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Ernesto sweeps by Lowcountry

Tropical storm warning lifted for Beaufort County

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The outer rain bands of Tropical Storm Ernesto brought a series of light showers to coastal South Carolina on Thursday, but an eastward track of the storm spared Beaufort County from most of the storm's wind and rain.

Web Extras

What's open, what's not: List of today's weather-related cancellations
The Island Packet/Beaufort Gazette 2006 Hurricane Guide
Current weather conditions, forecast and radar and satellite maps
PHOTO GALLERY: Tropical Storm Ernesto
National Weather Service's Tropical Prediction Center

• Photo: Projected path of Tropical Storm Ernesto as of Thursday at 8 p.m. Source: National Weather Service.
  
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At 5 p.m. Thursday, Tropical Storm Ernesto was centered 75 miles east of Charleston heading north-northeast at 17 mph. The storm had maximum winds of about 70 mph with higher gusts. The storm is projected to make landfall near the South Carolina-North Carolina border late Thursday, according to the latest forecast from the National Hurricane Center.

The latest forecast lifted a tropical storm warning for Beaufort County, but warnings are still in effect from north of Edisto Beach extending into North Carolina. A hurricane watch remained in effect from the South Santee River near Georgetown up to Cape Lookout, N.C.

Ernesto was downgraded to a tropical depression over Florida Wednesday, then re-strengthened as it moved over the warm waters of the Atlantic late last night.

After the storm makes landfall tonight, it was expected to head into central North Carolina, weakening shortly after reaching land. The system is expected to move little after that, and produce soaking rains over portions of North Carolina and Virginia.

Contact Peter Frost at 706-8169 or .