Floods close Charleston roads as storms push through region (2024)

What started as a bright and sunny start to July in Charleston quickly gave way to flooding, downpours and closed streets.

Charleston leaders were forced to shut down more than three dozen road segments across the city July 1 as a series of storms lashed the Lowcountry. The National Weather Service posted flood watches and advisories from Charleston County down past Savannah throughout the afternoon and evening.

Rainfall amounts were generally predicted to be 2-4 inches near the coast, although final totals for the 24-hour period weren’t finalized as of the evening of July 1. The rainfall, however, wasn’t enough to nudge Charleston Harbor into a flood stage. The harbor peaked at 6.2 feet, well short of the seven foot “minor” flood stage necessary for the city to experience tidal flooding.

In anticipation of the potentially severe weather, the city of Charleston launched its flood mitigation plan. Charleston police blocked off flood vulnerable streets, pumps were placed across the city to help siphon out stormwater and several garages were opened for free parking.

The garages — located at 99 West Edge St., the Charleston Tech Center (997 Morrison Drive), and 34 St. Philip St. — will remain open to the public until 8 a.m. on July 2. Residents can use the call button at the garage exit to tell the operator they are taking advantage of the city’s free storm parking to leave.

Charleston is likely in for a stormy summer, as record-hot ocean temperatures caused by global warming spurred the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to release its most severe Atlantic hurricane forecast season ever.

Neil Dixon, a lead meteorologist with the NWS Charleston office, said heat indices this weekend could approach or even exceed 110 degrees along some areas of the coast.

“So, very hot,” he said. “I would expect some more heat advisories and maybe even an excessive heat warning as we get into this weekend.”