[Tropical] Hurricane Local Statement

[EMWIN Server]

WTUS82 KCHS 261938
HLSCHS

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
HURRICANE IRENE LOCAL STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
338 PM EDT FRI AUG 26 2011

...TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS AFFECTING COASTAL SOUTH CAROLINA...

.NEW INFORMATION...
UPDATED STORM POSITION...COASTAL HAZARDS...AND TORNADOES.

.AREAS AFFECTED...
THIS LOCAL STATEMENT PROVIDES IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND
RECOMMENDED ACTIONS FOR PEOPLE AND MARINE INTERESTS IN SELECT
LOCATIONS AND COASTAL WATER LEGS OF SOUTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA AND
SOUTHEAST GEORGIA.

.WATCHES/WARNINGS...
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING CONTINUES FOR THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...
INLAND BERKELEY...CHARLESTON AND TIDAL BERKELEY.

FOR MARINE INTERESTS...A TROPICAL STORM WARNING CONTINUES FOR
ALL OF THE COASTAL WATERS OF SOUTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA AND
SOUTHEAST GEORGIA...INCLUDING THE CHARLESTON HARBOR.

ALTHOUGH TROPICAL CYCLONE WATCHES OR WARNINGS ARE NOT IN EFFECT
FOR THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...COASTAL BRYAN...COASTAL CHATHAM...
COASTAL LIBERTY...COASTAL MCINTOSH...BEAUFORT...COASTAL COLLETON
AND COASTAL JASPER...POSSIBLE IMPACTS FROM RELATED HAZARDS ARE
STILL A CONCERN.

PLEASE CHECK THE LATEST PUBLIC AND MARINE FORECASTS FOR DETAILED
INFORMATION ABOUT ADDITIONAL HAZARDS.

.STORM INFORMATION...
AT 2 PM EDT...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE IRENE WAS LOCATED NEAR
LATITUDE 31.2N...LONGITUDE 77.5W. THIS WAS ABOUT 180 MILES
SOUTHEAST OF CHARLESTON SC...OR ABOUT 220 MILES EAST-SOUTHEAST OF
SAVANNAH GA. STORM MOTION WAS NORTH AT 14 MPH. STORM INTENSITY
WAS 100 MPH.

.SITUATION OVERVIEW...
IRENE IS A VERY LARGE AND POWERFUL HURRICANE. ALTHOUGH THE TRACK
IS FORECAST TO BE WELL EAST OF THE LOWER SOUTH CAROLINA AND
UPPER GEORGIA COASTS...IMPACTS WILL BE FELT WELL AWAY FROM THE
CENTER. HURRICANE IRENE CONTINUES TO MOVE NORTHWARD AND THIS
MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE
AFTERNOON BEFORE TURNING NORTH-NORTHEAST AND AWAY FROM THE LOWER
SOUTH CAROLINA AND UPPER GEORGIA COASTS TONIGHT. BASED ON THE
LATEST FORECAST TRACK...IRENE WILL MAKE ITS CLOSEST APPROACH TO
CHARLESTON THIS EVENING.

AS OF MID AFTERNOON...THE OUTER RAIN BANDS OF IRENE WERE IMPACTING
LOCATIONS ALONG AND TO THE EAST OF INTERSTATE 95 IN SOUTH CAROLINA
AND THE NORTHERN MOST COASTAL AREAS IN SOUTHEAST GEORGIA. THE
PERIODIC RAIN BANDS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE ACROSS THE ATLANTIC
COASTAL WATERS AND NEARBY LAND AREAS THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE
AFTERNOON AND INTO THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. A FEW WIND GUSTS FROM 40
TO AS HIGH AS 55 MPH HAVE BEEN REPORTED IN SOUTHERN SOUTH CAROLINA
COASTAL LOCATIONS...ALONG WITH DOWNED TREES...POWER LINES...AND
SPORADIC POWER OUTAGES. ACROSS THE ATLANTIC COASTAL
WATERS...SUSTAINED WINDS FROM 25 TO 35 KNOTS WITH GUSTS UP TO 50
KNOTS WERE COMMON.

.PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

DURING THE STORM...STAY INSIDE AND AWAY FROM WINDOWS. DO NOT
VENTURE OUTSIDE WHEN HIGH WINDS ARE OCCURRING OR DURING TEMPORARY
LULLS AS FLYING DEBRIS CAN EASILY...AND SUDDENLY...CAUSE SERIOUS
INJURY.

HAVE A WELL-CHARGED CELL PHONE NEARBY...KEEPING NETWORK
COMMUNICATIONS AS OPEN AS POSSIBLE FOR EMERGENCIES.

CLOSELY MONITOR NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR OTHER LOCAL NEWS OUTLETS
FOR OFFICIAL STORM INFORMATION. LISTEN FOR POSSIBLE CHANGES TO THE
FORECAST.

FOR SMALL CRAFT WHO FAILED TO MAKE IT TO SAFE HARBOR OR PORT...
AND ARE NOW IN DISTRESS...RADIO YOUR SITUATION ACCORDING TO
MARITIME PROTOCOL. IF APPROPRIATE...DEPLOY YOUR EMERGENCY DISTRESS
BEACON. ENSURE THAT EVERYONE IS WEARING LIFE JACKETS... AND
SURVIVAL SUITS IF AVAILABLE.

&&

.NEXT UPDATE...
THE NEXT LOCAL STATEMENT WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE IN CHARLESTON AROUND 630 PM...OR SOONER IF CONDITIONS
WARRANT.

SCZ045-050-052-262300-
/O.CON.KCHS.TR.W.1009.000000T0000Z-000000T0000Z/
INLAND BERKELEY-CHARLESTON-TIDAL BERKELEY-
338 PM EDT FRI AUG 26 2011

...TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT...

...WINDS...
WINDS IN RAIN BANDS ARE EXPECTED TO BE FROM 25 TO 35 MPH WITH
POSSIBLE GUSTS UP TO 55 MPH. OUTSIDE OF RAIN BANDS...WINDS WILL BE
CONSIDERABLY LOWER. THE WINDS IN RAIN BANDS COULD KNOCK DOWN POWER
LINES...TREES AND LIMBS AND PRODUCE MINOR DAMAGE TO OLDER MOBILE
HOMES. ISOLATED POWER OUTAGES WILL BE POSSIBLE.

MINOR DAMAGE MAY OCCUR TO OLDER MOBILE HOMES. RESIDENTS SHOULD
MOVE LOOSE ITEMS INDOORS...SUCH AS GARBAGE CANS AND OUTDOOR
FURNITURE...AS THEY WILL BE BLOWN AROUND. NEWLY PLANTED OR YOUNG
TREES AND SHRUBS MAY BE UPROOTED IF NOT SECURED PROPERLY. ISOLATED
POWER OUTAGES WILL BE POSSIBLE.

...STORM SURGE AND STORM TIDE...
STORM TIDE IMPACTS ARE RUNNING 1 TO 2 FEET ABOVE NORMAL. THE
COMBINATION OF VERY HIGH SURF AND HIGH ASTRONOMICAL TIDES WILL
ENHANCE THE RISK FOR SIGNIFICANT COASTAL FLOODING...ESPECIALLY
AROUND TIMES OF HIGH TIDE LATE THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH SATURDAY
MORNING. HIGH TIDE WILL OCCUR IN THE CHARLESTON HARBOR AROUND 637
PM THIS AFTERNOON AND 651 AM SATURDAY MORNING. THE RISK FOR
FLOODING WILL BE ESPECIALLY HIGH IN THE DOWNTOWN CHARLESTON AREA.

...INLAND FLOODING...
GENERAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 2 INCHES ARE EXPECTED WITH
ISOLATED AMOUNTS OF 3 TO 4 INCHES POSSIBLE IN NORTHEAST PORTIONS.
ALTHOUGH THE RISK FOR FLASH FLOODING IS LOW AT THIS TIME...IF
HEAVY RAINS FALL AROUND TIMES OF HIGH TIDE THE RISK FOR FLASH
FLOODING WILL INCREASE...ESPECIALLY IN THE DOWNTOWN CHARLESTON
AREA.

...TORNADOES...
THERE IS A SMALL POSSIBILITY FOR AN ISOLATED TORNADO THROUGH THIS
EVENING.

...COASTAL HAZARDS...
REPORTS FROM THE BEACHES AS WELL AS OFFSHORE BUOYS INDICATE SEAS
CONTINUE TO STEADILY BUILD AT THE BEACHES OF SOUTH COASTAL SOUTH
CAROLINA AND NORTH COASTAL GEORGIA. THESE BUILDING SEAS ALONG WITH
INCREASING ASTRONOMICAL TIDES WILL PRODUCE A HIGH RISK FOR
DANGEROUS RIP CURRENTS AND THE POTENTIAL FOR MODERATE TO MAJOR BEACH
EROSION. BREAKING WAVES IN SURF ZONES ARE EXPECTED TO REACH 7 TO
10 FEET. THESE WAVES WILL CREATE VERY DANGEROUS CONDITIONS IN THE
SURF ZONE AND PEOPLE ARE URGED TO REMAIN OUT OF THE WATER THROUGH
AT LEAST SATURDAY.

$$

AMZ330-262300-
/O.CON.KCHS.TR.W.1009.000000T0000Z-000000T0000Z/
CHARLESTON HARBOR-
338 PM EDT FRI AUG 26 2011

...TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT...

...WINDS AND SEAS...
MAINLY IN RAIN BANDS...WINDS ARE FORECAST TO BE IN THE 25 TO 35
KNOT RANGE WITH GUSTS TO 50 KNOTS THROUGH TONIGHT. OUTSIDE OF
RAIN BANDS THE WINDS WILL BE LOWER. WAVES WILL AVERAGE 2 TO 4
FEET WITH EXTREMELY ROUGH CONDITIONS EXPECTED NEAR THE HARBOR
ENTRANCE. SMALL CRAFT SHOULD REMAIN IN PORT.

...TORNADOES AND WATERSPOUTS...
THERE IS A SMALL POSSIBILITY FOR AN ISOLATED TORNADO THROUGH THIS
EVENING.

$$

AMZ350-374-262300-
/O.CON.KCHS.TR.W.1009.000000T0000Z-000000T0000Z/
WATERS FROM SOUTH SANTEE RIVER TO EDISTO BEACH SC OUT 20 NM-
WATERS FROM SAVANNAH GA TO ALTAMAHA SOUND GA EXTENDING FROM 20 TO
60 NM-
338 PM EDT FRI AUG 26 2011

...TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT...

...WINDS AND SEAS...
SUSTAINED WINDS OF 30 TO 40 KNOTS WITH GUSTS TO 55 KNOTS WILL
CONTINUE THROUGH TONIGHT. SEAS WILL PEAK BETWEEN 15 AND 20 FEET
ACROSS THE NEAR SHORE WATERS OF CHARLESTON COUNTY AND 15 TO 22
FEET OVER THE GEORGIA OFFSHORE WATERS. SMALL CRAFT SHOULD REMAIN
IN PORT.

...TORNADOES AND WATERSPOUTS...
THERE IS A SMALL POSSIBILITY FOR AN ISOLATED TORNADO THROUGH THIS
EVENING.

$$

AMZ352-354-262300-
/O.CON.KCHS.TR.W.1009.000000T0000Z-000000T0000Z/
WATERS FROM EDISTO BEACH SC TO SAVANNAH GA OUT 20 NM-
WATERS FROM SAVANNAH GA TO ALTAMAHA SOUND GA OUT
20 NM...INCLUDING GRAYS REEF NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY-
338 PM EDT FRI AUG 26 2011

...TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT...

...WINDS AND SEAS...
SUSTAINED WINDS OF 20 TO 30 KNOTS WITH GUSTS TO 50 KNOTS WILL
CONTINUE THROUGH THIS EVENING. SEAS WILL PEAK BETWEEN 8 AND 12
FEET.

...TORNADOES AND WATERSPOUTS...
THERE IS A SMALL POSSIBILITY FOR AN ISOLATED TORNADO THROUGH THIS
EVENING.

$$

GAZ117-119-139-141-SCZ048-049-051-262300-
/O.CON.KCHS.HU.S.1009.000000T0000Z-000000T0000Z/
COASTAL BRYAN-COASTAL CHATHAM-COASTAL LIBERTY-COASTAL MCINTOSH-
BEAUFORT-COASTAL COLLETON-COASTAL JASPER-
338 PM EDT FRI AUG 26 2011

...DANGEROUS SURF IMPACTING AREA BEACHES...

...STORM SURGE AND STORM TIDE...
THE IMPACT EXPECTED FROM THE COMBINED STORM SURGE AND TIDES
ACROSS SOUTH COASTAL SOUTH CAROLINA AND NORTH COASTAL GEORGIA IS
EXPECTED TO BE LOW. THE COMBINATION OF VERY HIGH SURF AND HIGH
ASTRONOMICAL TIDES WILL ENHANCE THE RISK FOR COASTAL FLOODING
HOWEVER...ESPECIALLY AROUND TIMES OF HIGH TIDE LATE THIS
AFTERNOON THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING. HIGH TIDE WILL OCCUR IN THE
SAVANNAH RIVER ENTRANCE AROUND 635 PM THIS EVENING AND 726 AM
SATURDAY MORNING. THE RISK FOR FLOODING WILL BE ESPECIALLY HIGH IN
THE AREA BETWEEN TYBEE ISLAND AND WILMINGTON ISLAND...INCLUDING
PARTS OF HIGHWAY 80. A COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT THIS
EVENING.

...COASTAL HAZARDS...
REPORTS FROM THE BEACHES AS WELL AS OFFSHORE BUOYS INDICATE SEAS
CONTINUE TO STEADILY BUILD ACROSS THE BEACHES OF SOUTH COASTAL
SOUTH CAROLINA AND NORTH COASTAL GEORGIA. THESE BUILDING SEAS
ALONG WITH INCREASING ASTRONOMICAL TIDES WILL PRODUCE A HIGH RISK
FOR DANGEROUS RIP CURRENTS AND MODERATE TO MAJOR BEACH EROSION.
BREAKING WAVES IN SURF ZONES ARE EXPECTED TO REACH 6 TO 8 FEET
ALONG THE NORTH GEORGIA COAST AND 7 TO 10 FEET ALONG THE BEACHES
OF THE LOWER SOUTH CAROLINA COAST. THESE WAVES WILL CREATE VERY
DANGEROUS CONDITIONS IN THE SURF ZONE AND PEOPLE ARE URGED TO
REMAIN OUT OF THE WATER THROUGH AT LEAST SATURDAY.

$$




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