MYRTLE BEACH –- Inland areas in the Pee Dee and parts of southeastern North Carolina have been placed under a tropical storm warning as Hanna – currently a tropical storm – races up the coast with landfall possible along the Grand Strand.
“It’s still a 65 mph tropical storm, but it looks more and more like a direct hit is possible for the Grand Strand as the storm races into Virginia by early Saturday afternoon,” Chris Still, WBTW News13 meteorologist, said.
“There is still a small chance it could become a category 1 hurricane, so the hurricane watch and tropical storm warning are still in effect with a tropical storm wind warning now in effect for all of the Pee Dee as well as Columbus County, NC,” Still said.
The storm, which is projected by the National Hurricane Center to make landfall around 2 a.m. Saturday, won’t be around long.
“Hanna will be a fast mover, likely trucking about 20 mph or so at landfall,”
Still said this is what the area should expect:
- Clouds, wind and rain increase this afternoon.
- Tropical Storm force winds around 40 mph possible in the Pee Dee and Grand Strand by dinner time.
- Heavy rain tonight (1-3 inches in the Pee Dee, 2-5 inches on the Grand Strand)
- 60+ mph winds possible east of I-95 at landfall tonight between 11 and 2 AM.
- Storm surge could be 3-5 feet which added to our forecast high tide of 5.4 feet at 12:24 would cause over washing of the dunes in some locations (Garden city is always first)
- Rapidly improving conditions by sunrise Saturday.
- Clouds hang around Saturday afternoon, but rain should be over for the most part.
The one thing the area should be prepared for is power outages, Still said.
“I was told in an interview by a Georgia Power representative several years ago that power outages begin at about 40-45 mph, so if the forecast holds true, I’d expect a lot of that tonight,” he said.
Because the storm is fast moving flooding should be minimal, but since it is expected to hit around high tide residents in low coastal areas should stay alert for water, Still said.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement