06 Jun Special Weather Update From Beaufort County Emergency Management
Subject: Tropical Storm Colin Briefing 1000 6.6.16
Good morning everyone,
Beaufort County is currently under a Tropical Storm Watch. A Watch means that Tropical Storm conditions may occur within the watch area within 36 to 48 hours. The coastal waters out to 20 miles are under a Tropical Storm Warning. A Warning means that Tropical Storm conditions are may occur within 24 hours.
Tropical Storm Colin is in the Gulf of Mexico and headed towards the Big Bend area of Florida. Heavy rains are expected for Beaufort County beginning this afternoon and continuing through tomorrow.
Depending on the track of Colin, there may be more wind effects than we experienced with Bonnie last weekend. With the saturated ground, there will be an increased likelihood of trees falling, power lines being affected etc. Please Be Aware!
There is also a “SLIGHT RISK” for tornado activity associated with this storm.
Roads that normally flood can be expected to flood as a result of these rains. Some additional flooding may occur in low lying areas or areas with poor drainage. REMEMBER: TURN AROUND DON’T DROWN
Below is Mark Malsick’s forecast for today.
Good Morning,
Tropical Storm Colin formed over the GoMEX yesterday and is currently 630 miles southwest of Beaufort SC. Colin is tracking northeast at 15 mph with 50 mph winds sayeth NHC. The Air Force aircraft investigating Colin found 60 mph winds near the surface in parts of the storm. Colin is very disorganized due to shear but will remain over very warm GoMEX waters before making landfall near Cedar Key FL later tonight. Colin rockets across Florida and is offshore Charleston by 0700 tomorrow as a sheared and disorganized tropical storm. Strongest winds remain off the beach. Colin could bring periods of heavy rain along the coast. Conservative rainfall amounts of 4-6 inches south and east of a line from Barnwell to Dillon County are indicated in the latest model run but those amounts are highly dependent on the actual track of Colin that will remain poorly organized and a bag of Badgers for the next 36 hours. After a scrape along the SC coast tomorrow, Colin rockets out to open Atlantic water, looking for ships.
Mark Malsick
SC State Climate Office
SC Department of Natural Resources