[Tropical] Hurricane Local Statement

[EMWIN Server]

WTUS82 KCHS 102137
HLSCHS
AMZ330-350-352-SCZ043>045-047>051-110400-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
HURRICANE LOCAL STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
537 PM EDT SAT SEP 10 2005

...HURRICANE WATCH IN EFFECT FOR THE SOUTH CAROLINA COAST...

HURRICANE OPHELIA IS EXPECTED TO TURN WEST AND IMPACT THE SOUTH
CAROLINA COAST BEGINNING MONDAY AND CONTINUING INTO TUESDAY.

...AREAS AFFECTED...
THIS STATEMENT RECOMMENDS SPECIFIC ACTIONS BE TAKEN BY RESIDENTS
AND VISITORS OF SOUTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA..INCLUDING THE ADJACENT
COASTAL WATERS.

...WATCHES/WARNINGS...
...HURRICANE WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THE SAVANNAH RIVER NORTH TO THE
SOUTH SANTEE RIVER...

...STORM INFORMATION...
AT 5 PM EDT...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE OPHELIA WAS LOCATED NEAR
LATITUDE 31.8 NORTH...LONGITUDE 76.2 WEST OR ABOUT 230 MILES EAST-
SOUTHEAST OF CHARLESTON SOUTH CAROLINA. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS
WERE NEAR 80 MPH WITH LITTLE CHANGE IN STRENGTH EXPECTED. THE STORM
IS EXPECTED TO TURN WEST AND THEN NORTHWEST AND MOVE TOWARD THE
COAST NEARING THE NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA BORDER TUESDAY MORNING.

...PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
RESIDENTS OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA COAST SHOULD CONTINUE TO MAKE
PREPARATIONS FOR HURRICANE CONDITIONS AND HEED THE ADVICE OF LOCAL
EMERGENCY OFFICIALS. SECURE LOOSE OBJECTS OR BRING THEM INSIDE.

...STORM SURGE FLOOD AND STORM TIDE IMPACTS...
A STORM SURGE OF 2 TO 3 FEET IS POSSIBLE NORTH OF CHARLESTON
MONDAY NIGHT WITH ONLY 1 TO 2 FEET EXPECTED SOUTH OF CHARLESTON.
THIS WILL GIVE ESTIMATED STORM TIDE READINGS AT THE FOLLOWING
LOCATIONS ON EARLY TUESDAY MORNING BETWEEN 200 AM AND 400 AM:

U.S. HIGHWAY 17 BRIDGE AT THE SANTEE 6 TO 7 FEET
BULLS BAY NEAR MCCLELLANVILLE        6 TO 7 FEET
CHARLESTON HARBOR                    6 TO 7 FEET
FRIPP INLET BRIDGE                   6 TO 7 FEET

...WIND IMPACTS...
TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS WILL APPROACH THE COAST LATE MONDAY AND
THEN IMPACT THE COAST ON MONDAY NIGHT AND TUESDAY MORNING. IF THE
TRACK OF OPHELIA SHIFTS FURTHER SOUTH...HURRICANE FORCE WINDS
MAY BE POSSIBLE.

...FLOOD IMPACTS...
DUE TO THE DRY AIR IN PLACE ACROSS SOUTH CAROLINA...RAINFALL
AMOUNTS MAY BE LIGHTER THAN MOST HURRICANES. HOWEVER...WHERE THE
STORM MAKES LANDFALL 2 TO 4 INCHES OF RAIN ARE POSSIBLE WITH
LESSER AMOUNTS FURTHER FROM THE STORM CENTER.

...TORNADOES...
ISOLATED TORNADOES ARE POSSIBLE NORTH OF WHERE THE STORM CENTER
MOVES ASHORE. THIS IS MOST LIKELY WELL TO THE NORTH OF CHARLESTON.

...INLAND WIND IMPACTS...
BASED ON THE CURRENT TRACK...INLAND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS ARE
POSSIBLE IN BERKELEY COUNTY. HOWEVER...IF THE TRACK SHIFTS SOUTHWARD
OTHER INLAND COUNTIES MAY EXPERIENCE TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS.

...SEAS AND RIP CURRENTS...
A HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE WEEKEND WITH
EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SURF CONDITIONS EXPECTED MONDAY AND TUESDAY.
SEAS IN THE COASTAL WATERS OFF THE COAST WILL INCREASE TO 12 TO
16 FEET NEAR THE CENTER OF THE STORM MONDAY AND MONDAY NIGHT.

STRONG WINDS OVER THE LAST WEEK ALONG THE COAST HAVE CAUSED SOME
BEACH EROSION ALREADY. THE STRONG WINDS FROM OPHELIA WILL CAUSE
ADDITIONAL EROSION. HOWEVER...SINCE THE WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO
MAINLY BE OFFSHORE...THE BEACH EROSION SHOULD BE MINOR TO MODERATE.

...NEXT UPDATE...
THE NEXT HURRICANE LOCAL STATEMENT WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE IN CHARLESTON AROUND 9 PM.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON OPHELIA CAN BE FOUND IN ADVISORIES ISSUED
BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER...AS WELL AS PUBLIC INFORMATION
STATEMENTS AND SHORT TERM FORECASTS ISSUED BY THIS OFFICE.

$$




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