Heavy rains and strong winds wreaked havoc on the East Coast on Sunday, forcing water rescues from flooded streets and disrupting holiday celebrations. Dozens of drivers were rescued from the water in Georgetown, South Carolina. The areas that we normally see flooding are not the only ones that are flood prone.
The tide in Charleston Harbor hit its fourth highest level on record and was well above the highest tide for a non-tropical system. Jeff Masters, co-founder of the Weather Underground, said that rising sea levels caused by climate change mean that storm surge previously associated with hurricanes can now occur. Charleston is expected to see another 14 inches of sea level rise by the year 2050. He said that the sea level has risen so much that most of those would not have been flooded 100 years ago. The weather service said that the storm was expected to gain strength as it tracked along the Georgia and Carolina coasts, producing heavy rain and strong winds before moving into New England. There were many road closings in Charleston and across South Carolina due to the high winds. There were no reports of injuries or deaths in Georgetown County. The National Weather Service said that Charleston International Airport had more than 3 inches of rain in 24 hours. Moderate to minor coastal flooding was expected Sunday up the coast. There were more than 31,000 power outages in South Carolina, according to Power Outage.us. Kathy Hochul warned of the possibility of 2 to 4 inches of rain, powerful winds, and potential flooding in parts of the state. New York Mayor Eric Adams said that they would get through the storm. The weather service said cold air behind the storm would bring lake-effect snow to the Great Lakes. The storm dumped up to 5 inches of rain across Florida, forcing the cancellation of boat parades and other holiday celebrations. Major airports remained open, however, at the start of the busy holiday travel season. The Sheriff of Lee County, on Florida's southwestern coast, said on X, "Today is not the day to go swimming or boating." The storm could be good news for residents in southwest Florida, who have been facing water restrictions due to the region's dry season. The weather service warned of 2 to 4 inches of rain in parts of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware, with the heaviest expected late Sunday night, and possible urban and small stream flooding. Moderate coastal flooding along Delaware Bay and widespread minor coastal flooding elsewhere were warned of by the forecasters. There is a chance of excessive precipitation over parts of New England through Monday morning.