Winds might reach tropical storm force over the water during the night, Pete Mohlin, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Charleston said Wednesday evening. But during the day, the winds kicked up good wave conditions for experienced surfers at Folly Beach.

A tropical storm warning remained in effect all day and night Wednesday from the South Santee River near McClellanville north to Cape Fear, N.C. "It is going to be pretty breezy in Charleston," Mohlin said of today's weather.

Isabel was projected to pass due east of Charleston during the night but pass closest, about 275 miles away, late this morning as it steamed toward an expected landfall in North Carolina's Outer Banks.

Myrtle Beach saw 18-foot seas offshore, Charleston 14 feet offshore, and a buoy 200 miles east of Charleston recorded 27-foot seas. The Frying Pan Shoals buoy, 100 miles east of Myrtle Beach, recorded 18-foot swells and winds of 50 knots Wednesday evening.

By evening Myrtle Beach had winds of 15 to 25 mph, Georgetown 10 to 15 mph with winds expected to pick up overnight in coastal areas. Georgetown and Horry counties probably will have less than 1 inch of rain, compared with the 6 to 10 inches expected near the center of the storm. Berkeley County could get a little rain, but Charles-ton has only a 20 percent chance.

"The bulk of the activity will be offshore," Mohlin said.

Tides will run only 6 to 12 inches above normal, not enough to cause coastal flooding.

"Beach erosion is more of a concern," he said, adding that erosion may strike some isolated locations. The Charleston weather service office issued advisories for high surf and high risk of rip currents; waves of 7 to 8 feet were reported. Isabel was passing Savannah about 7 p.m. Wednesday as a buoy off the Georgia coast recorded 20-foot seas.

The strongest winds will leave the state by mid- to late afternoon, Mohlin said. Seas will start calming down late today near Charleston, but high seas will linger into Friday in Georgetown and Horry counties.

A breezy morning with winds of 15 to 25 mph on land and 25 to 30 mph on the beach will turn into a sunny afternoon. Winds will range from 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon on land and decrease to 10 to 15 mph tonight before a mostly sunny day Friday.

On Wednesday, surfers made the most of what Isabel brought the Lowcountry.

"Look at that. That's awesome," said Rick Anson as he pointed to a tubular breaker on Folly Beach. Conditions were among the best he's had in 32 years of surfing, he said.

"I caught five or six of the best waves I've had in several years," said the 46-year-old Charleston resident as he watched buddies ride the large waves churned up by Isabel. While he and others are stoked, they say if you aren't an experienced surfer, now is not the time to go into the water.

"I definitely don't recommend beginners coming out here," he said. "Several guys have already had board's broken, and you can get beaten up pretty good. You need to have the experience to dive away from the board when you go down."

Surfer Luke Pope, 22, of Charleston agreed.

"Don't go out there now if you aren't familiar with surfing," he said. "It's not going to be a good weekend to learn. It's a lot more powerful when you get out there than what it looks like."

They also pointed to dangerous rip currents along the shore. Large waves roll onto the beach, then retreat.

When sand bars partially block the exit, water builds up and rushes back to sea through breaks in the sand. That creates fast-moving currents that capture anything from surfers and swimmers to sea weed and drag them out to sea.

Even before Isabel reached the South Carolina shore Wednesday, Gov. Mark Sanford scaled down operations at the Emergency Management Division and coordinated law enforcement to assist with expected North Carolina evacuations into this state.

"Governor Sanford continues to watch Isabel and get updates from state agencies," spokesman Chris Drummond said.

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