[Tropical] Hurricane Local Statement

[EMWIN Server]

WTUS82 KCHS 260612
HLSCHS

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

...WINDS INCREASING ACROSS COASTAL WATERS OF SOUTH COASTAL SOUTH
CAROLINA AND NORTH COASTAL GEORGIA AS IRENE MOVES FARTHER AWAY
FROM THE NORTHERN BAHAMAS...

.NEW INFORMATION...
STORM POSITION UPDATED.

.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 AM EDT...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE IRENE WAS LOCATED NEAR
LATITUDE 28.7N...LONGITUDE 77.3W. THIS WAS ABOUT 315 MILES SOUTH-
SOUTHEAST OF CHARLESTON SC...OR ABOUT 315 MILES SOUTHEAST OF
SAVANNAH GA. THE HURRICANE WAS MOVING NORTH AT 14 MPH. MAXIMUM
SUSTAINED WINDS REMAIN NEAR 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 MOVING NORTH AND THIS MOTION WILL CONTINUE
DURING THE EARLY MORNING HOURS BEFORE TURNING NORTH-NORTHEAST
LATER TODAY. THE CENTER OF IRENE WILL PASS OFFSHORE OF THE LOWER
SOUTH CAROLINA AND UPPER GEORGIA COASTS TONIGHT AS A MAJOR
HURRICANE. BASED ON THE LATEST FORECAST TRACK...IRENE WILL MAKE
ITS CLOSEST APPROACH TO CHARLESTON EARLY SATURDAY MORNING.

AS OF EARLY THIS MORNING...SHOWERS ASSOCIATED WITH THE OUTER
BAND OF IRENE WERE MOVING SOUTHWESTWARD THROUGH THE OUTER GEORGIA
COASTAL WATERS. THE SHOWERS ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE ACROSS ALL OF
THE COASTAL WATERS LATER THIS MORNING.

.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 3 AM EDT...OR SOONER IF CONDITIONS
WARRANT.

SCZ045-050-052-270615-
/O.CON.KCHS.TR.W.1009.000000T0000Z-000000T0000Z/
INLAND BERKELEY-CHARLESTON-TIDAL BERKELEY-
212 AM EDT FRI AUG 26 2011

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

...WINDS...
THE LATEST AREA FORECAST IS FOR MAXIMUM WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH WITH
GUSTS TO 50 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.

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...
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
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...
RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 2 INCHES WITH LOCALIZED AMOUNTS OF 3 TO
4 INCHES CAN BE EXPECTED. 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.

...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 TO LOCALLY SEVERE
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.

$$

AMZ330-270615-
/O.CON.KCHS.TR.W.1009.000000T0000Z-000000T0000Z/
CHARLESTON HARBOR-
212 AM EDT FRI AUG 26 2011

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

...WINDS AND SEAS...
AS HURRICANE IRENE APPROACHES...SUSTAINED TROPICAL STORM FORCE
WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO BEGIN LATE THIS MORNING IN THE CHARLESTON
HARBOR. MAXIMUM WINDS ARE FORECAST TO BE IN THE 25 TO 35 KNOT RANGE
WITH GUSTS TO 45 KNOTS. WAVES WILL AVERAGE 2 TO 4 FEET WITH
EXTREMELY ROUGH CONDITIONS EXPECTED TO OCCUR NEAR THE HARBOR
ENTRANCE. SMALL CRAFT SHOULD REMAIN IN PORT. CONTINUE TO CLOSELY
MONITOR THE FORECAST FOR ANY SIGNIFICANT CHANGE AND BE READY TO
ACT.

$$

AMZ350-374-270615-
/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-
212 AM EDT FRI AUG 26 2011

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

...WINDS AND SEAS...
AS HURRICANE IRENE APPROACHES...SUSTAINED TROPICAL STORM FORCE
WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO BEGIN LATER THIS MORNING. MAXIMUM WINDS
ARE FORECAST TO BE IN THE 30 TO 40 KNOT RANGE WITH GUSTS TO 55
KNOTS. SEAS WILL PEAK 10 TO 18 FEET ACROSS THE NEARSHORE WATERS OF
CHARLESTON COUNTY AND 15 TO 25 FEET OVER THE GEORGIA OFFSHORE
WATERS. SMALL CRAFT SHOULD REMAIN IN PORT. CONTINUE TO CLOSELY
MONITOR THE FORECAST FOR ANY SIGNIFICANT CHANGES AND BE READY TO
ACT.

$$

AMZ352-354-270615-
/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-
212 AM EDT FRI AUG 26 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. SEAS WILL PEAK 7 TO 13 FEET.
CONTINUE TO CLOSELY MONITOR THE FORECAST FOR ANY SIGNIFICANT
CHANGES AND BE READY TO ACT. SMALL CRAFT SHOULD REMAIN IN PORT.

$$

GAZ117-119-139-141-SCZ048-049-051-270615-
/O.CON.KCHS.HU.S.1009.000000T0000Z-000000T0000Z/
COASTAL BRYAN-COASTAL CHATHAM-COASTAL LIBERTY-COASTAL MCINTOSH-
BEAUFORT-COASTAL COLLETON-COASTAL JASPER-
212 AM EDT FRI AUG 26 2011

...WINDS INCREASING ALONG THE COAST AS THE SURF CONTINUES TO
BUILD...

...WINDS...
THE LATEST FORECAST IS FOR MAXIMUM WINDS TO REMAIN BELOW TROPICAL
STORM FORCE. HOWEVER...WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE TO 20 TO 30
MPH LATER TODAY AS IRENE APPROACHES. AN ISOLATED GUST AS HIGH AS 35 TO
40 MPH COULD OCCUR IN SQUALLS. 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
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. 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 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. A HIGH SURF
ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR THE REGION UNTIL SATURDAY MORNING.

$$

ST



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