How is the Lowcountry prepping for Hurricane Idalia flooding? What to know as storm approaches
Idalia was officially classified as a hurricane by the National Hurricane Center early Tuesday morning, and is predicted to become a Category 3 storm by Wednesday morning when it makes landfall in northwest Florida.
While current models expect Idalia to be weakened to a tropical storm before spinning across the Lowcountry, forecasts still predict 6 to 8 inches of rain in the region, more than enough to inundate particularly low-lying or flood prone areas from Hilton Head to Beaufort.
The City of Beaufort’s public works department has pulled the floats in two tidal basins, meaning water can now only travel out of the basins with the tide. Idalia is expected to arrive during high tides Wednesday, with National Hurricane Center projections not accounting for rainfall showing water levels rising 3 feet over typically dry ground.
With the floats pulled, Idalia’s storm surge won’t push into the basins and the bodies of water will be better prepared to collect rain.
On Hilton Head Island, lagoons are being drained to counter high rainfall. Hilton Head Plantation began lowering lagoon levels Monday, and is continuing to do so as of Tuesday morning. Palmetto Dunes is also lowering its lagoon’s water level.
The Town of Hilton Head Island is monitoring the storm, and expects on-island flooding when rain arrives.
To follow the latest updates on the storm, check The Island Packet’s ongoing live coverage thread.
This story was originally published August 29, 2023 at 9:50 AM.
