MIAMI — Tropical Storm Colin formed along the South Carolina coast on Saturday, bringing the threat of rain and high winds for a day or two during the holiday weekend before improving for Monday’s July Fourth celebrations.
Through Sunday morning, the National Hurricane Center in Miami warned that flash flooding could occur along the Carolinas’ coast. At 2 p.m. EDT Saturday, the storm’s center was about 10 miles (15 kilometers) west-southwest of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 kph). It moved northeast at 7mph (11 Kph).
A tropical storm warning has been issued by the Hurricane Center for an area that runs north from Little River in South Carolina to Duck in North Carolina. This includes Pamlico Sound. On Monday, the Atlantic storm will not strengthen.
“Colin will continue to produce locally heavy rainfall across portions of coastal South and North Carolina through Sunday morning,” the center said. The isolated amounts may reach as high as 4 inches (10 cm).
“This rainfall may result in localized areas of flash flooding,” the center said.
Charleston had to cancel its Fourth of July celebrations on Saturday, August 4th, after substantial water had accumulated at Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park. Further rain was forecast.
“Obviously, we’re disappointed,” said Scott Watson, the city’s director of cultural affairs. “This promised to be a great family event, and we hate to have to cancel.
Southport festival organizers were forced to cancel the event.
“The safety of Festival goers, vendors, volunteers, emergency workers and everyone is our highest priority,” festival spokesperson Trisha Howarth said in a statement.
Separately, Tropical Storm Bonnie’s center rolled into Pacific after making a fast march through Central America. It caused flooding and downed trees, forcing thousands to flee Nicaragua and Costa Rica. There are no reports yet of any deaths.
Bonnie was located 110 km (180 km) southeast of Managua by Saturday afternoon. The maximum sustained winds were still at 40 mph (65.5 kph). The wind was blowing to the west at 15mph (24 km/h).
It’s one of the rare storms to make an Atlantic to Pacific crossing without losing tropical storm force, thus maintaining its name. According to forecasters, Bonnie will likely become a hurricane off the southern coast Mexico this week but it is unlikely that Bonnie will make an impact on land.
Nicaraguans are still very fondly aware of Hurricane Joan in 1988, which caused severe damage to the coastline and nearly 150 deaths.
“We are waiting for the storm to hit, hoping that it won’t destroy our region,” Bluefields resident Ricardo Gómez, who was 8 when Joan hit, said before Bonnie arrived.
Two powerful hurricanes, Eta (in 2020) and Iota (in 2020), also decimated the region, with an estimated $700 million of damage.
Costa Rican officials expressed concerns that flooding and landslides could result from the storm in an already saturated area. According to government officials, nearly 700 people were evacuated by floods from seven shelters in Costa Rica’s northern region.
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