Milton could bring unusually high tide to Charleston SC | Hurricane wire

Hurricane Milton's wind field is expected to expand significantly over the next few days as the storm weakens and unleashes a surge of water that threatens to inundate low-lying areas along the South Carolina coast.

“The afternoon surge for tomorrow is still our first concern,” said Ron Morales, meteorologist with NWS Charleston. “Forecasts continue to indicate the possibility of another particularly high tide on Friday afternoon.”

At 2 p.m. on October 10, Charleston Harbor is expected to reach 7.8 feet. That puts the harbor just below the threshold of an eight-foot flood stage, which will flood many downtown streets and make them impassable, causing traffic noise throughout the area.

The high tide as of 3 p.m. October 11 is about 7.5 feet, which the National Weather Service considers a “moderate” flood limit for the harbor. During this phase, areas surrounding the low-lying medical district will be flooded, as will Market Street, East Bay Street and portions of Highways 17 and 61.

The forecast could change and residents should check the city's TideEye tracker for the latest updates.

A tropical storm warning is in effect for nearshore waters along the southeastern coast of South Carolina and the areas surrounding Beaufort County. A wind advisory is in effect for Charleston, Berkeley, Dorchester and several other coastal and coastal counties.

Southeastern South Carolina could potentially experience tropical storm-force winds from Milton on the morning of Oct. 10, NWS Charleston forecasts.

“The good thing about this (storm) is that it's moving more east than north, and that will help us get out of these conditions instead of staying in them much longer than we otherwise would,” Morales said in an October statement. 9 Briefing. “The route is mostly blocked. There are some fluctuations, some differences in the exact landing… But overall those fluctuations have little to no impact on the impacts up here.”

In anticipation of the surge in Milton, Charleston officials implemented the city's flood mitigation plan. The following parking garages will open for free parking starting October 10th at 9:00 a.m. and are expected to remain open until October 11th at 8:30 a.m.:

• Aquarium Parking Garage (24 Calhoun St.)
• Visitor Center Parking Garage (63 Mary St.)
• Parking garage 99 WestEdge (99 West Edge St. right next to the Charleston Police Department)
• Charleston Tech Center Parking Garage (997 Morrison Drive)
• East Bay/Prioleau parking garage (25 Prioleau St.)

Residents who use the free storm parking must press the call button when leaving the garage and inform the operator, according to a press release.

The city will also be on October 9th from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 1580 Ashley Gardens Blvd. Distribute sandbags. (Bee's Landing Recreation Center) and in Hampton Park (Mary Murray Drive at Ashley Avenue, in the parking lot by the ball fields). There is a limit of 10 sandbags per residence and people should bring their own shovel.

The City of James Island will also provide free sand and bags on October 9th from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at James Island City Hall, 1122 Dills Bluff Road.

Among other things, Charleston will erect barricades along frequently flooded streets and is prepared to deploy emergency vehicles during floods. Charleston recently passed a new “no-wake” ordinance, meaning anyone caught speeding through flooded streets could face a fine or even jail time.