[Tropical] Hurricane Local Statement

[EMWIN Server]

WTUS82 KCHS 262240
HLSCHS

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

...IRENE CONTINUES TO TRACK NORTHWARD OFF THE SOUTHERN SOUTH
CAROLINA COAST...

.NEW INFORMATION...
UPDATED STORM POSITION 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 COASTAL WATERS OF SOUTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA AND SOUTHEAST
GEORGIA...INCLUDING 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 5 PM EDT...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE IRENE WAS LOCATED NEAR
LATITUDE 31.7N...LONGITUDE 77.4W. THIS WAS ABOUT 160 MILES
EAST-SOUTHEAST OF CHARLESTON SC...OR ABOUT 210 MILES EAST 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 TURN TO THE 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 LATER THIS EVENING.

AS OF EARLY THIS EVENING...THE OUTER RAIN BANDS OF IRENE WERE
IMPACTING LOCATIONS ACROSS COASTAL SOUTH CAROLINA...AS WELL AS THE
ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS OFF THE SOUTHERN SOUTH CAROLINA AND
SOUTHEAST GEORGIA COASTS. THE HEAVIEST RAIN BAND WAS IMPACTING
NORTHERN CHARLESTON AND EASTERN BERKELEY COUNTIES. PERIODIC RAIN
BANDS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE ACROSS COASTAL SOUTH CAROLINA AND THE
ATLANTIC COASTAL WATERS THROUGH THE EVENING AND INTO THE OVERNIGHT
HOURS. A FEW WIND GUSTS FROM 40 TO AS HIGH AS 55 MPH HAVE BEEN
REPORTED ACROSS COASTAL SOUTH CAROLINA COASTAL...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 930 PM...OR SOONER IF CONDITIONS
WARRANT.

SCZ045-050-052-270200-
/O.CON.KCHS.TR.W.1009.000000T0000Z-000000T0000Z/
INLAND BERKELEY-CHARLESTON-TIDAL BERKELEY-
640 PM EDT FRI AUG 26 2011

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

...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 SIGNIFICANT COASTAL FLOODING...ESPECIALLY AROUND TIMES OF
HIGH TIDE THIS EVENING AND SATURDAY MORNING. HIGH TIDE WILL OCCUR
IN THE CHARLESTON HARBOR AROUND 637 PM THIS EVENING 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 HIGHER AMOUNTS POSSIBLE. ACROSS FAR NORTHEAST PORTIONS OF
CHARLESTON COUNTY INCLUDING MCCLELLANVILLE 3 TO AS MUCH AS 6 INCHES
OF RAIN MAY FALL BEFORE SUBSIDING LATER TONIGHT. 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
HAVE PEAKED AND ARE EXPECTED TO BEGIN SLOWLY SUBSIDING TONIGHT
AND SATURDAY. UNTIL THE SEAS SUBSIDE LATER TONIGHT AND SATURDAY
HOWEVER...A 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.

$$

AMZ330-270200-
/O.CON.KCHS.TR.W.1009.000000T0000Z-000000T0000Z/
CHARLESTON HARBOR-
640 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.

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

$$

AMZ350-352-270200-
/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-
640 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.

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

$$

AMZ354-374-270200-
/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-
640 PM EDT FRI AUG 26 2011

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

...WINDS AND SEAS...
SUSTAINED WINDS OF 25 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.

$$

GAZ117-119-139-141-SCZ048-049-051-270200-
/O.CON.KCHS.HU.S.1009.000000T0000Z-000000T0000Z/
COASTAL BRYAN-COASTAL CHATHAM-COASTAL LIBERTY-COASTAL MCINTOSH-
BEAUFORT-COASTAL COLLETON-COASTAL JASPER-
640 PM EDT FRI AUG 26 2011

...HIGH SURF AND BEACH EROSION CONTINUES AT 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
EVENING AND 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 REMAINS IN EFFECT
THIS EVENING.

...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...A ELEVATED RISK FOR DANGEROUS RIP CURRENTS AND 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.

$$




This weather bulletin was brought to you by:
www.nashvilleweather.net