IDALIA IMPACTS: Flooded streets, road closures in Grand Strand, Pee Dee after Idalia

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WMBF) – Idalia brought heavy winds, rain and flooding to the Grand Strand and Pee Dee as it moved through our area Wednesday afternoon into early Thursday morning.

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Below you will find minute-by-minute updates, pictures and videos on damage, closings, and announcements in connection to Idalia:

1:02 p.m. Highway 917 from Shelley Lane to Grainger Road is closed.

1:01 p.m. - Barnhill Road from Nichols Highway to Sycamore Circle is closed.

12:59 p.m. Highway 19 from Barnhill Road to 917 is closed.

12:48 p.m. - Lewis Ocean Bays Heritage Preserve is closed to vehicle traffic until further notice. As of writing, the property is only open to foot traffic.

12:40 p.m. - Georgetown County returns to normal operating conditions.

10:39 a.m. - The Marion County Sheriff’s Office is reporting flooding on Highway 76 in front of the Prison Camp/County Maintenance shop. The only road completely closed in the county is Guyton Road. A portion of Shannon Road is also closed.

10:17 a.m. - As of writing, 14 flights at the Myrtle Beach International Airport have been canceled in the last 24 hours.

10:11 a.m. - Many customers across the Grand Strand and Pee Dee are seeing power return.

9 a.m. - A Pawleys Island couple said a tornado caused a tree to fall on their house Wednesday night.

8:06 a.m. - Horry County moves back to OPCON 3, normal operations. The county was at OPCON 2 for Idalia. Government offices will resume normal operations at 10 a.m. Thursday.

7:29 a.m. - Chief Meteorologist Jamie Arnold discovered additional damage between 55th Avenue and 59th Avenue in Cherry Grove, including a hotel. Another home had the porch ripped off. Part landed on the house next door, and the rest was blown into the marsh.

7:01 a.m. - In Garden City, Atlantic Avenue from Seacrest Drive is closed. Cypress Avenue is closed from Elizabeth Drive.

6:59 a.m. - Cates Bay Highway from Hunting Swamp to Elbow Road is closed.

6:15 a.m. - Our crews spotted multiple fire crews responding to flooding on Ninth Avenue and Ash Street for flooding in the Aynor area.

5:52 a.m. - Highway 501 in Anyor is closed from the overpass to Myrtle Beach Welcome Center. Highway 701 in Loris is closed from Walnut Street to S-151. All of this is due to flooding & water in the roadways. All of the closure are because of flooding and water in the roadways.

5:40 a.m. - City of Hartsville announced the following road closures: E Camden Road towards 4th Street and North 5th South Bound Lane at Lakeview.

5:38 a.m. - The City of Conway said the following roads are still closed: Main Street at Boundary Street and Long Avenue Extension at Grier Swamp.

5:20 a.m. - Power outages increase overnight as Idalia moves out of the Grand Strand. Duke Energy Progress is currently reporting over 6,500 customers in the Pee Dee without power. Click here for the full list.

10:50 p.m. - The National Weather Service reports that the North Myrtle Beach Fire and Rescue reported possible tornado damage around 57th Avenue North and Ocean Boulevard in the Cherry Grove area. The damage continues about several blocks to the northwest. No injuries were reported.

10:23 p.m. - Tornado warning for northern Horry County has been canceled.

10:20 p.m. - Meteorologist Matt Bullock is in Aynor where roads are flooded along Highway 501.

10:10 p.m. - Tornado Warning in effect for northern Horry County, including Little River and Longs, until 10:45 p.m.

10:02 p.m. - The town of Surfside Beach is reporting that the following roads are flooded:

• 3rd Avenue South and Ocean Boulevard
• S Ocean Boulevard 15 South parking lot at Surfside Resort
• 3rd Avenue North & Ocean Boulevard
• Ocean Boulevard North from 3rd Avenue North to 6th Avenue North
• Ocean Blvd 7th Avenue North (Power Line down)
• Dogwood North & 10th Avenue North
• Dogwood North between 10th Avenue North & 12th Avenue North
• Oak Drive North & 4th Avenue North
• Dogwood Drive North at Myrtle Lake

10 p.m. - The National Weather Service has allowed the TORNADO WATCH for Horry and Georgetown counties to expire. The tornado watch has ended.

8:01 p.m. - North Myrtle Beach Fire Rescue is reporting that several streets in the Cherry Grove area are closed due to flooding. We’ve received several pictures and videos from viewers showing roads underwater. North Myrtle Beach Fire Rescue added that there are temporary road closures along Ocean Boulevard and side streets through Crescent Beach and Ocean Drive due to flooding.

Drivers are being told to not drive through flooded streets and don’t move any cones or barricades that are put in place.

7:28 p.m. - The storm surge is pushing past the new sand fencing that the city of Myrtle Beach just put up in an effort to naturally rebuild the dunes that were destroyed during Hurricane Ian in September 2022.

7:16 p.m. - Georgetown County Emergency Management Director Brandon Ellis confirms that a tree is down on a house along True Blue Drive in Pawleys Island which is near the Pawleys Island Community Church. He reports that there are no injuries.

7:11 p.m. - A car along South Ocean Boulevard in North Myrtle Beach appears to be stuck due to the rising floodwaters.

7 p.m. - Tornado Warning in effect until 7:30 p.m. for northern Horry County which includes parts of North Myrtle Beach and Little River.

6:54 p.m. - Our crews are starting to see flooded roads in North Myrtle Beach. The video below was taken along South Ocean Boulevard and 1st Avenue South just across the street from Buoys on the Boulevard. Conditions will continue to get worse as high tide hits in about an hour.

6:26 p.m. - The Georgetown County Emergency Management Director confirmed a possible tornado hit near the Sampit community. He said first responders are reporting that two homes were damaged and multiple trees are down in the area.

5:40 p.m. - Pictures show Ocean Boulevard covered with water as heavy rains from Idalia hit the Grand Strand. Drivers are being reminded to be careful when coming across that are filled with water.

5:22 p.m. - Tornado Warning in effect for parts of Horry, Georgetown and Marion counties until 5:45 p.m.

5 p.m. - Idalia weakens to a tropical storm.

4:43 p.m. - Georgetown County Emergency Management is reporting that several roads throughout the county are experiencing minor, street-level flooding. You’re asked to not drive through floodwaters or drive around the barricades.

4:40 p.m. - Road conditions are starting to deteriorate in Horry County. The police department posted a warning to drivers that if you see a “Road Closed” sign then turn around. Officers are seeing drivers go around the barriers and onto flooded roads.

3 p.m. - The Horry County Emergency Operations Center has been activated in a limited capacity for potential impacts from Idalia. Staff will be working through the night to coordinate information, operations and logistics for the storm.

2 p.m. - South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster provides an update on Idalia and the storm’s potential impact to the Palmetto State. He said even though the storm isn’t as strong as others that state has seen, it is still a dangerous storm and everyone must stay alert.

12:20 p.m. – City of Myrtle Beach issues a double red flag day along the beaches until further notice. Double red flags mean that everyone should remain out of the ocean due to dangerous surf conditions. The city will have beach patrols throughout the day, and they are asking for your safety and for the safety of the beach crews to stay out of the water.

TRACKING IDALIA:

• Horry County declares local state of emergency in preparation for Hurricane Idalia
• LIST: Sandbag distributions held across the Pee Dee
• LIST: Closings, cancellations, postponements announced ahead of Hurricane Idalia
• LIST: School districts announce early dismissals, eLearning days ahead of Idalia
• Georgetown County declares state of emergency to prepare for Hurricane Idalia
• Conway declares state of emergency for anticipated effects of Hurricane Idalia
• South Carolina declares state of emergency ahead of Hurricane Idalia
• North Myrtle Beach officials, residents and visitors prepare for Idalia
• Horry County emergency management officials prepare for impacts of Idalia

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