FLORENCE -- Hurricane Frances appeared to be less of a threat to South Carolina and the Pee Dee on Thursday as the powerful storm carved a path through the Bahamas toward the southeast Florida coastline.

Its course means that the region will largely be spared its detrimental effects during the upcoming Labor Day holiday weekend, becoming only a little more noticeable in the form of some rain late Monday night and Tuesday as the remnants of the system begin to route across Alabama.

However, a high surf advisory was in effect along the Grand Strand on Thursday in anticipation of the early long-range effects from Frances, as its unusually large and powerful wind system whips up waves from the Florida Keys to the Carolinas.

The National Weather Service said dangerous surf conditions would likely exist today through Sunday with waves of four to six feet possible off the Myrtle Beach coast. A small craft advisory also was issued Thursday afternoon.

At 11 p.m., the hurricane had winds near 125 mph and was expected to hit the east coast of Florida as early as tonight. The hurricane is predicted to maintain a west-northwest to northwest track for the next couple days.

However, forecasters said they don’t believe this is the long-anticipated turn they have been predicting, although that was still projected to occur once Frances traveled across the Florida peninsula and re-emerged over the Gulf of Mexico on Sunday. It was then expected to strike the Panhandle be-fore working its way into Alabama on Monday and Tuesday.

Even so, the longer it takes for that turn to happen will put the Palmetto State increasingly out of harm’s way from the storm and its effects.

That’s good news, not just for the Pee Dee, but the state, which has had more than its share of tropical weather in the still young 2004 hurricane season.

“It may hit a little farther north and we may get some rain, but it’s not going to be a major event here,” said climatologist Mike Johnson of the Southeast Regional Climate Center in Columbia.

Johnson said the western regions of the state stood the greatest chance of getting any precipitation out of Frances, which at press time was predicted to give South Carolina a wide berth as it tracked Alabama late Monday and into Tuesday.

Areas of the Upstate and the Piedmont were forecast to receive perhaps an inch or less during this period with areas farther east across the state getting a half-inch or less. Any effects from Frances on the Pee Dee or the Lowcountry were expected to be light, he said.

Johnson said a ridge of high pressure over the western Atlantic Ocean persisted for several days, influencing Frances to maintain a west-northwest heading for the Florida coast. A reconnaissance aircraft sent to investigate the ridge reported Thursday it had strengthened.

Johnson said that factor would likely keep Frances on its current bearing and delay any permanent northwest turn until the ridge either weakens or the hurricane clears its zone of influence.

If and when the storm begins to arc, by this time likely downgraded to a minimal hurricane or tropical storm, the curve should be wide enough to lessen the effect on South Carolina.

“It will probably be a minimal impact for the entire state,” he said.

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