Half-foot of rain hits Charleston, South Carolina

September 1st, 2015

Awake Goy

© WCBD-TV
When an unusually high tide — called a “King Tide” — coincided with more than six inches of rain in Charleston on Monday — even the alligators got caught up in the flooding.

When an unusually high tide — called a “King Tide” — coincided with more than six inches of rain in Charleston on Monday — even the alligators got caught up in the flooding.

During Monday — now officially the 5th wettest on record in the town — part of an embankment collapsed off Interstate 526 in Charleston as heavy rain led to flash flood warnings in the Lowcountry.

Heavy rain caused the collapse near the intersection of I-526 and Dorchester Road according to the National Weather Service.

Firefighters had to carry children home though flooded streets after buses dropped the students off in still-flooded neighborhoods in the afternoon.

Meanwhile, an alligator was caught on camera swimming through the flooded streets of Shadowmoss Plantation in West Ashley, which is adjacent to Charleston, WCBD-TV reported. A viewer sent in a photo of the animal floating across a street in the neighborhood.

No one was hurt in all the flooding, which included the evacuation of a mobile home park. The Charlestowne Village Mobile Home Park, where 125 families reside, was evacuated in North Charleston.

A flash flood warning was in effect until 9:00 a.m. Monday for Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester counties. By 10:15 a.m. 6.43 inches of rain had fallen at the Charleston airport.

NWS reported as much as five to six inches of rain fell in the north Charleston, Hanahan, Shadowmoss and Goose Creek area since 5:00 a.m. There were reports of closed roads and at least one water rescue.

Market Street toward East Bay Street in the downtown area is flooded and closed according to our sister station WCBD.

Charleston along with other coastal areas were warned of possible flooding due to “King Tides.”

“King Tides” typically occur with the moon is closest to earth and they can cause shallow coastal flooding in places throughout Charleston.

“However, mixed with the heavy rainfall expected on Monday, the tides can make driving significantly more difficult for city drivers during the morning and late night hours,” a warning before the heavy rains said.