What downtown Myrtle Beach is experiencing as Hurricane Dorian moves in
The roads were clear and there was minimal damage visible Thursday around Myrtle Beach’s Ocean Boulevard area and beyond.
Some debris in the street, stray beach chairs in the road and a downed pizza shop sign appeared to be the worst of it before the storm was expected to pass by Myrtle Beach Thursday evening.
The Myrtle Beach Fire Department did respond to a downed tree in the morning when the heavy rain stopped and residents began venturing outside. The tree had cracked slightly at its base and was leaning onto the roof of a condo complex at Seaside South, near the intersection of 16th Avenue and North Kings Highway.
The tree hadn’t caused any damage yet, and firemen relayed to residents that there wasn’t anything they could do about it.
William Magill, who lives in one of the condos in the building, said he wasn’t too worried about it but did wonder what direction the tree might blow once the wind increased later in the day.
Magill said he’s lived there for about four years and didn’t evacuate for Hurricane Matthew or Florence, and never considered it this time, either.
The roads stayed clear for the most part around Myrtle Beach.
A few people ventured out to the beach during breaks in the rain. There was some minor flooding in low-lying areas where rainwater had pooled in streets and yards.
“Dorian’s track has started making a turn to the northeast this morning. The current forecast has Dorian passing 50-60 miles offshore,” Mark Malsick with the South Carolina State Climate Office said around 9 a.m. Thursday.
“Coastal sustained winds are forecast to be 30-60 mph with 75 mph gusts from Charleston to Horry County this afternoon,” he said.
High winds and surf caused some erosion along the beach Thursday morning, and the area will see more after high tide arrived around 1:30 p.m.
Families and individuals also visited the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk, photographing and taking videos of the ocean.
Forestbrook resident John Gonzalez comes to the boardwalk near the SkyWheel for each hurricane to see the waves and what the weather is doing. And this time, he plans to wait it out on the boardwalk — until the storm strengthens and he has to weather the rest from his car parked along Ocean Boulevard.
“I love this stuff — love chasing it,” he said. “This is nothing compared to what I’ve seen in the Navy.”
Folks at 8th Avenue North were on the beach, taking photos and looking at the rough waves — one lady was sitting in a beach chair while her children searched for shells.
Jay Moon, who lives about five blocks off the boardwalk at 9th Avenue North, said he had been there since 7:30 a.m., and he plans to stay and watch as the storm rolls through.
“I don’t want to go home,” Moon said. “I’m having a ball.”
This story was originally published September 5, 2019 at 12:18 PM.