Tropical Depression Bonnie Has Made Landfall in South Carolina; Heavy Rain Expected

May 29,2016

Tropical Depression Bonnie has made landfall in South Carolina. Bonnie weakened from a tropical storm to a tropical depression Sunday morning. Look for rain, some wind, and choppy surf to some of the beaches of the Carolinas and Georgia through this Memorial Day holiday weekend.

Here is the latest on Tropical Depression Bonnie.

(INTERACTIVE: Tropical Storm Bonnie Tracker Map)

Highlights 

• Tropical Depression Bonnie made landfall just east of Charleston, South Carolina, on the Isle of Palms around 8:30 a.m. Sunday.
• Bonnie is now located 30 miles north-northeast of Charleston, South Carolina and 60 miles west-southwest of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
• Maximum sustained winds were 35 mph as of late Sunday morning.
• Tropical Storm Bonnie is currently moving northward at about 9 mph, with a turn to the northeast later Sunday.
• Bonnie is expected to weaken slightly today.
• All tropical storm warnings have been discontinued.
• Impacts include heavy rain, gusty winds, dangerous rip currents, some elevated surf, a small storm surge and minor coastal flooding.
• Rainfall totals of two to four inches are likely with localized amounts up to 8 inches from east-central Georgia into central and eastern South Carolina.
• Heavy rain will spread well north of Bonnie's main circulation into portions of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast.

(MORE: Hurricane Central)

Latest Status

Over the last several days, we've watched this weather system slowly gain organization. Friday afternoon, the Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters found that former "Invest 91L" had both a closed circulation - enough west and northwest winds - and sufficiently robust thunderstorm activity near that low-pressure center to designate it a tropical depression.
(MORE: What is an "Invest"?)

Enhanced Satellite, Current Winds

Current Radar

The National Hurricane Center named Tropical Storm Bonnie on Saturday evening but Bonnie weakened to a tropical depression on Sunday morning.
Bands of rain ahead of the circulation have moved onshore and pockets of heavy rain have already been reported around the southern coast of South Carolina. Part of Interstate 95 southbound has been closed as of Sunday morning.
(MORE: View National Interactive Radar Map

Projected Path

Tropical Depression Bonnie made landfall in South Carolina Sunday morning and is expected to weaken and eventually degenerate to a remnant low. The speed at which it becomes a remnant low will depend upon its exact track, as a track farther inland would result in a faster rate of weakening.

Tropical Depression Bonnie made landfall east of Charleston, South Carolina on Sunday morning.

Bonnie Impacts

The main impacts from this system will be poor beach and boating conditions, along with locally heavy rain, this weekend.
Heavy rain has already caused flash flooding in South Carolina early Sunday morning. Highway 17 was closed in Jasper county near Interstate 95, due to reports of 18 to 24 inches of water on the road and multiple cars stalled. Water also entered a residence near Ridgeland, South Carolina and near Switzerland, South Carolina.
Here are a few rainfall totals as of Sunday morning:

• 8.20 inches near Ridgeland, South Carolina
• 5.75 inches near Okatie, South Carolina
• 5.20 inches near Charleston, South Carolina
• 4.85 inches near Milbury, Georgia

Sunday's Forecast

There is also the potential for rip currents and high surf for parts of the Southeast coast through the Memorial Day weekend.
Rip currents, a particular concern in generally good weather when more beach-goers might be tempted to swim, were already spotted Saturday along the Georgia and South Carolina coast.

In addition, waves upwards of 13 feet and winds gusting to tropical storm force are likely in the offshore South Carolina waters Sunday.  A wind gust of 40 mph was measured at the Charleston International Airport just before 9 a.m. Sunday morning.
(MORE: Holiday Weekend Outlook)

Monday's Forecast

A moisture plume will be pulled north, then northeast along the East Coast Sunday into Monday from the same upper-level steering winds channeling this system into the Carolinas. One to three inches of rainfall are forecast across southeastern North Carolina.
While not directly related to the tropical cyclone itself, this could wring out areas of locally heavy rainfall up and down the Eastern Seaboard from parts of New England to the Carolinas, with local flash flooding possible.

Rainfall Forecast Through Monday Night

If you have plans to hit the beach along the Southeast coast this holiday weekend, we don't suggest canceling plans. Boating conditions may want to be reconsidered.
(FORECAST: Virginia Beach | Hatteras | Myrtle Beach | Daytona Beach)

Southeast Coast is Typically an Early Season Area to Watch

This map shows the typical formation areas and tracks for named storms in June.

The area off the Southeast coast, as well as the Gulf of Mexico and northwest Caribbean, is a part of the Atlantic basin where early-season tropical or subtropical storm development is most likely.
That said, it's not a very active time of year for storms to form compared to the peak August-October period. For example, only one named storm forms during June every other year, on average.
(MORE: Where June Storms Develop)
Recent seasons have had activity before the start of June.
Last May, Tropical Storm Ana formed off the Southeast coast before making landfall near Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, with minor impacts.
In 2012 two named storms, Alberto and Beryl, formed during May off the Southeast coast. Beryl would go on to make landfall in northeast Florida, while Alberto moved out to sea.
(MORE: When Hurricane Season Starts Early)

MORE: Hurricanes From Space - Satellite Imagery