Charleston, SC – Residents across coastal South Carolina and southeast Georgia should remain alert for heavy rainfall and localized flash flooding today as slow-moving thunderstorms develop throughout the afternoon and evening.
According to the National Weather Service in Charleston, scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected to move slowly across the region, with multiple rounds of rain possible into the evening hours. Rainfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour are possible in the strongest storms.
Most communities are expected to receive 0.5 to 1.5 inches of rain, but areas that experience repeated thunderstorms could see more than 3 inches. Because many locations have already received significant rainfall over the past several days, saturated ground conditions could increase the risk of isolated flash flooding.
The excessive rainfall outlook includes communities such as Charleston, Summerville, Beaufort, Walterboro, Hilton Head Island, Savannah, Moncks Corner, and surrounding coastal areas.
Forecasters warn that flooding can develop quickly in low-lying and poor-drainage areas, especially during periods of intense rainfall. Motorists are urged to avoid driving through flooded roadways and to remember the safety message: Turn Around, Don’t Drown.
Residents should have multiple ways to receive weather warnings and be prepared for rapidly changing conditions if thunderstorms repeatedly affect the same location. While not everyone will experience flooding, any storm capable of producing prolonged heavy rain could create hazardous travel conditions.
