A volatile tropical storm that local and state leaders worried might pound South Carolina is drifting east, which is bringing sighs of relief Sunday to many worried about dangers from a direct hit.
“Here’s a hardcore turn to the right we can all get behind!” Charleston City Council member Ross Appel wrote on Facebook after an 8 a.m. Sunday graphic showed Tropical Depression Nine turning east by Tuesday.
But just because the predicted path has changed, people along the coast still will experience a lot of rain and wind, forecasters said this morning.
“Tropical Depression Nine [(TD9) is forecast to become a tropical storm near the Bahamas today then approach the Southeast U.S. coast early next week as a tropical storm or hurricane,” according to the National Weather Service’s Charleston office. It said the depression was moving more slowly than previously expected, which is allowing Hurricane Humberto to the east to have more of a steering influence.
According to the Sunday forecast, there’s a 40% chance of showers and thunderstorms today. Tomorrow, expect periods of heavy rainfall with gusts up to 25 mph. Tuesday’s forecast is much the same, with winds and rain a little stronger.
Forecasters warn, however, that the depression, which likely will become a tropical storm as it moves beyond the Bahamas, is volatile and might change paths.
“There are still a couple outlier solutions that stalls the system offshore and then has it make landfall along the South Carolina/North Carolina coastline in the middle of next week as a strong tropical system or a weak hurricane. Right now, TD9 remains a broad, diffuse structure and is not showing signs of intensification yet. However, steady intensification should occur once the central core of the system develops.”
Local measures
[UPDATED} On Saturday, Charleston officials said self-serve sandbag distribution areas were open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. No sandbag operations are now scheduled for Monday. Locations where you can fill sandbags are Hampton Park on the peninsula, Bayview Soccer Complex on Fort Johnson Road and a Catholic Diocese site in West Ashley at 1662 Ingram Road.
James Island residents can get free sand and bags through 4 p.m. Sunday at town hall, 1122 Dills Bluff Road.
Free storm parking is delayed until Tuesday and may not be needed, depending on forecasts, according to a city release. If free parking is available Tuesday, it will be at three Charleston garages: the Visitors’ Center on Mary Street, 99 WestEdge off Lockwood and Charleston Tech Center on Morrison Drive.
- For more hurricane preparation information, see the state’s hurricane guide here.
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