He was concerned Hurricane Charley could hit the state's southern coast near high tide Saturday morning, creating a potentially life-threatening storm surge.

"We're not pulling the trigger just yet, but given the potential in our state for lowland flooding and 65-mile-per-hour winds with Charley, there's a real possibility that a voluntary evacuation for our Southeastern coastal areas could come as early as (today)," he said.

Sanford's statement came after a day of modest precautions by Lowcountry emergency planners at the Charleston County Emergency Preparedness Center and the National Weather Service.

"We're on the (right) side, where the weather would be worse," said meteorologist Pete Mohlin of the National Weather Service. "But it looks like it will be a tropical storm, if that."

With the approach of Bonnie, thunderstorms with heavy rain and lightning started rolling through the Lowcountry on Thursday and continued early this morning, prompting severe thunderstorm warnings and tornado warnings by the National Weather Service.

Meanwhile, Charley's precise path toward South Carolina will be clearer today. As Berkeley County Emergency Manager Jason Patno said, "The storm is too far out to determine a worst-case scenario."

No school closings were announced for today, but Dana Enck, Charleston County School District's safety coordinator, said parents should tune in to radio or television updates this morning.

"It doesn't appear there's any threat to our children," she said.

Tropical Storm Bonnie, which took an inland route through South Carolina on Thursday, caused enough concern for Dorchester District 4 in St. George to move its students from portable classrooms into main buildings. It also postponed the new superintendent's reception from Thursday to 6 p.m. Tuesday at Woodland High School.

In Colleton County, Superintendent Charles Gale said he expected a decision soon as to whether schools would be opened as shelters.

County Administrator Roland Windham advised residents to stay tuned. "We have no idea what is going to occur right now because of the fickleness of the storm," he said.

Berkeley had no imminent plans to open shelters or close schools, but Patno advised residents to expect heavy rains and winds through Sunday and to clear their lawns of furniture or debris that could get tossed in a strong wind.

At The Citadel, move-in day for freshmen was postponed from Saturday until Sunday between 7 and 11 a.m., college officials said. Any new student in the area who needs to arrive Saturday should report to McAlister Field House instead of Johnson Hagood Stadium.

Charleston County went to "OPCON 3" at 3 p.m. Thursday -- meaning it was activating its Emergency Operations Center on a limited basis.

IN THE PATH OF THE STORM

A northwest shift by Hurricane Charley on Thursday may have put the Charleston area at risk of strong winds and heavy rain Saturday, even if the storm weakens on a path across Florida and Georgia.

The expected track keeps Charley just inland along the Georgia coast after making landfall today near Tampa Bay and crossing Florida to Jacksonville. It then takes the storm across South Carolina roughly along Interstate 95. The storm is expected to diminish as it travels an inland route.

For the Charleston area, sustained winds were predicted to reach 40-45 mph with gusts of more than 50 mph. Closer to the storm center, sustained winds are expected to be more than 50 mph. Tornadoes are possible. Beaches and other open areas could get stronger winds. Storm surge is expected at a maximum of 3 to 4 feet. Rainfall is predicted to be 2 to 4 inches and possibly more, with isolated flooding.

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