Heavy rain will soon replace the almost dry weekend in Palmetto State, starting on Tuesday afternoon and lasting until noon on Wednesday. The rain can cause localized areas of flooding in the streets and is expected to fall on the basins of the rivers that are already flooding.
The National Meteorological Service’s radar and meter data are showing rainfall between 150 and 300 percent of the average during February. The most affected areas were along Pee Dee, Lowcountry and Midlands, but even the interior of the state saw its share of cloudy and humid days. Almost the entire state experienced above-average rainfall in 2021, according to the same data – a trend that has spread since 2020.
The recent rains in the Carolinas hit the state’s rivers, causing widespread secondary flooding over Lowcountry and Pee Dee. A moderate flood is occurring on the Edisto River near the Givhans Ferry and the Waccamaw River near Conway in Horry County is experiencing major flooding. Last Friday’s gauge reading at 15.61 feet in Conway is among the top 7 ridges recorded in the history of this location, dating back to the 1890s.
Another 3 to 3 inches of rain is expected to start on Tuesday afternoon and last until about noon on Wednesday. This new rain can cause outbreaks of flash floods. The phases of the river are expected to gradually decrease over the next few days, but can be kept higher than they would be with the rain from the approaching climate system.
Drier conditions are foreseen on the night of Wednesday to Friday, at least, behind a cold front, which should help to lower the level of the rivers a little more. Assuming the rain on Tuesday night and Wednesday is not much stronger than the current forecast, the Waccamaw River is expected to fall from a major to moderate flood stage over the weekend.