© 2024 South Carolina Public Radio
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Weather watches, warnings, alerts, and more... Weather LinksNational Weather Alerts, Watches, Warnings and Advisories for All Parts of South Carolina (National Weather Service)Statewide Alerts, Watches, Warnings from the National Weather Service: Text VersionsSC Dept. of Transportation: Highway Conditions and AlertsThe South Carolina Emergency Management DivisionSouth Carolina State Government Offices Delays and ClosingsCurrent Weather Conditions in South Carolina

Tropical Storm Bertha Forms, Heading for Landfall in South Carolina

Bertha now a Tropical Depression

Tuesday 2pm EDT Update: Bertha has weakened to a Tropical Depression with maximum sustained wind speeds of 35 mph.

As of 2PM EDT Wednesday afternoon Bertha was located about 70 miles north-northwest of Charleston and continues to move inland at about 15 mph, delivering heavy showers to the Midlands, Pee Dee and Lowcountry regions.

This depression still has the potential to produce life-threatening flash flooding across portions of eastern and central South Carolina through Thursday morning. Rain estimated between 2 to 4 inches of rain will be possible in some areas with isolated areas potentially accumulating up to 8 inches.

All Tropical Storm Warnings have been discontinued as of the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center. 

Tuesday 11 am EDT Update: Tropical Storm Warnings remain in effect for the central coast of South Carolina, including the city of Charleston.

Tropical Storm Bertha is currently moving further inland and maintaining winds speeds of 50 mph, as of the Wednesday 11 am EDT advisory from the National Hurricane Center.

Tropical Storm Bertha made landfall Wednesday morning near Mount Pleasant with maximum wind speeds estimated to be about 50 mph. Bertha continues to move onshore, producing heavy rains across the Pee Dee and Lowcountry regions.

The Weather Prediction Center has issued a slight risk (hazard level 2 out of 4) for flash flooding through Thursday morning for the Pee Dee region and northeastern parts of the Midlands. 

Tuesday 10 am EDT Update: Tropical Storm Bertha made landfall Wednesday morning at 9:30AM EDT about 20 miles east of Charleston, SC. Maximum sustained winds were at 50 mph, according to a special statement from the National Hurricane Center.

Bertha will continue to move north-northwest through the Lowcountry and Pee Dee regions Wednesday afternoon before turning more northward and moving through the Midlands through the overnight Wednesday and into Thursday.

Tropical Storm Bertha is expected to produce heavy rainfall across portions of eastern and central South Carolina along with Tropical Storm force winds to the coastline.

Original story published earlier Wednesday: Tropical Storm Bertha formed Wednesday morning about 30 miles east-southeast of Charleston, SC. Maximum sustained winds were 45 mph at the time, and the storm is expected to make landfall in the South Carolina Lowcountry by midday.

The second named storm of the season began organizing off the east coast of Florida Monday, and it began strengthening as it moved over the warmer waters of the western Atlantic Ocean. As of 8:30 am EDT, the center was 30 miles east-southeast of Charleston and is moving northwest at about 9 mph.

The National Hurricane Center issued a Tropical Storm Warning from Edisto Beach to South Santee River in anticipation of Bertha's landfall late this morning or early this afternoon. Tropical storm force winds in squalls are likely near the coast in the warning area.

Heavy rain and flash flooding is expected over portions of the Lowcountry, primarily from Charleston north and east, and over the Pee Dee, and Grand Strand. Rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches are forecast over eastern and central South Carolina, with local amounts up to 8 inches according to the National Hurricane Center.

Rain is expected to continue after the storm moves inland and continue into tonight before diminishing early Thursday morning.