The National Weather Service has discontinued tropical storm warnings for the Georgia coast, northward from the Altamaha Sount, and a storm surge watch for the same area also has been discontinued.
Tropical Storm Nicole will weaken and turn toward the northwest over Florida today. Nicole is then expected to weaken to a tropical depression as it turns northeast and passes west of our region late tonight into Friday. Maximum sustained winds as of Thursday at 1 p.m. were 45 mph.
Expect multiple hazards across the area, well north and east of Nicole`s track. Major coastal flooding is expected with the high tide this morning, and minor coastal flooding is possible with high tides this evening and Friday morning. Also, locally heavy rainfall is possible, especially late this morning through tonight.
Meanwhile, conditions will become favorable for a few tornadoes by late today, through tonight and into Friday. Tropical storm force wind gusts 40 to 50 mph will continue today, mainly along the immediate coast. Then, tropical storm force wind gusts could occur within any showers that cross the region later today, through tonight and into Friday. Finally, expect dangerous marine and surf conditions and significant beach erosion to continue until late Friday.
Potential impacts
* Surge: Protect against life-threatening surge having possible significant impacts across coastal counties. Potential impacts in this area include:
- Areas of inundation of saltwater along immediate shorelines and in low-lying spots farther inland near rivers and creeks, with storm surge flooding accentuated by waves. Damage to several buildings, mainly near the coast.
- Sections of near-shore escape routes and secondary roads become weakened or washed out, especially in normally vulnerable low spots.
- Moderate to major beach erosion with heavy surf breaching dunes. Strong and numerous rip currents.
- Minor to moderate damage to marinas, docks, boardwalks, and piers. Several small craft broken away from moorings, especially in unprotected anchorages. Some navigation aids possibly displaced well off station, creating difficult navigation near inlets and waterways. Elsewhere across inland southeast South Carolina and southeast Georgia, little to no impact is anticipated.
* Tornadoes: Protect against a dangerous tornado event having possible significant impacts across southeast South Carolina and southeast Georgia.
Potential impacts include:
- Isolated to scattered tornadoes can hinder the execution of emergency plans.
- Scattered locations could experience enhanced damage due to tornadoes with a few spots of considerable damage, power loss, and communications failures.
- Scattered locations could realize roofs torn off frame houses, mobile homes demolished, boxcars overturned, large trees snapped or uprooted, vehicles tumbled, and small boats tossed about.
* Flooding rain: Protect against dangerous rainfall flooding having possible significant impacts across the area.
Potential impacts include:
- Moderate rainfall flooding could prompt some rescues.
- Rivers and tributaries could quickly become swollen with swifter currents and overspill their banks in a few places, especially in normally vulnerable spots. Small streams, creeks, canals, and ditches overflow.
- Flood waters can enter some structures or weaken foundations. Several places could experience expanded areas of rapid inundation at underpasses, low-lying spots, and poor drainage areas. Some streets and parking lots take on moving water as storm drains and retention ponds overflow. Driving conditions become hazardous. Some road and bridge closures. Protect against locally hazardous rainfall flooding having possible limited impacts across the region.
* Wind: Protect against hazardous wind having possible limited impacts across coastal counties.
Potential impacts in this area include:
- Damage to porches, awnings, carports, sheds, and unanchored mobile homes. Unsecured lightweight objects blown about.
- Large tree limbs broken off. A few trees snapped or uprooted, but with greater numbers in places where trees are shallow rooted.
- Some roads impassable due to debris, particularly within urban or heavily wooded locations. Hazardous driving conditions on bridges and other elevated roadways, especially for high profile vehicles.
- Isolated to scattered power and communications outages. Elsewhere across southeast South Carolina and southeast Georgia, little to no impact is anticipated.