Brīdinājumi, Skidaway Institute of Oceanography

Rip Current Statement issued September 26 at 5:23PM EDT until September 27 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Charleston SC * WHAT...For the High Surf Advisory, large breaking waves of 4 to 6 feet in the surf zone. For the High Rip Current Risk, dangerous rip currents. * WHERE...Georgia Beaches. * WHEN...For the High Surf Advisory, until 8 PM EDT Friday. For the High Rip Current Risk, through Friday evening. * IMPACTS...Dangerous swimming and surfing conditions and localized beach erosion. Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water. Inexperienced swimmers should remain out of the water due to dangerous surf conditions. Swim near a lifeguard. If caught in a rip current, relax and float. Don't swim against the current. If able, swim in a direction following the shoreline. If unable to escape, face the shore and call or wave for help.

Tropical Cyclone Statement issued September 26 at 5:21PM EDT by NWS Charleston SC HLSCHS This product covers southeast South Carolina and southeast Georgia **THE RISK FOR TROPICAL TORNADOES, DAMAGING WIND GUSTS AND OTHER HAZARDS INCREASING ACROSS THE AREA AS HELENE MOVES OVER THE EASTERN GULF OF MEXICO** NEW INFORMATION --------------- * CHANGES TO WATCHES AND WARNINGS: - None * CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS: - A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Allendale, Beaufort, Bulloch, Candler, Charleston, Coastal Bryan, Coastal Chatham, Coastal Colleton, Coastal Jasper, Coastal Liberty, Coastal McIntosh, Dorchester, Effingham, Evans, Hampton, Inland Berkeley, Inland Bryan, Inland Chatham, Inland Colleton, Inland Jasper, Inland Liberty, Inland McIntosh, Jenkins, Long, Screven, Tattnall, and Tidal Berkeley * STORM INFORMATION: - About 440 miles southwest of Charleston SC or about 350 miles southwest of Savannah GA - 27.9N 84.6W - Storm Intensity 125 mph - Movement North-northeast or 25 degrees at 23 mph SITUATION OVERVIEW ------------------ Major Hurricane Helene will strengthen further as it moves across the eastern Gulf of Mexico before making landfall around the Big Bend area of Florida later this evening. Helene will slowly weaken after landfall, but will remain quite strong as it tracks northward across Georgia overnight into early Friday. Helene is a very large storm, with significant impacts extending well to the east of where the storm tracks. There is a high risk for tornadoes associated with Helene and several tornadoes have already been observed. The tornado risk will peak tonight into early Friday morning before quickly ending. Tornadoes from tropical storms or hurricanes can form and move very quickly, so be prepared to take quick action if a Tornado Warning is issued for your location. Tropical storm force winds, mainly in frequent gusts of 45 to 65 mph, are forecast to increase across Southeast Georgia and the adjacent Atlantic Georgia waters this evening, then expand into Southeast South Carolina and the adjacent coastal waters tonight. Wind speeds should peak late tonight as the center of Helene moves across central Georgia. Showers associated with Helene are impacting much of the area and rainbands will increase in both coverage and intensity overnight. The rain will quickly end Friday morning as Helene moves into the southern Appalachians. Additional rainfall amounts will average 1.5 to 4 inches with isolated higher amounts possible, especially for areas near the Savannah River and parts of southern South Carolina. Minor flooding of low-lying and poor drainage areas is likely in some locations with isolated flash flooding possible. The risk for flooding may become locally enhanced at the coast during times of high tide. Storm surge inundation of 1 to 3 ft is possible along the coast of Southeast Georgia and the South Carolina Lowcountry into tonight. In addition, high surf, strong and dangerous rip currents, and beach erosion are likely at all area beaches into Friday. POTENTIAL IMPACTS ----------------- * TORNADOES: Protect against a particularly dangerous tornado event having possible extensive impacts across Southeast South Carolina and Southeast Georgia. Potential impacts include: - Numerous tornadoes can greatly hinder the execution of emergency plans. - Tornadoes could produce pockets of extensive destruction, power loss, and communications failures. In some locations, tornado winds and deadly projectiles demolish sturdy buildings, sweep away structures upon weak foundations, obliterate mobile homes, snap off and uproot large trees, lift vehicles off the ground and throw with distance, and destroy small boats destroyed. * WIND: Protect against dangerous wind having possible significant impacts across southeast South Carolina and southeast Georgia. Potential impacts include: - Some damage to roofing and siding materials, along with damage to porches, awnings, carports, and sheds. A few buildings experiencing window, door, and garage door failures. Mobile homes damaged, especially if unanchored. Unsecured lightweight objects become dangerous projectiles. - Several large trees snapped or uprooted, but with greater numbers in places where trees are shallow rooted. - Some roads impassable from large debris, and more within urban or heavily wooded places. A few bridges and access routes impassable. - Travel by vehicle or on foot increasingly difficult. Danger of death or injury from falling objects such as trees or electric wires outside. - Scattered power and communications outages, but more prevalent in areas with above ground lines, which could persist for hours or days. - Some poorly secured small craft could break loose from their moorings. * FLOODING RAIN: Protect against 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: Protect against locally hazardous surge having possible limited impacts across south coastal South Carolina and coastal Georgia. Potential impacts in this area include: - Localized inundation of saltwater mainly along immediate shorelines and in low-lying spots farther inland near rivers and creeks. - Sections of near-shore roads and parking lots become overspread with surge water. Driving conditions hazardous in places where surge water covers the road. - Minor to moderate beach erosion. Heavy surf possibly breaching dunes, mainly in normally vulnerable locations. Strong rip currents. - Minor to locally moderate damage to marinas, docks, boardwalks, and piers. A few small craft broken away from moorings. Elsewhere across southeast South Carolina and southeast Georgia, little to no impact is anticipated. * OTHER COASTAL HAZARDS: In addition to coastal inundation, high surf, strong and dangerous rip currents and beach erosion can be expected. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS ---------------------------------- * OTHER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION: Keep cell phones well charged. Cell phone chargers for automobiles can be helpful, but be aware of your risk for deadly carbon monoxide poisoning if your car is left idling in a garage or other poorly ventilated area. It is important to remain calm, informed, and focused during an emergency. Be patient and helpful with those you encounter. If you are a visitor, be sure to know the name of the city or town in which you are staying and the name of the county or parish in which it resides. Listen for these locations in local news updates. Pay attention for instructions from local authorities. If a Tornado Warning is issued for your area, be ready to shelter quickly, preferably away from windows and in an interior room not prone to flooding. If driving, scan the roadside for quick shelter options. Closely monitor weather.gov, NOAA Weather radio or local news outlets for official storm information. Be ready to adapt to possible changes to the forecast. Ensure you have multiple ways to receive weather warnings. * 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 12 AM EDT, or sooner if conditions warrant.