornadoes can hinder the execution of emergency plans. - Scattered locations could experience enhanced damage due to tornadoes with a few spots of considerable damage, power loss, and communications failures. - Scattered locations could realize roofs torn off frame houses, mobile homes demolished, boxcars overturned, large trees snapped or uprooted, vehicles tumbled, and small boats tossed about. * OTHER COASTAL HAZARDS: Prepare for additional coastal hazards along the entire southeast Georgia and southeast South Carolina coastline including dangerous rip currents, high surf, and beach erosion. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS ---------------------------------- * EVACUATIONS: Listen to local official for recommended preparedness actions, including possible evacuation. If ordered to evacuate, do so immediately. * OTHER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION: Now is the time to complete all preparations to protect life and property in accordance with your emergency plan. Ensure you are in a safe location before the onset of strong winds or possible flooding. When making safety and preparedness decisions, do not focus on the exact forecast track since hazards such as flooding rain, damaging wind gusts, storm surge, and tornadoes extend well away from the center of the storm. Closely monitor weather.gov, NOAA Weather radio or local news outlets for official storm information. Be ready to adapt to possible changes to the forecast. Ensure you have multiple ways to receive weather warnings. * ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION: - For information on appropriate preparations see ready.gov - For information on creating an emergency plan see getagameplan.org - For additional disaster preparedness information see redcross.org NEXT UPDATE ----------- The next local statement will be issued by the National Weather Service in Charleston SC around 12 AM EDT, or sooner if conditions warrant. $$