Hurricane Tracker Shows Isaias Kills Four and Spawns South Carolina Tornadoes
A hurricane tracker shows that tornadoes touched down in South Carolina and Georgia on Saturday as Tornado Watch 679 expired at 8 p.m. EDT, producing confirmed twisters near Allendale, Barnwell and Kline while Hurricane Isaias earlier caused four deaths and widespread power outages across Florida, Alabama and neighboring states. Videos captured large tornadoes near Barnwell, Kline and Allendale in South Carolina. A confirmed tornado crossed from Screven County, Georgia, into Allendale County, moving north at 30 mph. [3]
Tornadoes Strike South Carolina and Georgia
Videos captured large tornadoes near Barnwell, Kline and Allendale in South Carolina. A confirmed tornado crossed from Screven County, Georgia, into Allendale County, moving north at 30 mph. [3] A close-range video captured a tornado near Allendale, South Carolina, as reports of large twisters emerged near Barnwell and Kline on Saturday, October 10. [3] A tornado was confirmed near Appleton in Allendale County. The storms caused tree damage in Screven County, Georgia, where trees were reported down along Old Savannah Highway and Highway 21. [3] A confirmed tornado was located about five miles south of Appleton at 4:18 p.m. EDT. It was moving north at around 30 mph, between Burtons Ferry Bridge and downtown Allendale. [3] The storm had crossed from Screven County in Georgia into Allendale County in South Carolina. [3] Barnwell County was also placed under a tornado warning as the storm moved through the region. [3] Kline, in southeastern Barnwell County, was among the areas threatened by the tornado, which was reported to be moving at approximately 25 to 30 mph. [3] Professional storm tracker Jaden Pappenheim also shared footage of a tornado hitting Barnwell, South Carolina, with power flashes visible earlier. [3] Local reports also described damage to power infrastructure in Allendale County. Edisto Electric Cooperative reported damage to electrical facilities, including at least three substations, leading to power outages in the area. [3] The South Carolina Emergency Management Division reported one non-life-threatening injury. [3] The Allendale County School District also cancelled upcoming classes following the storm damage and disruption. [3]
Tornado Watch Expiration Details
Tornado Watch 679 covered 11 South Carolina counties and parts of Georgia until 8 p.m. EDT. [3] The National Weather Service allowed the watch to expire for Burke, Effingham and Screven counties in Georgia plus multiple South Carolina counties. [1] [2] The National Weather Service will allow Tornado Watch 679 to expire at 8 p.m. EDT this evening for Burke County in east central Georgia. [1] In South Carolina this allows to expire four counties in central South Carolina: Aiken, Bamberg, Barnwell and Orangeburg. [1] This includes the cities of Aiken, Bamberg, Barnwell, Blackville, Brookdale, Denmark, North Augusta, Orangeburg, Waynesboro and Williston. [1] The National Weather Service will allow Tornado Watch 679 to expire at 8 p.m. EDT this evening for Effingham and Screven counties in southeast Georgia. [2] In South Carolina this allows to expire eight counties in southeast South Carolina: Allendale, Beaufort, Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton, Dorchester, Hampton and Jasper. [2] This includes the cities of Allendale, Beaufort, Bluffton and Charleston. [2] The National Weather Service issued Tornado Watch 679 for 11 South Carolina counties: Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Beaufort, Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton, Dorchester, Hampton, Jasper and Orangeburg. [3] The watch was scheduled to remain in effect until 8 p.m. EDT on Saturday, October 10. [3]
Hurricane Isaias Death Toll and Damage
Hurricane Isaias made landfall in Florida with 105 mph winds, killing two people in Escambia County from a falling tree and carbon monoxide poisoning, two more in Alabama, and left at least 600,000 without power. [4] Four people have died and hundreds of thousands are without power after Hurricane Isaias battered parts of the southern US with powerful winds and heavy rain. [4] Officials reported two deaths each in the states of Alabama and Florida, which included people who were killed after trees fell on their houses. [4] At least 600,000 people were without power in several states as of Saturday afternoon, according to poweroutage.us. [4] Isaias made landfall in Florida on late Friday with maximum sustained winds of 105 miles per hour before being downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone. [4] Two deaths were reported in Florida's Escambia County. A woman was killed after a tree fell on her house. [4] A man had died from carbon monoxide poisoning after running a generator in a garage that was not properly ventilated. [4] In neighbouring Alabama, a sheriff was injured when a tree fell on him as he was responding to a car crash. [4] Two Alabamians have lost their lives. [4] A shop also had its roof torn off in Milton, Florida. [4] The roof was blown off an apartment complex in Milton, Florida. [4] The storm felled trees and damaged houses. [4]
Flooding and Emergency Measures
Isaias triggered flooding risks in the Carolinas and Georgia with up to 10 inches of rain. [3] [4] Officials issued evacuation orders and states of emergency in Alabama, Florida and Georgia. [4] Alabama, Florida and Georgia all declared states of emergency ahead of its arrival, while both Florida and Alabama issued mandatory evacuation orders to thousands of people. [4] Officials had to rescue people in vehicles that were submerged by flood waters. [4] The Florida National Guard shared pictures of a truck stuck in a flood ditch, saying soldiers stopped, swam to the vehicle and pulled its occupants to safety. [4] Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said flooding was a continued risk and warned of a very hazardous situation. [4] In Charleston, South Carolina, officials asked people to stay home on Saturday night as high tide is expected to reach 7.5 ft. [4] The storm is expected to continue to weaken as it travels to the north-east, but the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration warned the Carolinas and Georgia could see floods from up to 10 inches of rainfall. [4] Heavy rain and thunderstorms also raised concerns about flooding in parts of South Carolina and Georgia. [3] Flooding was reported in some areas, with officials warning that additional rainfall could worsen conditions. [3]
Pacific Storm Threats to Mexico
Separately, Category 4 Hurricane Simon threatened Mexico’s Pacific coast with landfall expected late Saturday or Sunday, while Tropical Storm Rachel headed toward Baja California. [4] [5] Simon, currently located off the Pacific coast of Jalisco and Colima, is now a Category 4 hurricane and will make landfall this weekend. [5] Hurricane Simon strengthened into a Category 4 hurricane on Saturday morning, with sustained winds of 230 km/h. [5] The eye could pass near or over Mexico’s west-central coast late Saturday or Sunday. [5] The impact zone could be Cihuatlán, La Huerta, Tomatlán, Cabo Corrientes or Puerto Vallarta in Jalisco, or Manzanillo, Colima. [5] Rainfall could reach 20 to 38 centimeters, with isolated totals of 64 centimeters. [5] Far out in the Pacific, Tropical Storm Rachel, which briefly reached hurricane strength, stayed clear of the Mexican coastline on Saturday but was expected to weaken and send its remnants toward Baja California and the U.S. Southwest. [5]
Broader Atlantic Hurricane Context
Hurricane Isaias was the first hurricane in the Atlantic's hurricane season, which largely has been delayed due to El Niño conditions in the Pacific. [4] [5] On the Atlantic side, Isaias became the season’s first hurricane Wednesday night, the latest first hurricane in the 60-year modern era. [5] It was forecast to make U.S. landfall Friday evening, with no Mexico landfall expected, though it dumped heavy rain on the Gulf coast and Yucatán Peninsula states. [5] It followed Mexico’s first hurricane-free Atlantic September since 1994, a contrast with a Pacific that had produced nine hurricanes by Wednesday. [5] Experts point to a super El Niño, which warms Pacific waters and raises wind shear in the Atlantic. [5]
What to watch next: Hurricane Simon will make landfall this weekend with the eye possibly passing near or over Mexico’s west-central coast late Saturday or Sunday, while Tropical Storm Rachel is expected to weaken and send its remnants toward Baja California.
