Tracking alerts LIVE across the Lowcountry

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

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

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

Two dozen counties in South Carolina, 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 becomes weaker the further inland she wanders

Fast-moving Hurricane Helene made landfall Thursday evening as a Category 4 storm in the Big Bend area of ​​Florida’s northwest coast, threatening “catastrophic” storm surge as well as damaging winds, rainfall and flash flooding hundreds of miles inland across much of the Southeast USA, forecasters said.

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

Hurricane Helene is moving north-northeast at about 30 miles per hour.

Helene continues to produce catastrophic winds that are now reaching south Georgia. This is an extremely dangerous and life-threatening situation. Individuals should not leave their accommodations and remain in place during these life-threatening conditions. Once in the Eye, one is reminded not to venture out into the relative calm, as dangerous winds increase very quickly as one passes the Eye.

A northward turn is expected overnight, centering over central and northern Georgia Friday morning. Helene is then expected to turn northwest and slow over the Tennessee Valley today and Saturday.

Maximum sustained winds will be around 70 mph, 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 observations from Hurricane Hunter aircraft, is 968 mb or 28.59 inches.

A storm surge warning is in effect 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

A tropical storm warning is in effect for several counties in South Carolina

In addition to the tornado warnings and watches, 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 in the warning area within the next 36 hours.

SC switches to “OPCON 2” before Helene.

The South Carolina Emergency Management Division increased its preparedness and response to “Operational Condition Level 2,” or OPCON2, Thursday morning.

The higher level of preparedness allows agencies to coordinate their resources more effectively and respond quickly 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 issued important reminders as the state begins to feel the effects of Helene.

Be Aware of Possible Flash Flooding:

• If there is a possibility of flash flooding, move to higher ground. Don’t wait to be told to move.
• Do not walk through running water. Three to six inches of flowing water can cause a fall. If you must walk in water, walk where the water isn’t moving. Use a stick to check the solidity of the ground in front of you.
• Do not drive into flooded areas. It only takes 1 foot of water to wash away most cars. If the water around your car rises, exit the car and move to higher ground if it is safe to do so. You and the vehicle can quickly be swept away.
• Never drive around or move barricades blocking a road.

Be careful of fallen trees and power lines:

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

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