Lowcountry feels impact as Helene approaches Georgia

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) – The Lowcountry is feeling the effects of Hurricane Helene as the storm moved ashore Thursday evening.

Hurricane Helene, a Category 4 storm, made landfall near the mouth of the Aucilla River in the Big Bend area of ​​Florida’s Gulf Coast around 11:10 p.m.

Meteorologists say the eyewall of the extremely dangerous storm is now moving into Georgia and accelerating from the north to northeast.

First Alert meteorologists Bill Walsh and Stephanie Sine have been tracking pop-up tornado warnings across the Lowcountry, all of which have expired.

Officials with the National Weather Service confirmed that a waterspout was located over Hilton Head Airport at about 1:46 a.m., moving northwest at 75 miles per hour.

Two dozen counties in South Carolina, including most of the Lowcountry, are under a tornado watch until 8 a.m. Friday.

These counties include Charleston, Berkeley, Dorchester, Georgetown, Allendale, Beaufort, Jasper, Williamsburg, Bamberg, Colleton, Hampton and Orangeburg counties.

Tornadoes from tropical storms and hurricanes can form and move very quickly.

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The National Weather Service will survey Orangeburg and Colleton counties to determine if a tornado touched down Thursday.

READ MORE: Helene makes landfall in northwest Florida as a Category 4 hurricane

Helene is moving into Georgia as a Category 4 storm

Fast-moving Hurricane Helene made landfall in the Big Bend area of ​​Florida’s northwest coast on Thursday evening as a Category 4 storm, threatening a “catastrophic” storm surge as well as damaging winds, rainfall and flash flooding hundreds of miles inland across much of the southeastern United States , forecasters said.

As of 1 a.m. Friday, the center of Hurricane Helene, a Category 4 storm, was near latitude 30.8 north and longitude 83.5 west, about 10 miles west-southwest of Valdosta, Georgia.

Hurricane Helene is moving north-northeast at about 24 miles per hour.

Helene continues to produce catastrophic winds that are now reaching south Georgia. This is an extremely dangerous and life-threatening situation. Individuals should not leave their accommodations and remain in place during these life-threatening conditions. Once in the Eye, one is reminded not to venture out into the relative calm, as dangerous winds increase very quickly as one passes the Eye.

A turn northward is expected overnight, bringing the center over Georgia. The center of the hurricane is expected to make landfall very soon in the Big Bend region of Florida. After landfall, Helene is expected to turn northwest and slow over the Tennessee Valley on Friday and Saturday.

Maximum sustained winds will be around 110 mph, with higher gusts.

Hurricane-force winds extend up to 60 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 310 miles.

The estimated minimum central pressure, based on observations from Hurricane Hunter aircraft, is 950 mb or 28.05 inches.

A hurricane warning applies to:

• Englewood to Anclote River, including Tampa Bay

A hurricane warning has been issued for:

• Anclote River to Mexico Beach, Florida

A storm surge warning applies to:

• Mexico Beach east and south to Flamingo
• Tampa Bay
• Charlotte Harbor

A tropical storm warning is in effect for:

• Florida Keys, including the Dry Tortugas
• Flamingo to Anclote River, including Tampa Bay
• West of Mexico Beach to the Okaloosa-Walton County border
• Flamingo north to Little River Inlet
• Lake Okeechobee

A tropical storm warning is in effect for several counties in South Carolina

In addition to the tornado warnings and watches, a tropical storm warning is in effect for several counties, including Charleston, Berkeley, Dorchester, Colleton, Beaufort, Georgetown, Williamsburg, Orangeburg, Jasper and Hampton counties.

A tropical storm warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere in the warning area within the next 36 hours.

SC switches to “OPCON 2” before Helene.

The South Carolina Emergency Management Division increased its preparedness and response to “Operational Condition Level 2,” or OPCON2, Thursday morning.

The higher level of preparedness allows agencies to coordinate their resources more effectively and respond quickly to requests for assistance from county emergency managers.

Gov. Henry McMaster issued an executive order Wednesday afternoon declaring a state of emergency for South Carolina.

The SCEMD issued important reminders as the state begins to feel the effects of Helene.

Be Aware of Possible Flash Flooding:

• If there is a possibility of flash flooding, move to higher ground. Don’t wait to be told to move.
• Do not walk through running water. Three to six inches of flowing water can cause a fall. If you must walk in water, walk where the water isn’t moving. Use a stick to check the solidity of the ground in front of you.
• Do not drive into flooded areas. It only takes 1 foot of water to wash away most cars. If the water around your car rises, exit the car and move to higher ground if it is safe to do so. You and the vehicle can quickly be swept away.
• Never drive around or move barricades blocking a road.

Be careful of fallen trees and power lines:

• Never touch downed or sagging power lines or attempt to remove fallen limbs from them.
• Always report downed lines to your energy supplier. Never call 911 to report downed power lines or power outages.
• Keep children and pets away from downed power lines.

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