Will it rain on the Hilton Head St. Patrick’s Day Parade? What forecasters say
The 40th Annual Hilton Head Island St. Patrick’s Day Parade is on schedule for today, and the weather is expected to cooperate.
There’s a 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms mainly before 2 p.m., according to the National Weather Service Charleston.
The skies will otherwise be partly sunny with a high of 75 — perfect for watching the parade.
Partly sunny conditions are expected through the afternoon, but pack a rain poncho and an umbrella just in case. According to AccuWeather, thunderstorms are predicted around 7 p.m.
The pleasant weather will be relief for those who came for the parade last year, only for it to be cancelled due to threats of high winds and dangerous weather.
Take caution on Monday
Showers and thunderstorms are likely in the Hilton Head area tomorrow, according to the NWS Charleston.
Winds of 20 to 22 mph are expected, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
Conditions may be hazardous to those operating small watercraft, such as jet skis, kayaks and small fishing skiffs, according to the NWS. “Inexperienced mariners” operating small vessels are asked to stay out of the waters from midnight tonight until noon Tuesday.
Where to watch the parade
The parade steps off on Pope Avenue at 2 p.m. at the Coligny Beach Parking Lot, and continues up Pope Avenue, turns onto Office Park Road, and ends at the Harris Teeter parking lot.
Spectators can set up their lawn chairs anywhere along the parade route, but they should stay behind the barricades.
Prefer to watch from home? WHHI-TV will livestream the parade on their YouTube channel.
Park early and plan ahead
According to Carol Kavanaugh-Arrington, media chairman for the Saint Patrick’s Day Parade, about 35,000 spectators are anticipated on parade day.
She said to “plan ahead” and find a parking spot early for the parade.
Some businesses will be closed on Sunday, so paradegoers may be able to park in those lots, but the event representative didn’t name any specifics.
If you do park in the parking lot of a business that’s open on Sunday, Kavanaugh-Arrington said to “be respectful” by shopping or eating there on parade day.
She also recommended people carpool or take rideshares to the parade location.
Where you can park
Here are the locations where The Island Packet confirmed spectators can park on parade day.
Town-owned public parking lots are located at 69 Pope Ave. and 72 Pope Ave. These are free to use, but space is limited.
According to the official website for the parade, paradegoers can park in the USCB parking lot. The Breeze Tolley is offering one-way trips from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. to take paradegoers from the USCB lot to Lowcountry Celebration Park.
Coligny Plaza businesses will be hosting a variety of activities, including live music and drink specials, on parade day. Parking at Coligny Plaza is reserved for patrons of Coligny that take part in the festivities, according to spokesperson Heather Rath.
Signs posted in the Circle Center parking lot at 70 Pope Ave. indicate that people can pay to park by scanning the QR code posted on the signs. Paid parking is enforced 24/7, according to the signage.
Where you can’t park
These are the locations where The Island Packet confirmed that spectators shouldn’t park.
The Coligny Beach Parking Lot, located at 102 Pope Ave, will be used as a staging area for the parade. Therefore, members of the public cannot park there on parade day.
Town-owned paid beach parking lots across Hilton Head are intended for beach use only, according to Heather Woolwine, communications and marketing director for the Town of Hilton Head Island.
The Park Plaza parking lot, where the Harris Teeter is located, is open only to those that are customers in the plaza, a manager at Harris Teeter told The Island Packet.
Road closures and detours
If you’re traveling to Hilton Head’s south end today, expect road closures and delays.
Starting 11 a.m. the Beaufort County Sheriffs Office will begin placing cones and barricades along Pope Avenue.
From 1 pm. to 5 p.m., the eastbound lanes of Pope Avenue will be closed to traffic.
Both lanes of traffic onto Pope Avenue from Sea Pines Circle will be blocked off.
Drivers on College Center Drive and Office Way will be rerouted to Office Park Road and will only be able to exit onto Greenwood Drive, police said. The exit onto Pope Avenue will be blocked.
The Shipyard Gate on Pope Avenue will be closed to traffic.
Traffic flowing from Lagoon Road onto Pope Avenue will only be able to make a right-hand turn.
Those traveling from New Orleans Road to Coligny Circle will be rerouted to the westbound lanes of Pope Avenue.
