South Carolina coast could be impacted by Milton as state recovers from Helene, officials say
CHENGERY. IF YOU HAVE FAMILY AND FRIENDS ALONG THE COAST THAT ARE BEING TOLD TO EVACUATE, PLEASE ENCOURAGE THEM TO DO SO. WE’VE GOT A BIG STORM HEADING THAT WAY. 165 MILE PER HOUR WINDS. IT’S DOWN A BIT, BUT HERE’S THE DEAL. IT’S GOING THROUGH WHAT’S CALLED AN EYEWALL REPLACEMENT CYCLE. WHEN A STORM GETS SO BIG THAT I CAN ONLY SUSTAIN THAT FOR SO LONG. SO IT REPLACES IT BASICALLY LIKE A SNAKE SHEDDING ITS SKIN. WEIRD, RIGHT? WELL, WHAT’S HAPPENING HERE IS THAT EYEWALL IS REPLACING AND WHAT HAPPENS IS AFTER THAT HAPPENS, THE STORM SYSTEM CAN GET BIGGER AND STRONGER. THE STORM SYSTEM IS GROWING IN SIZE, AND IT COULD CLIMB RIGHT BACK UP TO 180 MILE PER HOUR WINDS. AGAIN, THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER SHOWS IT KIND OF HOLDING STEADY AS A CAT FIVE THROUGH TOMORROW, BECOMING A CAT FOUR BY WEDNESDAY, POSSIBLY A CAT THREE BY WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. INTO THE EVENING AS IT MAKES LANDFALL. THAT EVENING. HERE’S THE DEAL. COLD FRONTS COMING OUR WAY. THAT’S APPLYING A LITTLE BIT OF PRESSURE WIND SHEAR TO THIS STORM SYSTEM. BUT THIS STORM SYSTEM IS SUCH A POWERHOUSE THAT IT ALMOST HAS ITS OWN ENVIRONMENT AROUND IT. SOMETIMES THAT CAN DEFY THE ODDS. AND I REALLY WANT TO WATCH THIS CLOSELY BECAUSE THAT COULD MEAN AN EVEN MORE POWERFUL STORM SYSTEM AT LANDFALL FOR THE WEST COAST OF FLORIDA. EITHER WAY, IT’S GOING TO BE DANGEROUS. A CAT THREE IS ABSOLUTELY DEVASTATING. 125 MILE PER HOUR SUSTAINED WINDS RIGHT NOW. THE LATEST TRACK WILL TAKE IT RIGHT THROUGH TAMPA BAY. I’LL SHOW YOU MORE DETAIL ON MILTON IN JUST A MOMENT. WHAT’S PROTECTING US IS A COLD FRONT THAT’S NOW PUSHING THROUGH THE AREA. RIGHT NOW WE’RE DOWN TO 73 IN GREENVILLE, 63 IN ASHEVILLE. TOMORROW MORNING, WAKING UP TO THE 40S IN THE MOUNTAINS. HELLO. A LOT COOLER THAN WE’VE BEEN USED TO MID 50S IN THE UPSTATE AND THAT COOLER AIR IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO SPREAD IN HOUR BY HOUR TOMORROW MID 70S, A COOLER DAY. WE’RE IN THE UPPER 80S TODAY IN MANY LOCATIONS, SO NO MORE 80S FOR A LONG TIME. IN FACT, IT’S GOING TO FEEL QUITE COOL OUT MOVING FORWARD. 70 ON BOARD FOR TOMORROW 76 IN GREENVILLE. SO A MILD WARM AFTERNOON. BUT EVEN COOLER MORNINGS COMING OUR WAY. LOOK AT THIS. OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS WE’RE HIGHS IN THE 70S. BY FRIDAY A HIGH OF 68. FALL IS ARRIVING IN FULL FASHION HERE. BACK TO MILTON. AN EAST MOVEMENT HERE THAT ONLY HAPPENED ONE OTHER TIME IN HISTORY. 1988, FOR A STORM SYSTEM TO MOVE WEST TO EAST. NORMALLY IT’S SOMETHING LIKE THIS, MORE OF A FORM IN THE CARIBBEAN. MOVE UP TOWARD THE NORTH HERE. BUT IT’S ONLY HAPPENED ONCE, 1988, AS A STORM GONE FROM WEST TO EAST AND SLAMMED RIGHT INTO FLORIDA. THAT’S IMPORTANT BECAUSE AS IT MAKES LANDFALL, THAT RIGHT SIDE IS WHERE THAT BIG TIME STORM SURGE IS GOING TO BE. RIGHT NOW. THAT LOOKS TO BE FOR TAMPA BAY INTO SARASOTA, DOWN THROUGH PARTS OF CAPE CORAL. AND WE’LL HAVE TO WATCH THAT VERY CLOSELY. HERE’S WHAT THE SPAGHETTI MODELS SHOW. NEW SWEETS JUST CAME IN. THEY’RE A LITTLE BIT TIGHTER TOGETHER. STILL A LITTLE BIT OF A SPREAD HERE FROM FORT MYERS TO SARASOTA TO TAMPA. BIG DIFFERENCES HERE. NOW, IF IT MAKES LANDFALL IN SARASOTA, THE WINDS WILL NOT BE PUSHING INTO TAMPA BAY. THEY’D ACTUALLY BE PULLING OUT. SO, YOU KNOW, THAT’S WHY LANDFALL IS SO IMPORTANT WITH WHERE THIS HITS. BUT RIGHT HERE, DIRECT IMPACT WILL PUSH THE MOST WATER INTO AREAS LIKE SARASOTA AND FORT MYERS. IN A SITUATION LIKE THAT. AND THEY’RE STILL RECOVERING FROM IAN JUST A LITTLE BIT AGO. HERE’S A HIGH RESOLUTION VERSION OF THIS. LOOK AT THIS MONSTER REPLACING THAT EYEWALL AND BECOMING EVEN MORE PRONOUNCED. THAT’S THE FEAR I HAVE HERE AS THIS MAKES LANDFALL, TAMPA. SARASOTA. WEDNESDAY EVENING. THAT MEAN LANDFALL HAPPENING AND THEN PULLING UP TOWARD THE COAST FOR OUR AREA, WE GET BREEZY 10 TO 15MPH, BUT NO RAIN CLOUDS STAY IN COLOMBIA. AND THEN A LITTLE BIT OF RAIN ALONG THE COAST WITH AN ONSHORE FLOW THERE COULD BE SOME LIGHT COASTAL FLOODING, BUT NOTHING CRAZY GOOD NEWS HERE IS NOT A DROP OF RAIN EXPECTED IN THE NEXT EIGHT DAYS FOR OUR AREA. THE FOUR DAY LOOKS LIKE THIS 73. TOMORROW, 72 WEDNESDAY AND ON THURSDAY. LOOK AT THE COOLER DAY ON FRIDAY. STARTING OFF IN THE 40S. AND THAT CONTINUES INT
South Carolina coast could be impacted by Milton as state recovers from Helene, officials say
Updated: 11:29 PM EDT Oct 7, 2024
South Carolina emergency management officials on Monday said they were closely monitoring Hurricane Milton as the state’s recovery efforts from Helene continue.Read the full release below:”As South Carolina continues its recovery efforts from the impacts of Hurricane Helene, state and local officials are closely monitoring Hurricane Milton, which is currently situated in the Gulf of Mexico.Current Situation:As of the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center, Milton is moving at 9 mph with maximum sustained winds of 175 mph. The storm is projected to make landfall along the west coast of Florida Wednesday.South Carolina could be impacted by Milton late Wednesday through Thursday.Gusty winds are possible across eastern parts of the state.Significant coastal flooding is possible along portions of the central and southern SC coast, especially on Thursday.”While we are still in recovery mode from Hurricane Helene, our priority remains recovery from Hurricane Helene as we face the threat of Hurricane Milton,” said Kim Stenson, Director of the South Carolina Emergency Management Division. “We encourage everyone to stay informed and heed the advice of local authorities as this situation develops.”As the state makes significant strides in recovery from Hurricane Helene, local utility companies continue to restore power to impacted areas, and debris removal operations are ongoing.South Carolina’s state agencies and local partners report the following as of 2:00 p.m. today:The South Carolina Emergency Management Division remains at OPCON 2. There have been over 1,000 logistical requests. The requests range from shelter assistance to debris removal.Thousands of line workers are working to make power repairs. As of 2:00 p.m. 46,663 storm related outages were reported. At the height of the storm over 1.37 million outages were reported.The South Carolina Department of Transportation has shifted from responding to Hurricane Helene to recovering from it. Crews are focused on restoring roads in the impacted areas. Debris crews are mobilizing now to begin work on interstate and primary routes first and then secondary and neighborhood routes.Seven general population shelters are currently in operation. View shelter information here.The South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) Care Line has received a total of 1,694 calls and has returned to its normal hours of 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. DPH has distributed 2,613 oxygen tanks to county partners.The South Carolina National Guard has activated more than 1,200 Soldiers and Airmen, and more than 200 vehicles and aircraft, including hoist and emergency aviation assets, debris removal and high-water vehicles. They have fielded 152 resource requests, completed 60 missions, and are currently executing 70 active missions in 18 counties to support and coordinate emergency response missions and requests in those counties.Highway Patrol Troopers and State Transport Police Officers with the South Carolina Department of Public Safety have responded to 9,282 calls for service since storm operations began.The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) Dam Safety Team has assessed the post-storm condition of 269 state-regulated dams with no significant issues reported or observed. SCDES continues to work with drinking water and wastewater facilities in impacted areas and is working to approve additional debris management sites to help communities dispose of storm debris. Private well owners whose wells may have been impacted by stormwater from Helene can call the SCDES Private Well Hotline (1-888-761-5989) to learn how they can test their well water.The South Carolina Department of Commerce continues utilizing public and private partners to identify county and business-related needs following Hurricane Helene. Businesses are encouraged to contact the ESF 24 desk (803-737-8524 or esf24@emd.sc.gov) for assistance and to report damage.Volunteers will be needed for months and even years after the disaster, especially in the long-term recovery phase. Explore all volunteer and donation opportunities through the South Carolina Emergency Management Division at
South Carolina emergency management officials on Monday said they were closely monitoring Hurricane Milton as the state’s recovery efforts from Helene continue.
Read the full release below:
“As South Carolina continues its recovery efforts from the impacts of Hurricane Helene, state and local officials are closely monitoring Hurricane Milton, which is currently situated in the Gulf of Mexico.
Current Situation:
- As of the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center, Milton is moving at 9 mph with maximum sustained winds of 175 mph.
- The storm is projected to make landfall along the west coast of Florida Wednesday.
- South Carolina could be impacted by Milton late Wednesday through Thursday.
- Gusty winds are possible across eastern parts of the state.
- Significant coastal flooding is possible along portions of the central and southern SC coast, especially on Thursday.
“While we are still in recovery mode from Hurricane Helene, our priority remains recovery from Hurricane Helene as we face the threat of Hurricane Milton,” said Kim Stenson, Director of the South Carolina Emergency Management Division. “We encourage everyone to stay informed and heed the advice of local authorities as this situation develops.”
As the state makes significant strides in recovery from Hurricane Helene, local utility companies continue to restore power to impacted areas, and debris removal operations are ongoing.
South Carolina’s state agencies and local partners report the following as of 2:00 p.m. today:
- The South Carolina Emergency Management Division remains at OPCON 2. There have been over 1,000 logistical requests. The requests range from shelter assistance to debris removal.
- Thousands of line workers are working to make power repairs. As of 2:00 p.m. 46,663 storm related outages were reported. At the height of the storm over 1.37 million outages were reported.
- The South Carolina Department of Transportation has shifted from responding to Hurricane Helene to recovering from it. Crews are focused on restoring roads in the impacted areas. Debris crews are mobilizing now to begin work on interstate and primary routes first and then secondary and neighborhood routes.
- The South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) Care Line has received a total of 1,694 calls and has returned to its normal hours of 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. DPH has distributed 2,613 oxygen tanks to county partners.
- The South Carolina National Guard has activated more than 1,200 Soldiers and Airmen, and more than 200 vehicles and aircraft, including hoist and emergency aviation assets, debris removal and high-water vehicles. They have fielded 152 resource requests, completed 60 missions, and are currently executing 70 active missions in 18 counties to support and coordinate emergency response missions and requests in those counties.
- Highway Patrol Troopers and State Transport Police Officers with the South Carolina Department of Public Safety have responded to 9,282 calls for service since storm operations began.
- The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) Dam Safety Team has assessed the post-storm condition of 269 state-regulated dams with no significant issues reported or observed. SCDES continues to work with drinking water and wastewater facilities in impacted areas and is working to approve additional debris management sites to help communities dispose of storm debris. Private well owners whose wells may have been impacted by stormwater from Helene can call the SCDES Private Well Hotline (1-888-761-5989) to learn how they can test their well water.
- The South Carolina Department of Commerce continues utilizing public and private partners to identify county and business-related needs following Hurricane Helene. Businesses are encouraged to contact the ESF 24 desk (803-737-8524 or esf24@emd.sc.gov) for assistance and to report damage.
Volunteers will be needed for months and even years after the disaster, especially in the long-term recovery phase. Explore all volunteer and donation opportunities through the South Carolina Emergency Management Division at https://www.scemd.org/recover/volunteer-and-donate/.”
