3rd day for high wind in Myrtle Beach area. Weekend gusts, storms brought damage and hail

Terri Richardson
·2 min read

Horry County residents may want to tie down loose decorations and other items that could be blown away as wind gusts are expected to reach 35 mph this afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.

This is the third day that residents have experienced high winds – some that caused damage over the weekend.

While it will be dry and sunny Tuesday with temperatures in the 70s, open burning is not advised and residents should secure loose items, said Adam Weiner, meteorologist with the NWS Wilmington office.

The National Weather Service’s Wilmington office issued an advisory Monday that said that the combination of gusty winds and falling relative humidity values could lead to an increased fire damage. The statement said that outdoor burning is discouraged especially Tuesday and Wednesday.

“Even though everything is greening up as we start to get out of peak wildfire season, the risk is ever-present, and residents should always try to refrain from burning in windy conditions, as fire can jump and make a small situation turn large in a few moments,” Tony Casey, spokesman for Horry County Fire Rescue, said Tuesday by text message.

Those considering open burning need to call the South Carolina Forestry Commission prior to burning and review the burning information on the Horry County Fire Rescue’s website, Casey said.

There also is small craft advisory for all the coastal waters, Weiner said.

Along the beaches in Myrtle Beach, there is a beach hazard statement for Tuesday that has been released by the National Weather Service of strong south to north long-shore current, according to Brian J. Mitchell, fire battalion chief with the Myrtle Beach Fire Department.

Sunday’s thunderstorms had wind gusts of up to 59 mph, Weiner said. The weather service received reports of trees down and hail in some areas of the Grand Strand.

Weiner said there was structural damage to roofs in Georgetown County, a tree that fell on a house in Surfside Beach and an uprooted tree in Garden City.

On Sunday, Horry County Fire Rescue reported lanes of traffic being blocked in Nichols from a large, downed tree in the roadway.

For Wednesday, wind gusts will continue, but not as high as Tuesday, Weiner said. Expect it to be sunny with winds at 25 to 30 mph, he said.