Will Tropical Storm Nicole dampen weekend plans in Beaufort Co.? When the rain will stop
Hours after Nicole made landfall in Florida as a Category 1 hurricane early Thursday morning, nearly 400 miles away, Beaufort County was getting whipping winds, heavy rain and high-tide flooding.
In Port Royal, where high tide reached about 8 feet at 10 a.m., water lapped at the Henry Robinson Boardwalk and flooded the parking lot. More south, in the Alljoy neighborhood, rainwater pooled in the streets.
At about 3 a.m. Thursday, Nicole made landfall slightly south of Vero Beach, Florida, with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph, the National Hurricane Center said. When Nicole passes through South Carolina, meteorologists predicted the storm would become a tropical depression.
As weakening Tropical Storm Nicole crossed the Florida peninsula on Thursday, heading north to Georgia and then South Carolina, local meteorologists held that high-tide flooding and the threat for isolated tornadoes were their greatest concerns. Minor-to major coastal flooding was predicted in Beaufort County through Friday morning, the National Weather Service said Thursday morning.
Ron Morales, meteorologist with the Charleston office, said during a Thursday weather briefing that tropical tornadoes are “very hard to warn for,” and if an isolated tornado hits, it would touch for a short 30 to 60 seconds with about a minute of warning.
“They’re difficult to see (on radar), because they’re not very deep in the atmosphere, they’re small and they don’t last very long,” Morales said.
Rain, possible flooding and high winds are set to rattle Beaufort County through Friday as weakening Tropical Storm Nicole works its way northeast.
The storm was set to cross Florida’s peninsula, head north to Georgia and then swipe South Carolina. Beaufort County will see the bulk of Nicole’s wake during high tides Thursday and Friday morning, bringing the potential for minor-to-major coastal flooding.
Tropical storm-force wind gusts were expected to whip between 40-50 mph throughout Thursday evening, especially along the immediate coast and places within rain bands, the weather service said. Gusty weather will continue into Friday, despite meteorologists predicting Nicole will weaken to a tropical depression as the storm moves inland. High winds have the potential to cause minor tree and structural damage and can make driving conditions difficult on bridges.
Rainfall, which is projected to amount to 2 and 3 inches through Friday, could exacerbate flooding in coastal communities as showers interact with high tide. Locally, some areas of Beaufort County could get up to 5 inches of rain. The heaviest rains are predicted to hit Thursday afternoon and into the evening.
However, Morales said the total rainfall amounts aren’t the highest concern of the weather service.
Throughout the week, as Nicole as neared, the threat of isolated tornadoes along coastal South Carolina has grown. The National Weather service said tornadoes are possible late Thursday and into Friday morning.
“Tropical tornadoes are typically weak and short-lived, and may occur with little to no warning,” the service noted.
Meteorologists warned that marine waters would continue to be highly impacted by Nicole through Thursday night, due to high winds. The NWS said to expect dangerous marine and surf conditions and significant beach erosion to continue until late Friday.
Storm surge has the potential to be up to 3 feet above ground in areas of the county that are surge prone, with the highest threat beginning Wednesday through Friday.
As of Thursday afternoon the county remained under a tropical storm warning, a storm surge watch and a high surf advisory. Nicole’s impact will dwindle by Friday evening, with Saturday bringing sunny skies and a high of 77 degrees.
This story was originally published November 10, 2022 at 9:08 AM.
