Beaufort County Office of Emergency Services is monitoring the development of Tropical Storm Idalia and its potential impacts on our area. The current forecast for Beaufort County is as follows:
Monday & Tuesday
- Passing showers that are unrelated to Idalia will continue to move through Beaufort County with most areas receiving 1 to 1 ½ inches of rain by sunset Tuesday.
Wednesday & Thursday
- Rain
- Precipitation from Idalia will begin to move into our area Wednesday and continue through midnight Thursday. Accumulation will be largely dependent on the exact track of the storm. For example, most areas of Beaufort County would receive 2 to 4 inches of rain if Idalia continues to follow a more southeastern track as indicated by the current National Hurricane Center Forecast and European Forecast Model runs. However, if Idalia takes a more western track as indicated by the GFS Model, we could receive more than 4 inches of rain. (We hope that these models will be in more agreement with each other over the next 24 hours.)
- Our heaviest rains are currently forecasted to occur between 2 p.m. Wednesday afternoon and 8 a.m. Thursday morning, with rain exiting the our area by sunrise Friday.
- Winds
- Unlike rainfall totals, the various forecast models seem to agree on the winds that are being forecasted for Beaufort County, with most areas experiencing sustained winds of 20 to 25 mph with frequent gusts of 35 to 40 mph.
- Our highest winds are currently forecasted to occur between 4 a.m. Thursday and 4 a.m. Friday.
- Severe Storms & Tornado
- As with many tropical weather systems, passing rain bands can result in severe thunderstorms capable of producing flash flooding as a result of heavy downpours and possible tornados. While severe storms are possible for all of Beaufort County Wednesday and Thursday, areas south and east of Belhaven, Bath and Blounts Creek will be at a slightly greater risk than other portions of our county.
- Storm Surge
- 1 to 3 feet of storm surge is expected along the shorelines of our county Wednesday night and Thursday.
Things to remember and look for:
These forecasted conditions are dependent on the actual track Idalia takes as it moves across the Gulf of Mexico and the Southern U.S. A more southern / eastern track as currently indicated by the official forecast is more favorable to our area and well lessen the impacts we experience. (The system will move through our area faster with less rainfall and less overall time under inclement conditions.) A more northern / western track would be less favorable, and subject us to more inclement conditions for a longer period of time.
