The only thing hitting the beach was a nearly six-foot surf and wind gusts of 35 mph. The water parks posted "no swimming" signs, thanks to the slow-moving storm.

Frances showered as much as five inches of rain in some areas in the Lowcountry. A tornado watch, meaning conditions are ripe for tornadoes, is in effect until 5 a.m. this morning for Berkeley, Dorchester, coastal Colleton, and Charleston counties, although none were reported on the ground as of 11 p.m. Monday. A flood watch is effect for the same areas through 6 p.m. today.

It should be less breezy here today with a 60 percent chance of rain and thunderstorms. Conditions are expected to slowly improve as Frances moves north.

"But there is still a lot of moisture through Thursday," said meteorologist Bob Bright with the National Weather Service in Charleston.

About noon Monday, on what is normally one of Folly Beach County Park's busiest days of the year, less than a dozen people were on the sand. "It's supposed to be bright and sunny and warm," said park manager Mark Noble. "It's supposed to be the last hurrah of the summer, and no one's getting to do that today."

Charleston County's three water theme parks were closed because of rain.

Whirlin' Waters at North Charleston's Wannamaker County Park typically has about 2,000 Labor Day visitors each year.

"It's usually a pretty big weekend," said park operations aid Jeff

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