Update: Georgia, South Carolina expected to see the hurricane level impacts next Monday

A low category hurricane, which will soon be called Imelda, can reach the coast of Georgia and Carolinas in early next week, predicts the National Meteorological Service (NWS). Or at least, a tropical storm near or in hurricane intensity.

“Later on Monday, we will really see that the conditions begin to deteriorate,” said NWS Carl Barnes meteorologist at an informative session of the 6 PM on September 26.

Invest 94L has become an even more bite: “Potential tropical cyclone 9”. This is because it is not yet a well -formed storm, although the NWS says that it will organize in a cyclone during the weekend, since it ranges a stormy climate in the Bahamas.

The rain of this weekend in Savannah is not related to the imminent imelda. But when the system reaches the strength of hurricanes in early next week, the coasts from Georgia to the states of the South Atlantic can expect a wave of floods, high surfs, hangover currents, beach erosion, heavy rains and strong winds. Tornados are also possible, said the NWS forecast.

“We hope that the greatest rainfall is along and to the right or east of the central track of the storm” along coastal Carolina coastal and potentially southeast Georgia, Barnes said. The NWS expects the most serious conditions to occur on Monday night until Tuesday night.

While the map of the National Hurricane Center seems quite clear about where the possible tropical cyclone 9 is directed, “this does not mean that we have less uncertainty than before,” Barnes said.

Ultimately, it depends on which storm is faster: Humberto, or soon Imelda (also known as potential tropical storm 9).

• Scenario 1: If the possible tropical storm 9 moves ahead of Humberto, the storm could intensify on its own, most likely to tighten land along the coast of South Carolina. From there, it could stop or push more inland. This scenario has “the greatest potential for a stronger impact set, with a significant increase in wind, rain and tornado impacts,” Barnes said.

• Scenario 2: The storm approaches the coast, significantly slows down, stagnating near the coast of South Carolina. While there would be less immediate threats inwards, there would still be high threats along the coast, including prolonged winds and strong rains.

• Scenario 3: If Humberto moves to the north faster than the potential tropical cyclone 9 can organize and start moving north, the potential tropical cyclone could take farther from the coast. The impacts on the coast would be minimal.

“Unfortunately, at this point, we still do not have a great feeling of what will happen, but the scenarios one and two are our greatest concern at this time,” Barnes said.

Residents “must make sure they have their hurricanes plan in their place,” said the NWS. The National Meteorological Service Guide on how to prepare for the hurricane season can be found at Weather.gov/safty/hurricane.

Further: Humberto complicates the 94l path

Sandbags for savannah

The city of Savannah announced that it has entered into operational condition 4, the monitoring phase in a press release sent Friday night. As part of that state, emergency response staff with Savannah is waiting during the weekend.

Savannah residents and companies can collect sand and sandbags on Saturday, September 27 and Sunday, September 28, from 11 am to 4 pm, while exhausting stocks.

Sand sacks will be limited to five per household, and residents must bring their own blades. The supplies will be available until they are exhausted in the Enmarket Arena parking lot (630 Stiles Ave.) and the Savannah #7 Fire Station (6902 Sallie Mood Drive).

Port Wentworth Emergency Management said they will monitor the storm and provide updates on any possible road closure due to floods on their Facebook.

The city of Poler will have sand and sand bags, but the decision to make them available will probably come on Sunday, said Mayor Karen Williams on Facebook. There are already emergency personnel waiting throughout the weekend. Public Works teams have also redirected to concentrate on inspecting the sewers and clean the drains to help with any flood potential.

Updates will be provided as they are available.

Jillian Magtoto covers climate change and the environment on the coast of Georgia. You can communicate with her at jmagtoto@gannett.com. Destini Ambus is the general assignment reporter of Savannah Morning News, which covers the municipalities and community and cultural programs. You can communicate with her in Dambus@gannett.com

This report content is backed by an association with Green South Foundation, Prentice Foundation and journalism financing partners.

This article originally appeared in Savannah Morning News: Savannah Brajes for floods, rain and storm impacts in early next week