Hurricane Ian: Impacts on South Carolina
After Hurricane Ian carved a path of destruction, it made a second US landfall on September 30 near Georgetown, South Carolina, as a Category 1 hurricane. It was the first landfall of a hurricane in the state since Hurricane Matthew in 2016. Below is a list of some of the impacts observed in coastal portions of the state.
- Ian produced a storm surge of 5 to 6 feet across the Grand Strand, inundating coastal communities of Garden City, Surfside, Myrtle Beach, Pawleys Island, and Murrells Inlet. The storm surge and heavy rain flooded many roads, making them impassable and isolating residents on Pawleys Island until the water subsided.
- The tidal gauge at the Springmaid Pier reached 10.77 ft. above mean lower low water level, the third highest crest at the location, behind Hurricane Hugo (16 ft.) and Hurricane Matthew (13.6 ft.). Most of the piers in the region sustained damage from the high surf.
- An abandoned shrimp boat washed ashore in Myrtle Beach after the US Coast Guard rescued the crew on Thursday, September 29, after the ship experienced mechanical issues.
- The storm produced heavy rain across the Charleston Metropolitan area, including a new record daily rainfall total at the Charleston International Airport of 5.57" on September 30. Totals ranged from five to ten inches of rain in the area.
- Power outages across the state impacted more than 170,000 people.
