Charleston, South Carolina.A slow-moving storm system’s heavy rainfall caused dangerous flash flooding throughout the Charleston area on Friday, blocking dozens of roadways and submerging neighborhoods in Mount Pleasant and North Charleston.
The National Weather Service said a blocked frontal barrier that also protected the East Coast from Hurricane Erin’s direct impact was the cause of the floods. In many places, radar indicated rainfall totals ranging from six inches to a foot, rendering portions of Dorchester County inaccessible.
Airport and Roads Submerged
In just 35 minutes, approximately 3 inches of rain fell on Charleston International Airport, overflowing drainage systems and causing roads close to the terminal to flood. Due to standing water, officials stated that the airport’s entry was momentarily closed.
Highways and residential streets were closed in large numbers, according to storm reports elsewhere. As traffic became dangerous due to the heavy downpours, emergency personnel in Dorchester County responded to blocked roads and stranded automobiles.
Flood Watches and Ongoing Risk
Charleston and the nearby coastal areas were classified as having a Level 2 flash flood risk by the National Weather Service and the NOAA Weather Prediction Center. Forecasters cautioned that until Saturday, slow-moving storms could continue to produce rainfall at rates of two to three inches per hour, with some regions seeing totals of three to five inches.
With flood watches still in effect, the area of greatest concern stretches from Charleston into southeastern Georgia, including Savannah.
Southeast Feeling the Impact
Flooding has occurred throughout the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic due to this same frontal storm. Earlier this week, Roanoke saw a rare Flash Flood Emergency as nearly five inches of rain fell in three hours across Southwest Virginia and Northern North Carolina, resulting in rescue operations.
More than 4 inches of rain fell in two hours in Roanoke, making it one of the wettest August days in the city’s history and an occurrence that meteorologists say only happens once every 500 years.
Charleston locals are invited to discuss the effects of flooding on their communities and the actions they think local authorities should take to better prepare for severe weather in the future. Visit SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com to join the discussion.
