Will Hurricane Helene cause flooding in the Myrtle Beach area? What the forecast says

While the Myrtle Beach area isn’t in Hurricane Helene’s direct path, the storm could still impact the Grand Strand.

The National Weather Service’s Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024, Hurricane Helene forecast that Myrtle Beach was at Minor to Moderate Impact of coastal flooding and flooding rain from Thursday night, Sept. 26, 2024, through Friday, Sept. 27, 2024.

The National Weather Service lists impact levels on a scale of 0-4. Zero corresponds with ‘Little to No Impact,’ One with ‘Minor Impact,’ Two with ‘Moderate Impact,’ Three with ‘High Impact’ and Four with ‘Extreme Impact.’

The report also listed that a storm surge of 1-3 feet might occur due to the storm Thursday with high tide and Friday, while areas with poor drainage could experience flash flooding.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration tracks flood levels of the Waccamaw River and Little Pee Dee River in Horry County. It predicts flood stages on a scale of least serious, graded as ‘Action,’ to most severe in ‘Major Flooding.’

NOAA’s forecast for the Little Pee Dee predicts the river will reach a high of 8.3 feet in the Action stage. NOAA also forecast that the Waccamaw River will rise to just below the ‘Minor Flooding’ stage Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, with a high of 11 feet.

This story was originally published September 26, 2024 at 7:33 AM.

Ben Morse

The Sun News

Ben Morse is the Retail and Leisure Reporter for The Sun News. Morse covers local business and Coastal Carolina University football and was awarded third place in the 2023 South Carolina Press Association News Contest for sports beat reporting and second place for sports video in the all-daily division. Morse previously worked for The Island Packet, covering local government. Morse graduated from American University in 2023 with a Bachelor’s Degree in journalism and economics and is originally from Prospect, Kentucky.