Heavy Rains Expected For July 4th

The National Weather Service at the Greenville/Spartanburg International Airport has extended its Flash Flood Watch into Thursday evening, something that may hamper Independence Day plans for those in the Golden Corner. Heavy rain is forecast for the Walhalla/Westminster/Seneca area Wednesday night into Thursday night and will remain a possibility into Friday. The storms within the system are very slow-moving and the heavy rain will cause creeks and streams to rise and could cause flooding in poor drainage areas. Anywhere from 1-5 inches of rain is expected across the area before mid-day Friday. Flash Flooding is a very dangerous situation and you should monitor the forecast for the latest information. Fourth of July campers and those participating in outdoor activities, especially in the mountains, should use extreme caution as flash floods or landslides may occur suddenly during times of heavy rainfall.  Tornadoes are also a possibility considering the unusually strong wind shear, a rarity in the month of July, and the general instability in the atmosphere. Lightning and  high winds can be expected with any strong storms that do develop.

There are numerous 4th of July events planned in the Golden Corner for Thursday and there have been no cancellations at this time, save for Walhalla’s Independence Eve celebration, which was planned for Wednesday evening. Kris Butts and Doug Stephens will be live on the “The Golden Corner’s Morning Show” beginning at 6:00 AM Thursday with the latest information on the events, as well as traffic, weather, and the day’s headlines.