MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — The city of Myrtle Beach put up double red flags on its beaches Friday, meaning swimmers are not allowed in the water.
The reason? Weather. Heavy rain and high winds are expected this weekend as a storm system off the Carolina coast drenches the region Saturday and Sunday. Offshore winds could gusts as high as 60 mph along the South Carolina coast, leading to rip currents and dangerous water conditions.
Saturday will be the worst day of the weekend.
"I'm going to be completely transparent with you, Saturday is not going to be a great day," WCNC Charlotte Chief Meteorologist Brad Panovich explains in his Weather IQ YouTube weather vlog on Friday. "What's interesting is this big plume of moisture. There's going to be like a firehose of moisture on the north side, that's going to drive the heaviest rainfall amounts, especially when you interact it with the mountains and the cold air trapped over the western Carolinas."
An emergency manager with the city told WYFF-TV that conditions will determine when the flags come down. In the meantime, anyone on the beach will not be allowed in the water.
Property owners are being asked to secure all outdoor furniture and small items that can be picked up by the winds.
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