Weather

Tropical Storm Bonnie downgraded, makes landfall near Charleston

By Lucas High

Updated May 31, 2016 7:25 AM

"We just came yesterday for Memorial Day weekend, but it's raining and raining," said Tahiya Ismat, visiting from Virginia, as she scanned the horizon in search of any sign of sunshine as a light rain fell on Hilton Head's Coligny Beach. Though Tropical Storm Bonnie seemed to have passed without causing any significant flooding or wind damage, it left behind a dreary Sunday with sporadic rain showers.

Despite the steady rain Saturday night into Sunday, Beaufort County was spared the brunt of Tropical Storm Bonnie.

The second named storm of the year was downgraded to a tropical depression Sunday morning just before making landfall near Charleston, according to an an update from meteorologists at the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

All tropical storm warnings for the area were called off Sunday morning.

Winds reached 40 mph Saturday evening, but had dropped below 35 mph by Sunday morning, according to U.S. Air Force data reported to the hurricane center.

Despite the weakening storm, there were still local impacts.

Bluffton Township Fire District crews responded early Sunday morning to a downed tree blocking the roadway on May River Road near Rose Dhu Drive.

“Anytime we get a large amount of rain, the trees get saturated and fall over, especially if there is sustained wind involved,” fire district spokesman Capt. Randy Hunter said. “If you do see a downed tree, be careful because you never know if it has fallen into a power line.”

Several roads around Ridgeland, including a portion of I-95 near mile marker 22, were closed late Sunday morning “due to water covering the roadway,” Lance Cpl. Matt Southern of the S.C. Highway Patrol said.

The flooding caused a major traffic jam in the southbound lane of I-95, but did not result in any accidents or injuries, he said.

A detour was set up at exit 28, taking drivers off I-95 toward Nuna Rock Road, then onto U.S. 278, and ultimately back to the interstate.

As of late Sunday afternoon, it was unclear when the southbound lane at mile marker 22 would reopen.

“We are at the mercy of mother nature,” Southern said.

Hunter warned motorists to avoid flooded roadways, even if the water looks shallow enough to drive through.

“If you see rain or water covered roads, just turn around,” he said. “When in doubt, call 911. We will come out and look at the situation.”

While representatives of the Hilton Head Island Airport and the Savannah-Hilton Head International Airport could not be reached Sunday, online flight schedules for both airports indicate the storm — or the threat of one — did not result in mass cancellations or delays.

Despite the storm’s downgrade, meteorologists still forecast “total rainfall accumulations of two to four inches with isolated maximum amounts of eight inches” in parts of South Carolina and Georgia, according to the National Hurricane Center.

In addition to more rain and wind, those brave enough to hit the beach this Memorial Day should be aware that storm surges of “one to two feet above ground level are possible,” the center’s reports says.

The storm is also expected to continue to produce “dangerous surf and rip current conditions,” according to the hurricane center.

A few dozen people tried to take advantage of a respite from the drizzle Sunday afternoon at Burkes Beach on Hilton Head Island.

“I drove from Tennessee to get here,” vacationer John Barone said. “I don’t really care about a little rain — I’m hanging at the beach.”

If wet weather emptied the local beaches Sunday, it appeared to have the opposite effect on shopping centers.

Stores at the Tanger Outlet Centers in Bluffton were doing brisk business Sunday afternoon as shoppers battled for a space in the packed parking lot.

“I’ve got some family in town visiting, so we were planning have a little barbecue in the backyard,” Lisa Timmons said. “Obviously (because of the rain) we can’t do that. So, we figured we’d go shopping — it’s indoors at least.”

National Weather Service forecasts predict continued rain showers in Beaufort County through Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the storm is marching inland and northward.

On Monday, “heavy rain is expected to develop well north of Bonnie’s main circulation into parts of the Mid-Atlantic and the Northeast,” a National Hurricane Center report said.

Lucas High: 843-706-8128, @IPBG_Lucas