[Tropical] Hurricane Local Statement

[EMWIN Server]

WTUS82 KCHS 260101
HLSCHS

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
HURRICANE IRENE LOCAL STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
901 PM EDT THU AUG 25 2011

...IRENE GRADUALLY MOVING AWAY FROM THE NORTHERN BAHAMAS...
...WINDS ARE BEGINNING TO INCREASE ACROSS THE COASTAL WATERS
OF SOUTH COASTAL SOUTH CAROLINA AND NORTH COASTAL GEORGIA...

.NEW INFORMATION...
UPDATED POSITION. ADDED STORM SURGE AND WIND INFORMATION TO
COASTAL AREAS OUTSIDE OF TROPICAL STORM WARNING AREA.

.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 27.7N...LONGITUDE 77.4W. THIS WAS ABOUT 380 MILES
SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF CHARLESTON SC...OR ABOUT 370 MILES SOUTHEAST
OF SAVANNAH GA. THE HURRICANE WAS MOVING NORTH-NORTHWEST AT 14
MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS WERE 115 MPH.

.SITUATION OVERVIEW...
IRENE IS A VERY LARGE HURRICANE. DO NOT FOCUS ON THE EXACT
FORECAST TRACK AS IMPACTS WILL BE FELT WELL AWAY FROM THE CENTER.
HURRICANE IRENE IS EXPECTED TO GRADUALLY TURN NORTH TONIGHT AND
PASS OFFSHORE OF THE LOWER SOUTH CAROLINA AND UPPER GEORGIA COASTS
FRIDAY NIGHT AS A MAJOR HURRICANE. BASED ON THE LATEST FORECAST
TRACK...IRENE WILL MAKE ITS CLOSEST APPROACH TO CHARLESTON EARLY
SATURDAY MORNING.

WINDS OF TROPICAL STORM FORCE...GREATER THAN 39 MPH...WERE ALREADY
BEING OBSERVED OFF THE COAST OF NORTHEAST FLORIDA. THESE WINDS
WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE NORTH TONIGHT AND WILL PUSH INTO THE
TROPICAL STORM WARNING AREA LATE TONIGHT INTO FRIDAY.

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

FOR THOSE UNDER A WARNING...NOW IS THE TIME TO RUSH TO COMPLETION
PREPARATIONS FOR THE PROTECTION OF LIFE AND PROPERTY. EVACUATE IF
DIRECTED TO DO SO BY LOCAL OFFICIALS...OR IF YOUR HOME IS
VULNERABLE TO HIGH WINDS OR FLOODING.

FOR INTERESTS AT PORTS...DOCKS...AND MARINAS...URGENTLY COMPLETE
PRESCRIBED PREPARATIONS ACCORDING TO YOUR EMERGENCY OPERATIONS
PLAN FOR TROPICAL CYCLONES. IF YOU LIVE ON A BOAT...MAKE FINAL
PREPARATIONS FOR SECURING YOUR CRAFT BEFORE LEAVING IT. BE SURE
TO ACCOUNT FOR THE POSSIBLE CLOSURE OF BRIDGES AND CAUSEWAYS.

REGARDING ANY COASTAL WATERS UNDER A WARNING...SMALL CRAFT SHOULD
REMAIN IN PORT AND WELL SECURED.

FOR ADDITIONAL PRECAUTIONARY AND PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION...
PLEASE REFER TO THE DETAILED RECOMMENDATIONS RELATIVE TO YOUR
LOCATION AS FURTHER DESCRIBED BY YOUR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE OFFICE AND LOCAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

&&

.NEXT UPDATE...
THE NEXT LOCAL STATEMENT WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE IN CHARLESTON AROUND 1230 AM FRIDAY...OR SOONER IF
CONDITIONS WARRANT.

SCZ045-050-052-270115-
/O.CON.KCHS.TR.W.1009.000000T0000Z-000000T0000Z/
INLAND BERKELEY-CHARLESTON-TIDAL BERKELEY-
901 PM EDT THU AUG 25 2011

...WINDS...
THE LATEST AREA FORECAST IS FOR MAXIMUM WINDS OF 25 TO 35 MPH
WITH GUSTS TO 45 MPH...EXCEPT 35 TO 45 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 55 MPH
ALONG THE UPPER COAST OF CHARLESTON COUNTY FROM THE ISLE OF PALMS
TO MCCLELLANVILLE. HOWEVER...AS HURRICANE IRENE APPROACHES...
STRONGER WINDS ARE STILL POSSIBLE. CONTINUE TO CLOSELY MONITOR THE
FORECAST FOR ANY SIGNIFICANT CHANGES AND BE READY TO ACT.

...STORM SURGE AND STORM TIDE...
THE IMPACT FROM COMBINED STORM SURGE AND TIDE WATERS IS EXPECTED
TO BE MINIMAL FOR MOST AREAS. HOWEVER...THE COMBINATION OF VERY
HIGH SURF AND HIGH ASTRONOMICAL TIDES WILL ENHANCE THE RISK FOR
SHALLOW COASTAL FLOODING...ESPECIALLY AROUND TIMES OF HIGH TIDE
FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING. HIGH TIDE WILL OCCUR IN
THE CHARLESTON HARBOR AROUND 637 PM FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND 651 AM
SATURDAY MORNING. THE RISK FOR FLOODING WILL BE ESPECIALLY HIGH IN
THE DOWNTOWN CHARLESTON AREA.

...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 AT LEAST MODERATE 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.

$$

AMZ350-374-270115-
/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-
901 PM EDT THU AUG 25 2011

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

...WINDS AND SEAS...
AS HURRICANE IRENE APPROACHES...SUSTAINED TROPICAL STORM FORCE
WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO BEGIN FRIDAY MORNING. MAXIMUM WINDS ARE
FORECAST TO BE IN THE 30 TO 40 KNOTS RANGE WITH GUSTS TO 55 KNOTS.
SEAS WILL PEAK 8 TO 12 FT ACROSS THE NEARSHORE WATERS OF
CHARLESTON COUNTY TO AS HIGH AS 15 TO 20 FT ACROSS THE GEORGIA
OFFSHORE WATERS. SMALL CRAFT SHOULD REMAIN IN PORT.

$$

GAZ117-119-139-141-SCZ048-049-051-270115-
/O.CON.KCHS.HU.S.1009.000000T0000Z-000000T0000Z/
COASTAL BRYAN-COASTAL CHATHAM-COASTAL LIBERTY-COASTAL MCINTOSH-
BEAUFORT-COASTAL COLLETON-COASTAL JASPER-
901 PM EDT THU AUG 25 2011

...DANGEROUS RIP CURRENTS AND BUILDING SURF OCCURRING ALONG THE
BEACHES...

...WINDS...
THE LATEST FORECAST IS FOR MAXIMUM WINDS TO REMAIN BELOW TROPICAL
STORM FORCE. HOWEVER...WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE TO 15 TO 25
MPH LATER TONIGHT AND INTO FRIDAY AS IRENE APPROACHES. AN ISOLATED
GUST AS HIGH AS 35 TO 40 MPH COULD OCCUR IN SQUALLS. A WIND
ADVISORIES MAY EVENTUALLY BE NEEDED.

...STORM SURGE AND STORM TIDE...
THE IMPACT FROM COMBINED STORM SURGE AND TIDE WATERS IS EXPECTED
TO BE MINIMAL FOR MOST AREAS. HOWEVER...THE COMBINATION OF VERY
HIGH SURF AND HIGH ASTRONOMICAL TIDES WILL ENHANCE THE RISK FOR
SHALLOW COASTAL FLOODING...ESPECIALLY AROUND TIMES OF HIGH TIDE
FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING. HIGH TIDE WILL OCCUR IN
THE SAVANNAH RIVER ENTRANCE AROUND 635 PM FRIDAY 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. COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORIES MAY EVENTUALLY BE
NEEDED.

...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 AT LEAST MODERATE BEACH EROSION.
BREAKING WAVES IN SURF ZONES ARE EXPECTED TO REACH 6 TO 8 FEET
ALONG THE NORTH GEORGIA COAST WITH 7 TO 10 FT 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. A HIGH SURF
ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR THE REGION UNTIL SATURDAY MORNING.

$$

AMZ352-354-270115-
/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-
901 PM EDT THU AUG 25 2011

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

...WINDS AND SEAS...
THE LATEST AREA FORECAST IS FOR MAXIMUM WINDS OF 25 TO 35 KNOTS
WITH GUSTS TO 45 KNOTS. HOWEVER...AS HURRICANE IRENE APPROACHES...
STRONGER WINDS ARE STILL POSSIBLE. CONTINUE TO CLOSELY MONITOR THE
FORECAST FOR ANY SIGNIFICANT CHANGES AND BE READY TO ACT. SEAS
WILL PEAK 7 TO 12 FT ACROSS THE NEARSHORE WATERS BETWEEN EDISTO
BEACH AND THE ALTAMAHA SOUND. SMALL CRAFT SHOULD REMAIN IN PORT.

$$

AMZ330-270115-
/O.CON.KCHS.TR.W.1009.000000T0000Z-000000T0000Z/
CHARLESTON HARBOR-
901 PM EDT THU AUG 25 2011

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

...WINDS AND SEAS...
THE LATEST AREA FORECAST IS FOR MAXIMUM WINDS OF 25 TO 35 KNOTS
WITH GUSTS TO 40 KNOTS. HOWEVER...AS HURRICANE IRENE APPROACHES...
STRONGER WINDS ARE STILL POSSIBLE...ESPECIALLY NEAR THE HARBOR
ENTRANCE. CONTINUE TO CLOSELY MONITOR THE FORECAST FOR ANY
SIGNIFICANT CHANGES AND BE READY TO ACT. WAVES WILL PEAK 2 TO 4 FT
WITH EXTREME ROUGH CONDITIONS OCCURRING NEAR THE HARBOR ENTRANCE.
SMALL CRAFT SHOULD REMAIN IN PORT.

$$

ST






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