Tropical Storm Warning issued for Lowcountry areas; heavy rain, wind, isolated tornadoes likely this week

UPDATE: Helene was upgraded to a category 1 hurricane on Wednesday morning. The storm will head into the Gulf of Mexico on Thursday before making landfall, likely in Florida’s Big Bend region.

A tropical storm warning was issued for Charleston and Berkeley counties and coastal Colleton County. All other areas, including Dorchester County, coastal Georgetown, and inland Colleton Counties remain under a tropical storm watch.

Heavy rain, gusty wind, and isolated tornadoes are likely Thursday and Friday.

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CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – A Tropical Storm Watch has been issued for the Lowcountry as Tropical Storm Helene is expected to move into the Gulf of Mexico and head toward the Florida coast.

Storm Team 2 says the Tropical Storm Watch has been issued in advance for Berkeley, Charleston, Dorchester, and Colleton Counties for the possibility of tropical-storm-force wind gusts on Thursday and Friday.

“That would arrive tomorrow afternoon – tomorrow night, those would be around 40 mph. Some could go as high as 50, based off of what we’re seeing this morning,” said Storm Team 2 Meteorologist Josh Marthers.

Marthers adds the Lowcountry will see rain bands starting Thursday morning into Friday with 1-3 inches of rain for most areas. There is an elevated tornado risk late Thursday into Friday morning.

“Tropical tornadoes intensify typically in two cycles – from about noon to 6 p.m. and then about midnight to 6 a.m. Unfortunately, this band of showers and thunderstorms will likely be moving through our area in the midnight to 6 a.m. window tomorrow night into early Friday,” said Marthers.

Marthers adds the shape on the simulated radar indicates rotating supercell structures which means the Lowcountry will have a higher-than-normal risk of isolated tornadoes.

“Do I think it’s going to be an outbreak [of tornadoes] at this point – I’m not comfortable to make that statement, I like to say give me another 24 hours to do that,” said Marthers.

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