[Tropical] Hurricane Local Statement

[EMWIN Server]

WTUS82 KCHS 270101
HLSCHS

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

...IRENE TURNS TOWARD THE NORTH-NORTHEAST OFF THE SOUTH CAROLINA
COAST...

.NEW INFORMATION...
UPDATED STORM POSITION...STORM SURGE AND STORM TIDE...COASTAL
HAZARDS AND REMOVED TORNADOES/WATERSPOUTS.

.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 8 PM EDT...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE IRENE WAS LOCATED NEAR
LATITUDE 32.1N...LONGITUDE 77.2W. THIS WAS ABOUT 160 MILES
EAST-SOUTHEAST OF CHARLESTON SC...OR ABOUT 220 MILES EAST OF
SAVANNAH GA. STORM MOTION WAS NORTH-NORTHEAST AT 14 MPH. STORM
INTENSITY WAS 100 MPH.

.SITUATION OVERVIEW...
IRENE REMAINS A VERY LARGE AND POWERFUL HURRICANE. ALTHOUGH THE
HURRICANE IS TRACKING WELL EAST OF THE LOWER SOUTH CAROLINA AND
UPPER GEORGIA COASTS...IMPACTS WILL CONTINUE TO BE FELT WELL AWAY
FROM THE CENTER. HURRICANE IRENE HAS TURNED TOWARD THE NORTH-
NORTHEAST AND THIS MOTION WILL CONTINUE THROUGH EARLY SATURDAY AS
IRENE MOVES AWAY FROM THE LOWER SOUTH CAROLINA AND UPPER GEORGIA
COASTS. BASED ON THE LATEST FORECAST TRACK...IRENE WILL MAKE ITS
CLOSEST APPROACH TO CHARLESTON AROUND MIDNIGHT.

AS OF THIS EVENING...THE OUTER RAIN BANDS OF IRENE WERE IMPACTING
LOCATIONS ACROSS FAR NORTHEASTERN CHARLESTON COUNTY AND FAR
EASTERN BERKELEY COUNTY...AS WELL AS THE ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS
OFF THE SOUTHERN SOUTH CAROLINA COAST. PERIODIC RAIN BANDS ARE
EXPECTED TO CONTINUE ACROSS MAINLY NORTHEAST CHARLESTON AND
BERKELEY COUNTIES AND THE ATLANTIC COASTAL WATERS INTO THE
OVERNIGHT HOURS. A FEW WIND GUSTS FROM 40 TO AS HIGH AS 55 MPH
HAVE BEEN REPORTED ACROSS COASTAL SOUTH CAROLINA SINCE THIS
MORNING...ALONG WITH DOWNED TREES...POWER LINES...AND SPORADIC
POWER OUTAGES. ACROSS THE ATLANTIC COASTAL WATERS...SUSTAINED
WINDS FROM 20 TO 40 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 1230 AM EDT...OR SOONER IF
CONDITIONS WARRANT.

SCZ045-050-052-280115-
/O.CON.KCHS.TR.W.1009.000000T0000Z-000000T0000Z/
INLAND BERKELEY-CHARLESTON-TIDAL BERKELEY-
901 PM EDT FRI AUG 26 2011

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

...COASTAL HAZARDS...
REPORTS FROM THE BEACHES AS WELL AS OFFSHORE BUOYS INDICATE SEAS
HAVE PEAKED AND ARE EXPECTED TO BEGIN SLOWLY SUBSIDING TONIGHT
AND SATURDAY. UNTIL THE SEAS SUBSIDE LATER TONIGHT AND SATURDAY
HOWEVER...AN ELEVATED RISK FOR DANGEROUS RIP CURRENTS AND MODERATE
BEACH EROSION WILL CONTINUE. BREAKING WAVES IN SURF ZONE OF 7 TO
10 FEET ARE EXPECTED TO SLOWLY SUBSIDE TONIGHT AND SATURDAY.
THESE WAVES WILL CREATE VERY DANGEROUS CONDITIONS IN THE SURF
ZONE AND PEOPLE ARE URGED TO REMAIN OUT OF THE WATER UNTIL THE
BREAKER HEIGHT DIMINISHES.

...WINDS...
WINDS IN RAIN BANDS ARE EXPECTED TO RANGE FROM 25 TO 35 MPH WITH
GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH. OUTSIDE OF RAIN BANDS...WINDS WILL BE
CONSIDERABLY LOWER. THE WINDS IN RAIN BANDS COULD KNOCK DOWN
POWER LINES...TREES AND TREE LIMBS. 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 TIDES ARE RUNNING 1 TO 2 FEET ABOVE NORMAL. THE COMBINATION
OF VERY HIGH SURF AND HIGH ASTRONOMICAL TIDES WILL ENHANCE THE
RISK FOR SHALLOW COASTAL FLOODING...ESPECIALLY AROUND THE TIME OF
HIGH TIDE SATURDAY MORNING...WHICH WILL OCCUR IN THE CHARLESTON
HARBOR AROUND 651 AM SATURDAY. THE RISK FOR FLOODING WILL BE HIGHEST IN
THE DOWNTOWN CHARLESTON AREA.

...INLAND FLOODING...
STORM TOTAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 2 INCHES ARE EXPECTED WITH
ISOLATED HIGHER AMOUNTS POSSIBLE. ACROSS FAR NORTHEAST PORTIONS
OF CHARLESTON COUNTY INCLUDING MCCLELLANVILLE...UP TO 4 INCHES OF
RAIN MAY FALL BEFORE TAPERING OFF LATER TONIGHT. THE RISK FOR
FLASH FLOODING IS LOW AT THIS TIME.

$$

AMZ330-280115-
/O.CON.KCHS.TR.W.1009.000000T0000Z-000000T0000Z/
CHARLESTON HARBOR-
901 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 45 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.

$$

AMZ350-352-280115-
/O.CON.KCHS.TR.W.1009.000000T0000Z-000000T0000Z/
WATERS FROM SOUTH SANTEE RIVER TO EDISTO BEACH SC OUT 20 NM-
WATERS FROM EDISTO BEACH SC TO SAVANNAH GA OUT 20 NM-
901 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 50 KNOTS WILL
CONTINUE THROUGH TONIGHT. SEAS WILL DIMINISH FROM AS HIGH AS 15 TO
20 FEET THIS EVENING...TO 10 FEET OR LESS BY DAYBREAK SATURDAY.
SMALL CRAFT SHOULD REMAIN IN PORT.

$$

AMZ354-374-280115-
/O.CON.KCHS.TR.W.1009.000000T0000Z-000000T0000Z/
WATERS FROM SAVANNAH GA TO ALTAMAHA SOUND GA OUT
20 NM...INCLUDING GRAYS REEF NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY-
WATERS FROM SAVANNAH GA TO ALTAMAHA SOUND GA EXTENDING FROM 20 TO
60 NM-
901 PM EDT FRI AUG 26 2011

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

...WINDS AND SEAS...
SUSTAINED WINDS OF 20 TO 35 KNOTS WITH GUSTS AS HIGH AS 45 KNOTS
WILL SLOWLY DIMINISH TONIGHT. THE HIGHEST SEAS WILL REMAIN WELL
OFF THE GEORGIA COAST...WHERE SEAS WILL DIMINISH FROM AS HIGH AS
10 TO 18 FEET THIS EVENING TO 12 FEET OR LESS BY DAYBREAK SATURDAY.
SMALL CRAFT SHOULD REMAIN IN PORT.

$$

SCZ048-049-051-280115-
/O.CON.KCHS.HU.S.1009.000000T0000Z-000000T0000Z/
BEAUFORT-COASTAL COLLETON-COASTAL JASPER-
901 PM EDT FRI AUG 26 2011

...HIGH SURF AND BEACH EROSION CONTINUES AT AREA BEACHES...

...COASTAL HAZARDS...
REPORTS FROM THE BEACHES AS WELL AS OFFSHORE BUOYS INDICATE SEAS
HAVE PEAKED AND ARE EXPECTED TO BEGIN SLOWLY SUBSIDING TONIGHT
AND SATURDAY. UNTIL THE SEAS SUBSIDE LATER TONIGHT AND SATURDAY
HOWEVER...AN ELEVATED RISK FOR DANGEROUS RIP CURRENTS AND MINOR TO
MODERATE BEACH EROSION WILL CONTINUE. BREAKING WAVES IN SURF ZONE
OF 5 TO 7 FEET ARE EXPECTED TO SLOWLY SUBSIDE TONIGHT AND
SATURDAY. THESE WAVES WILL CREATE VERY DANGEROUS CONDITIONS IN THE
SURF ZONE AND PEOPLE ARE URGED TO REMAIN OUT OF THE WATER UNTIL
THE BREAKER HEIGHT DIMINISHES.

...STORM SURGE AND STORM TIDE...
THE IMPACT EXPECTED FROM THE COMBINED STORM SURGE AND TIDES
ACROSS FAR SOUTH COASTAL SOUTH CAROLINA IS EXPECTED TO BE LOW.
THE COMBINATION OF HIGH SURF AND HIGH ASTRONOMICAL TIDES WILL
ENHANCE THE RISK FOR COASTAL FLOODING HOWEVER...ESPECIALLY AROUND
THE TIME OF HIGH TIDE SATURDAY MORNING....WHICH WILL OCCUR ON
THE BEAUFORT RIVER AT BEAUFORT AROUND 809 AM SATURDAY.

$$

GAZ117-119-139-141-280115-
/O.CON.KCHS.HU.S.1009.000000T0000Z-000000T0000Z/
COASTAL BRYAN-COASTAL CHATHAM-COASTAL LIBERTY-COASTAL MCINTOSH-
901 PM EDT FRI AUG 26 2011

...HIGH SURF AND BEACH EROSION CONTINUES AT AREA BEACHES...

...COASTAL HAZARDS...
REPORTS FROM THE BEACHES AS WELL AS OFFSHORE BUOYS INDICATE SEAS
HAVE PEAKED AND ARE EXPECTED TO BEGIN SLOWLY SUBSIDING TONIGHT
AND SATURDAY. UNTIL THE SEAS SUBSIDE LATER TONIGHT AND SATURDAY
HOWEVER...AN ELEVATED RISK FOR DANGEROUS RIP CURRENTS AND MINOR TO
MODERATE BEACH EROSION WILL CONTINUE. BREAKING WAVES IN SURF ZONE
OF 5 TO 7 FEET ARE EXPECTED TO SLOWLY SUBSIDE TONIGHT AND
SATURDAY. THESE WAVES WILL CREATE DANGEROUS CONDITIONS IN THE SURF
ZONE AND PEOPLE ARE URGED TO REMAIN OUT OF THE WATER UNTIL THE
BREAKER HEIGHT DIMINISHES.

...STORM SURGE AND STORM TIDE...
THE IMPACT EXPECTED FROM THE COMBINED STORM SURGE AND TIDES
ACROSS NORTH COASTAL GEORGIA IS EXPECTED TO BE LOW. THE COMBINATION OF
HIGH SURF AND HIGH ASTRONOMICAL TIDES WILL ENHANCE THE RISK FOR
COASTAL FLOODING HOWEVER...ESPECIALLY AROUND TIME OF HIGH TIDE
SATURDAY MORNING...WHICH WILL OCCUR IN THE SAVANNAH RIVER ENTRANCE
AROUND 726 AM SATURDAY. THE RISK FOR FLOODING WILL BE HIGHEST IN THE
AREA BETWEEN TYBEE ISLAND AND WILMINGTON ISLAND...INCLUDING PARTS
OF HIGHWAY 80.

$$

JAQ




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