[Tropical] Hurricane Local Statement

[EMWIN Server]

WTUS82 KCHS 310645
HLSCHS
AMZ330-350-352-354-374-GAZ087-088-099>101-114>119-137>141-SCZ040-
042>045-047>051-311000-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
TROPICAL STORM ERNESTO LOCAL STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
244 AM EDT THU AUG 31 2006

...WINDS INCREASING ALONG THE SOUTH CAROLINA AND GEORGIA COAST...

...NEW INFORMATION...
THE POSITION OF ERNESTO HAS BEEN UPDATED. RECENT WIND REPORTS HAVE
ALSO BEEN INCLUDED.

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

...WATCHES/WARNINGS...
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM ALTAMAHA SOUND TO
THE SOUTH SANTEE RIVER ENTRANCE. THIS INCLUDES CHATHAM...BRYAN...
LIBERTY AND MCINTOSH COUNTIES IN SOUTHEAST GEORGIA...AND
CHARLESTON...COLLETON...BEAUFORT AND JASPER COUNTIES IN SOUTH
CAROLINA...INCLUDING THE ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS. A TROPICAL STORM
WARNING MEANS TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED WITHIN 24 HOURS.

AN INLAND TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR DORCHESTER
AND BERKELEY COUNTIES IN SOUTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA UNTIL 11 PM
THURSDAY.

A FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR CHARLESTON...BERKELEY AND
DORCHESTER COUNTY FOR THURSDAY AND THURSDAY NIGHT.

...STORM INFORMATION...
AT 2 AM EDT...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM ERNESTO WAS LOCATED NEAR
LATITUDE 29.4 NORTH...LONGITUDE 80.4 WEST...OR ABOUT 235 MILES SOUTH
SOUTHWEST OF CHARLESTON. THIS IS ABOUT 185 MILES SOUTH SOUTHEAST OF
SAVANNAH.

ERNESTO IS MOVING TO THE NORTH NEAR 15 MPH...AND A GRADUAL TURN TO
THE NORTH NORTHEAST IS EXPECTED TODAY WITH AN INCREASE IN SPEED.
ERNESTO WILL REMAIN OVER THE ATLANTIC FOR MUCH OF THE DAY AND IS
EXPECTED TO APPROACH THE GEORGETOWN COUNTY COAST THIS EVENING...
PASSING JUST EAST OF DOWNTOWN CHARLESTON THIS AFTERNOON. ON THIS
TRACK...ERNESTO WILL PASS VERY CLOSE TO OR OVER CAPE ROMAIN BY THE
LATE AFTERNOON HOURS. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 40 MPH.
ADDITIONAL STRENGTHENING IS LIKELY BEFORE LANDFALL.

...PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
PREPARATIONS FOR TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS SHOULD BE RUSHED TO
COMPLETION THIS MORNING.

OFFICIALS IN CHARLESTON AND COLLETON COUNTY HAVE ISSUED A VOLUNTARY
EVACUATION FOR ALL PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN VULNERABLE AREAS SUCH AS THE
BEACHES...BARRIER ISLANDS...MOBILE HOMES OR IN LOW LYING AREAS THAT
ARE SUBJECT TO FLOODING. YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO RELOCATE TO A SAFE
LOCATION. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT THE CHARLESTON COUNTY
CITIZEN INFORMATION HOTLINE AT 843-202-7100...OR THE SPANISH HOTLINE
AT 843-202-7191. FOR INFORMATION IN COLLETON COUNTY CALL
843-549-5632.

THE CHARLESTON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WILL CEASE ALL AIRCRAFT
OPERATIONS AT 9 AM EDT THURSDAY. THE AIRPORT TERMINAL WILL CLOSE AT
11 AM EDT THURSDAY.

THE COAST GUARD HAS SET PORT CONDITION YANKEE FOR THE CHARLESTON
HARBOR. PORT CONDITION YANKEE RESTRICTS VESSEL MOVEMENT INBOUND AND
OUTBOUND IN THE HARBOR. THERE ARE CURRENTLY NO PLANS TO UPGRADE TO
CONDITION ZULU AT THIS TIME.

FOR SCHOOL CLOSURE INFORMATION...PLEASE CONTACT YOUR LOCAL SCHOOL
DISTRICT.

...STORM SURGE AND STORM TIDE...
ERNESTO IS EXPECTED TO APPROACH THE CHARLESTON COUNTY COAST DURING
THE MID OR LATE AFTERNOON HOURS...WHICH IS NEAR OR SHORTLY AFTER THE
HIGH TIDE. A STORM SURGE OF 1 TO 3 FEET IS CURRENTLY EXPECTED FROM
NEAR EDISTO BEACH NORTHWARD ALONG THE CHARLESTON COUNTY COAST...
WHICH WILL CAUSE MODERATE COASTAL FLOODING OF THE BARRIER ISLANDS
AND AREAS IN THE CHARLESTON HARBOR. THIS WILL YIELD STORM TIDES OF 7
TO 9 FEET. AT THIS TIME...THE HIGHEST SURGE POTENTIAL WILL REMAIN
ACROSS NORTHEAST CHARLESTON COUNTY NEAR THE BULLS BAY...CAPE ROMAIN
AND MCCLELLANVILLE AREAS.

FURTHER SOUTH AROUND BEAUFORT AND THE NORTH GEORGIA COAST...WINDS
WILL SHIFT OFFSHORE AS THE CENTER OF ERNESTO PASSES TO THE EAST. AS
A RESULT...STORM SURGE VALUES WILL REMAIN 1 FOOT OR LESS.

...WINDS...
WINDS ARE SLOWLY INCREASING ALONG THE COAST THIS MORNING. REPORTS
FROM FOLLY BEACH...TYBEE ISLAND...AND THE GRAYS REEF BUOY SOUTH OF
SAVANNAH INDICATE WINDS ARE GUSTING UP TO 30 MPH AT TIMES ALONG THE
IMMEDIATE COAST...INCLUDING DOWNTOWN CHARLESTON. WINDS WILL CONTINUE
TO INCREASE TO TROPICAL STORM FORCE ACROSS THE REGION THIS MORNING
AS ERNESTO APPROACHES FROM THE SOUTH.

TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS OF 25 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 45 MPH ARE
EXPECTED ALONG NORTH COASTAL GEORGIA THROUGH EARLY AFTERNOON...THEN
GRADUALLY DIMINISH THIS EVENING AS ERNESTO PASSES EAST OF THE
REGION. FOR SOUTH COASTAL SOUTH CAROLINA...INCLUDING BEAUFORT AND
COASTAL COLLETON COUNTIES...WINDS WILL INCREASE TO 30 TO 40 MPH WITH
OCCASIONAL GUSTS TO 50 MPH TODAY. IN CHARLESTON COUNTY...WINDS OF 40
TO 50 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 60 MPH ARE LIKELY...WITH THE HIGHEST WINDS
BEING CONFINED TO THE COASTAL AREAS NORTH OF KIAWAH ISLAND. SINCE
ERNESTO WILL REMAIN OVER THE ATLANTIC FOR ABOUT 18 TO 20 HOURS
ADDITIONAL STRENGTHENING WILL LIKELY OCCUR AS IT APPROACHES THE
GEORGETOWN COUNTY COAST. WINDS WILL BEGIN TO SUBSIDE ACROSS COASTAL
SOUTH CAROLINA THIS EVENING. IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT ANY
DEVIATION IN THE TRACK OF ERNESTO WILL HAVE SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS ON
EXPECTED CONDITIONS.

MOTORISTS...ESPECIALLY THOSE DRIVING HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES...SHOULD
USE EXTREME CAUTION ON ELEVATED BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES TODAY AS
DRIVING CONDITIONS WILL BECOME HAZARDOUS AT TIMES. BE AWARE THAT
LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS MAY CLOSE BRIDGE ACCESS POINTS AT
ANY TIME WHEN WINDS REACH TROPICAL STORM FORCE.

...INLAND FLOODING...
RAINFALL AMOUNTS WITH THE STORM ARE EXPECTED TO BE 1 TO 3 INCHES IN
SOUTHEAST GEORGIA...WITH 3 TO 5 INCHES IN SOUTHERN SOUTH CAROLINA.
HOWEVER...LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS ARE POSSIBLE...ESPECIALLY OVER
DORCHESTER...BERKELEY AND CHARLESTON COUNTY. A FLOOD WATCH IS IN
EFFECT FOR THE CHARLESTON TRI-COUNTY AREA FOR THURSDAY.

...TORNADOES...
ISOLATED TORNADOES ARE POSSIBLE ALONG THE SOUTH CAROLINA COAST AS
ERNESTO APPROACHES TODAY. THE RISK FOR TORNADOES WILL BE THE
GREATEST EAST OF A BEAUFORT TO MONCKS CORNER LINE. REMEMBER THAT
TORNADOES CAN FORM WITH LITTLE TO NO ADVANCED NOTICE DURING TROPICAL
STORMS. REMAIN ALERT AND BE PREPARED TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY
SHOULD WARNINGS BE ISSUED.

...INLAND WIND IMPACTS...
TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH WITH OCCASIONAL GUSTS TO
50 MPH ARE EXPECTED TO PUSH INLAND ACROSS INTERIOR AREAS OF
SOUTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA FROM THE COAST THURSDAY AS ERNESTO
APPROACHES PASSES JUST EAST OF THE CHARLESTON COUNTY COAST. TROPICAL
STORM FORCE WINDS...WINDS GREATER THAN 39 MPH...ARE EXPECTED TO
OCCUR OVER BERKELEY COUNTY AND THE SOUTHERN PART OF DORCHESTER
COUNTY. THIS INCLUDES THE COMMUNITIES OF SUMMERVILLE...MONCKS CORNER
AND DANIEL ISLAND. IN SOUTHEAST GEORGIA...SUSTAINED TROPICAL STORM
FORCE WINDS ARE NOT EXPECTED WEST OF A SPRINGFIELD TO HINESVILLE TO
LUDOWICI LINE...ALTHOUGH A FEW GUSTS TO 40 MPH COULD OCCUR.

TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING TREE AND
POWERLINE DAMAGE. MINOR DAMAGE TO SOME STRUCTURES ARE ALSO POSSIBLE.
PREPARE NOW FOR POSSIBLE POWER OUTAGES.

MARINERS ON LAKE MOULTRIE CAN EXPECT EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CONDITIONS
TO DEVELOP ON THE LAKE THURSDAY INTO THURSDAY NIGHT AS ERNESTO
CROSSES THE REGION. WINDS AS HIGH AS 30 TO 40 KNOTS ARE EXPECTED.
THE RESULTING LARGE WAVE ACTION FROM THESE WINDS MAY CAUSE DOCK AND
PIER DAMAGE AROUND THE LAKESHORE. LARGE WIND DRIVEN WAVES MAY ALSO
PRODUCE LAKESHORE FLOODING...PARTICULARLY ALONG THE SOUTHERN AND
WESTERN PORTIONS OF THE LAKE.

...RIP CURRENT IMPACTS...
THERE IS A HIGH OF RIP CURRENTS THURSDAY ALONG THE SOUTHEAST GEORGIA
AND SOUTHERN SOUTH CAROLINA COAST. A HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK MEANS
THAT WIND AND OR WAVE CONDITIONS SUPPORT PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS RIP
CURRENTS. RIP CURRENTS ARE LIFE THREATENING TO ANYONE ENTERING THE
SURF. YOU ARE STRONGLY URGED NOT TO GO INTO THE WATER. HEED THE
ADVICE OF LIFEGUARDS AND THE BEACH PATROL. PAY ATTENTION TO FLAGS
AND POSTED SIGNS.

...HIGH SURF/BEACH EROSION IMPACTS...
MODERATE BEACH EROSION IS EXPECTED ALONG THE SOUTH CAROLINA AND
GEORGIA COAST WITH AREAS OF SEVERE EROSION EXPECTED IN CHARLESTON
COUNTY. LOCALIZED SEVERE BEACH EROSION IS ALSO POSSIBLE IN EROSION
PRONE AREAS SUCH AS HUNTING ISLAND AND EDISTO BEACH.

...NEXT UPDATE...
THE NEXT TROPICAL STORM LOCAL STATEMENT WILL BE ISSUED BY THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CHARLESTON AROUND 6 AM...OR SOONER IF
CONDITIONS WARRANT.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON TROPICAL STORM ERNESTO CAN BE FOUND IN
ADVISORIES ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AND SHORT TERM
FORECASTS ISSUED BY THIS OFFICE.

$$

ST

This weather bulletin was brought to you by:
www.nashvilleweather.net