Tag: South Carolina storms

Tropical: Post-Tropical Isaias · Severe: Slight + Tornado Watch 679 · Flood: Moderate

What changed

• Post-Tropical Cyclone Isaias remains near 33.5N 86.9W as of WPC Advisory 17 at 4:00 p.m. CDT Saturday, October 10, 2026, about 5 miles west of Birmingham, Alabama, moving NNE at 15 mph with maximum sustained winds of 30 mph and minimum pressure 1007 mb. NHC has issued its final advisory; WPC continues flood tracking. All tropical warnings discontinued. Position advanced from earlier Saturday near 32.8N 86.8W at 35 mph.
• SPC Tornado Watch 679 remains in effect until 8:00 p.m. EDT for portions of eastern Georgia and southern/eastern South Carolina. SPC 2000 UTC Day 1 Outlook (issued 3:00 p.m. CDT) maintains Slight Risk focused on eastern GA into southern and eastern SC for a few tornadoes into this evening, with significant tornado probability along the GA/SC border. Active Tornado Warnings issued this afternoon for Barnwell, Aiken, Burke, and related counties (radar-indicated and observed).
• WPC Day 1 Excessive Rainfall Outlook (updated 1612 UTC) holds Moderate Risk across the Southern Appalachians (NE GA into Upstate SC and western NC) and portions of Southern California. Upslope totals of 3–5+ inches, locally 6–10 inches, remain the peak concern. Flash Flood Warnings active in portions of the Southeast.
• Tropical Storm Rachel as of NHC Advisory 55A around 5:00 p.m. PDT is near 27.4N 116.7W, moving NNE at 30 mph with 65 mph winds and 989 mb. Tropical Storm Watch continues for the Southern California coast from the U.S./Mexico border to the San Diego/Orange County line. Center expected to approach northern Baja this evening.
• No new NHC hurricane or storm-surge warnings for U.S. land. Residual Flood Watches, High Wind Warnings, and Wind Advisories persist in the Southeast and Southern Appalachians; Coastal Flood Warning and Flood Watch remain in Southern California.

Live status

As of Saturday afternoon, October 10, 2026, Post-Tropical Cyclone Isaias continues north-northeast across central Alabama near Birmingham and is forecast to accelerate northeast into the Tennessee Valley while dissipating. Rainfall totals of 3 to 6 inches with localized maxima of 10 inches are possible across the Southern Appalachians from northeast Georgia into the western Carolinas and from the upper coast of South Carolina into eastern North Carolina. Additional 1 to 2 inches are expected across the remainder of the Southeast into northern Florida. Flash, urban, and river flooding remains possible, with considerable impacts including landslides across the Southern Appalachians. Significant river flooding on the western Florida Panhandle will crest today through Sunday.

Tornado Watch 679 is live for eastern Georgia and southern/eastern South Carolina until 8:00 p.m. EDT. SPC notes the risk for a few tornadoes will continue into this evening across parts of eastern Georgia into southern and eastern South Carolina, with the greatest potential near the GA/SC border and conditional support for a strong tornado. Tornado Warnings have been issued this afternoon for radar-indicated and confirmed rotation in counties including Barnwell SC, Aiken SC, and Burke GA. A few severe wind gusts may also occur in parts of the Desert Southwest associated with Rachel interaction.

WPC maintains the Moderate Risk of excessive rainfall on the Southern Appalachians and on portions of Southern California as moisture associated with Rachel is drawn northeastward. Concentrated precipitation is expected later today into tonight as Rachel approaches the northern Baja/Southern California coast. Rainfall of 1 to 3 inches, locally up to 5 inches, is expected in portions of the Southwest this weekend, supporting increasing flash-flood coverage.

Hotspots

Southern Appalachians (northeast Georgia, Upstate South Carolina, western North Carolina): Primary flood hotspot under the WPC Moderate Risk. Strong upslope flow supports 3–5+ inches, with maximum totals of 6–10 inches possible across far western North Carolina into the Upstate of South Carolina. Considerable flash flooding and landslides are possible. High wind warnings remain in elevated terrain.

Eastern Georgia into western and southern South Carolina: SPC Slight Risk plus Tornado Watch 679 for tornadoes and isolated damaging winds. Warm-sector thunderstorms can produce brief tornadoes, especially near the Georgia/South Carolina border this afternoon into evening. Active Tornado Warnings and Flash Flood Warnings remain in effect in portions of the area this afternoon.

Southern California coast and Desert Southwest: Tropical Storm Watch on the San Diego County coastal areas. Moisture from Rachel drives the WPC Moderate Risk of excessive rainfall over portions of Southern California, with increasing flash-flood potential later today into tonight. Marginal severe wind gust risk noted by SPC in parts of the Lower Colorado River Valley into south-central Arizona. Coastal Flood Warning and Flood Watch in effect.

Central Alabama / Florida Panhandle residual: Center of the post-tropical system is near Birmingham. Residual heavy rain and isolated flash flooding continue along the inland track and in leftover banding. Coastal tropical warnings have ended; high wind warnings and wind advisories remain for parts of the Southeast and elevated terrain.

Pulse table

Region	Main threats	SPC / NWS / WPC level	Status this morning
Southern Appalachians (NE GA / Upstate SC / W NC)	Flash flood, landslides, 3–10 in upslope	WPC Moderate excessive rainfall	Live, ramping today
Eastern GA / western & southern SC	Brief tornadoes, damaging wind, flash flood	SPC Slight + Tornado Watch 679 to 8 p.m. EDT; active Tornado & Flash Flood Warnings	Live watch and warnings, afternoon–evening peak
Southern California coast / Desert Southwest	Heavy rain, flash flood, TS winds possible, coastal flood	WPC Moderate; TS Watch (San Diego County); Coastal Flood Warning / Flood Watch	Increasing tonight
Central AL / FL Panhandle residual	Residual heavy rain, isolated flood, wind gusts	Post-tropical 30 mph near Birmingham; high wind warnings	Ongoing, weakening
Rest of CONUS severe board	No other organized severe	Marginal only in SW; no other watches	Quiet elsewhere

Rising queries

• huracán isaias
• isaias remnants flood
• tornado watch South Carolina
• tropical storm Rachel San Diego
• southern Appalachians flooding

What this means for restoration teams

The coastal wind and surge ticket from Friday night landfall near Destin is largely closed. Immediate work shifts inland to freshwater extraction and tree/road clearance under residual rain bands and the Southern Appalachians Moderate Risk. Treat any tornado reports in the Georgia–South Carolina Slight Risk and Tornado Watch 679 (including current warnings) as narrow local surveys. On the West Coast, stage for potential flash flooding under the Rachel moisture and Tropical Storm Watch; do not treat San Diego County as a full hurricane landfall. Distinguish residual Florida Panhandle/Alabama freshwater tickets from new Appalachian upslope work and from the separate Southwest pulse.

What this is not

This is not an active hurricane or tropical-storm warning on the Gulf or Atlantic coast. All Storm Surge and Tropical Storm Warnings for Isaias have been discontinued. It is not a plains or Midwest severe outbreak. Rachel is a tropical-storm watch threat for extreme Southern California, not a major hurricane landfall. The organized hazards are the SPC Slight tornado risk and Tornado Watch 679 (with active warnings) in Georgia and South Carolina, the WPC Moderate excessive-rainfall risks in the Southern Appalachians and Southern California, and residual inland flooding from the post-tropical remnants of Isaias.

Looking ahead

Isaias remnants are expected to continue north-northeast into the Tennessee Valley and dissipate on Sunday. SPC Day 2 outlook maintains a Slight Risk of severe thunderstorms over portions of North Carolina, Virginia, and southeast Maryland for Sunday afternoon and evening. Rachel is forecast to move ashore near the U.S./Mexico border tonight and weaken rapidly over the Southwest on Sunday, likely becoming post-tropical by Sunday morning. Watch the next Storm Tracker update for verification of the Appalachian rainfall totals and any expansion of the California products.

Sources and how to verify

Primary sources, dated Saturday, October 10, 2026: NOAA Storm Prediction Center Day 1 Convective Outlook (2000 UTC, Slight Risk eastern Georgia into southern and eastern South Carolina) and Tornado Watch 679; active NWS Tornado Warnings and Flash Flood Warnings in GA/SC; Weather Prediction Center Day 1 Excessive Rainfall Outlook and Discussion (Moderate Risk Southern Appalachians and Southern California, updated 1612 UTC); WPC Post-Tropical Cyclone Isaias Advisory 17 (4:00 p.m. CDT); National Hurricane Center Tropical Storm Rachel Advisory 55A. Prior desk: Friday evening Isaias landfall near Destin.

Check weather.gov for the county warning, spc.noaa.gov for the outlook and local storm reports, WPC excessive rainfall for the flood overlay, and nhc.noaa.gov for residual Isaias products and the latest Rachel advisory.

Informational only — not an official weather warning. Follow local authorities and the National Weather Service. Turn around, don’t drown.

Storm hub: Hurricane Isaias 2026 | Tropical Storm Rachel 2026