[Tropical] Hurricane Local Statement

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WTUS82 KCHS 290338
HLSCHS
GAZ100-101-114>119-137>141-SCZ045-047>052-291145-

Tropical Storm Idalia Local Statement Advisory Number 10
National Weather Service Charleston SC  AL102023
1138 PM EDT Mon Aug 28 2023

This product covers southeast South Carolina and southeast Georgia

**IDALIA EXPECTED TO IMPACT THE REGION WEDNESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY
MORNING**

NEW INFORMATION
---------------

* CHANGES TO WATCHES AND WARNINGS:
    - A Tropical Storm Watch has been issued for Bulloch, Evans, and
      Tattnall

* CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS:
    - A Storm Surge Watch and Tropical Storm Watch are in effect for
      Beaufort, Charleston, Coastal Bryan, Coastal Chatham, Coastal
      Colleton, Coastal Jasper, Coastal Liberty, and Coastal McIntosh
    - A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for Bulloch, Effingham,
      Evans, Inland Berkeley, Inland Bryan, Inland Chatham, Inland
      Jasper, Inland Liberty, Inland McIntosh, Long, Tattnall, and
      Tidal Berkeley

* STORM INFORMATION:
    - About 800 miles south-southwest of Charleston SC or about 730
      miles south-southwest of Savannah GA
    - 22.0N 85.0W
    - Storm Intensity 70 mph
    - Movement North or 10 degrees at 8 mph

SITUATION OVERVIEW
------------------

Tropical Storm Idalia is forecast to track northward across the
eastern Gulf of Mexico while strengthening to a Hurricane on Tuesday.
Idalia is then forecast to make landfall as a major hurricane in the
Big Bend region of Florida Wednesday morning. After making landfall,
Idalia is eventually expected to track along the southeast Georgia and
southeast South Carolina coastline Wednesday night 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 will then
continue through Wednesday night across the region with 4 to 8 inches
of rainfall forecast. Tropical Storm force winds are expected to occur
across the southeast Georgia coast on Wednesday morning 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:
Prepare for life-threatening rainfall flooding having possible
extensive impacts across southeast South Carolina and southeast
Georgia. 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:
Prepare for 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:
Prepare for life-threatening wind having possible extensive impacts
across southeast Georgia and southeast South Carolina, especially along
and near the coast. Potential impacts in this area include:
    - Considerable roof damage to sturdy buildings, with some window,
      door, and garage door failures leading to structural damage.
      Mobile homes severely damaged, with some destroyed. Damage
      accentuated by airborne projectiles. Some locations may be
      uninhabitable for weeks.
    - Danger of death or injury from falling objects and airborne
      projectiles outside.
    - Large trees snapped or uprooted.
    - Some roads impassable from large debris, and more within urban
      or heavily wooded locations. Several bridges and access routes
      impassable.
    - Large areas with power and communications outages, which could
      persist for days.
    - Several secured small craft could break free from moorings.

* TORNADOES:
Prepare for a dangerous tornado event having possible significant
impacts across coastal southeast Georgia and southeast South Carolina.
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 check your emergency plan and emergency supplies
kit and take necessary actions to protect your family and secure your
home or business.

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.

* 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 6 AM EDT, or sooner if conditions
warrant.

$$
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