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CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) – The Lowcountry is feeling the effects of Tropical Storm Helene as the storm moved ashore Thursday evening.

Helene made landfall as a Category 4 storm in the Big Bend area of ​​Florida’s Gulf Coast around 11:10 PM, and the storm began to weaken rapidly as it moved north-northeastward near Valdosta, Georgia.

At 5 a.m. Friday, Helene was downgraded to a tropical storm.

Two dozen South Carolina counties, including most of the Lowcountry, are under a tornado watch until 8 a.m. Friday.

These counties include Charleston, Berkeley, Dorchester, Georgetown, Allendale, Beaufort, Jasper, Williamsburg, Bamberg, Colleton, Hampton and Orangeburg counties.

Tornadoes from tropical storms and hurricanes can form and move very quickly.

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The National Weather Service will survey Orangeburg and Colleton counties to determine if a tornado touched down Thursday.

Helene weakens as she moves inland

Fast-moving Hurricane Helene made landfall Thursday night in the Big Bend area of ​​Florida’s northwestern coast as a Category 4 storm, threatening a “catastrophic” storm surge and bringing damaging winds, rain and flash flooding hundreds of miles inland in a wide part of the southeast were caused. US, say forecasters.

At 5 a.m. Friday, Tropical Storm Helene was located near latitude 32.8 north and longitude 83.0 west and was rapidly moving through the state of Georgia.

Hurricane Helene is moving towards the north-northeast at a speed of 50 km per hour.

Helene continues to produce catastrophic winds that are now pushing into South Georgia. This is an extremely dangerous and life-threatening situation. Individuals should not leave their shelters and remain in place during the expiration of these life-threatening conditions. When they are in the eye, people are reminded not to venture into the relative calm, because the dangerous winds will increase very quickly as the eye passes.

A turn north is expected overnight, bringing the center over central and northern Georgia Friday morning. After that, Helene is expected to turn northwest and slow across the Tennessee Valley later today and Saturday.

Maximum sustained winds are near 120 km per hour with higher gusts.

Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 30 miles from the center and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 310 miles.

The estimated minimum central pressure based on Hurricane Hunter aircraft observations is 968 mb or 28.59 inches.

A storm surge warning is in force for…

• Indian Pass to Bonita Beach
• Tampa Bay

A tropical storm warning is in effect for…

• The mouth of the Suwannee River to Indian Pass
• The Flagler/Volusia county line north to Little River Inlet

Tropical Storm Warning in effect for multiple SC counties

In addition to the tornado warnings and warnings, a tropical storm warning is in effect for several counties, including Charleston, Berkeley, Dorchester, Colleton, Beaufort, Georgetown, Williamsburg, Orangeburg, Jasper and Hampton counties.

A tropical storm warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area within the next 36 hours.

SC goes to ‘OPCON 2′, before Helene

The South Carolina Emergency Management Division increased its preparedness and response to “Operating Condition Level 2″ or OPCON2 on Thursday morning.

The higher level of preparedness allows agencies to more effectively coordinate resources and quickly respond to requests for assistance from county emergency managers.

Gov. Henry McMaster issued an executive order Wednesday afternoon declaring a state of emergency for South Carolina.

The SCEMD has issued important reminders as the state begins to feel the effects of Helene.

Be aware of possible flash flooding:

• If there is a risk of flash flooding, move to higher ground. Don’t wait to be told you have to move.
• Do not walk through moving water. Three to six inches of moving water can cause you to fall. If you must walk in water, walk where the water is not moving. Use a stick to check the firmness of the ground in front of you.
• Do not drive in flooded areas. Only a foot of running water is needed to carry most cars. If the water around your car rises, leave the car and move to higher ground if you can do so safely. You and the vehicle can be quickly swept away.
• Never drive around or move barricades blocking a street.

Be careful with fallen trees and power lines:

• Never touch fallen limbs or attempt to remove fallen limbs from downed or sagging power lines.
• Always report interrupted lines to your energy supplier. Never call 911 to report downed power lines or power outages.
• Keep children and pets away from fallen electrical lines.

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