Rare double-header of early tropical storms creeps toward NC

Tropical Storm Beryl made landfall near Jacksonville Beach, Fla., around 12:10 a.m. Monday with nearly hurricane-strength winds of 70 mph. By 11 am., its winds had slowed to 35 mph, downgrading it to a tropical depression.

Beach-goers in North Carolina need to be alert for dangerous surf conditions, including rip tides. Most beaches have red "No Swimming" flags flying.

"Beryl won't make a direct hit on the North Carolina coast, but we'll need to keep watching it into the middle of the week," WRAL meteorologist Aimee Wilmoth said.

After stalling over Florida and Georgia Monday and dumping heavy rain there, Beryl will start quickly scooting northeast Tuesday.

"Right now, we think the heaviest rains in eastern North Carolina will be east of Interstate 95, but we could still get some decent amounts of rain in these parts as well before the system speeds out into the Atlantic and loses tropical characteristics later on this week," said WRAL Chief Meteorologist Greg Fishel.

Damaging winds will likely stay offshore. "We think it's mainly going to be a rain issue for eastern North Carolina, maybe some rip currents and heavy surf in spots," WRAL meteorologist Mike Moss said.

The Triangle can expect heavy showers and thunderstorms Tuesday night, continuing into Wednesday morning.

During the day Wednesday, Beryl will roll off into the Atlantic Ocean.

Beryl was the second named tropical storm in May, following Tropical Storm Alberto. Hurricane season doesn't officially begin until June 1.

"It's not something that happens very often," Moss said.

The last time that happened was 1907, when two hurricanes formed in March and May. Before that, two tropical storms formed in May 1887.

The remains of Tropical Storm Beryl soaked beach vacations and some Memorial Day remembrance services in southern Georgia and northern Florida on Monday and knocked out power to tens of thousands, though emergency officials said it hasn't brought any major damage.

Joyce Connolly, of Hurricane, W.Va., a doctor of theology, came to Jacksonville Beach for the holiday and the Jacksonville Theological Seminary's graduation. Connolly said she and her daughters had watched the weather forecasts about Beryl, but thought they would be OK.

"It definitely changed our vacation to unfortunate circumstances that we're not happy with, but you just have to live with it," Connolly said. On Sunday, she said they "actually walked over here on the little walkway, the boardwalk, and the wind was just too bad."

Bands of rain sprayed Georgia's 100-mile coast, where veterans groups braved the weather as they marched ahead with traditional graveside observances for Memorial Day. At Savannah's historic Bonaventure Cemetery, where a plot reserved for veterans had small American flags at each tombstone, the downpour paused just as a crowd of about 100 starting arriving.

"When we were setting up, I had a different shirt on and I got soaked to the skin. My socks and my underwear probably are, too," said Jim Grismer, commander of American Legion Post 135 in Savannah. "I had so many people trying to talk me into moving it inside. But I said then you can't have the live firing salute and the flag raising."

Robert Schulz, an 80-year-old former Marine who served in the Korean War, held a folded umbrella in one hand as he saluted with the other during the service. Schulz said he and his wife briefly considered skipping the ceremony for the first time in 10 years.

"I said it would be terrible if nobody showed up," Barbara Schulz said. "We had to come for our veterans."

Except for ruining holiday plans, the rain was welcome on the Georgia coast, which has been parched by persistent drought. In McIntosh County south of Savannah, emergency management chief Ray Parker said a few roadways had been flooded for a brief time but the ground was quickly soaking up the 1 to 2 inches of rainfall that had fallen so far.

"We've needed it for a long time," said Parker, who said the worst damage in his county had been caused by trees falling on two homes overnight. "We were lucky that we didn't get 3 to 4 inches in 30 minutes. Most of it soaked right in before it had a chance to run off. It fell on an empty sponge."

A frontal system coming south from the Great Lakes is expected to push weakened Beryl into the Atlantic Ocean later in the week. Georgia Power reported about 2,900 people were without power Monday morning. Jacksonville city officials say 20,000 were without power and bus service was canceled because of so many flooded roads, downed power lines and trees.

Streets in Jacksonville Beach were unusually vacant. Bands of blinding rain alternated with dry conditions.

Taylor Anderson, captain of Jacksonville Beaches' American Red Cross Volunteer Lifesaving Corps, said he was coordinating safety procedures with local government officials. The beach was closed, but before it was on Sunday, lifeguards over and over again had to warn people to get out of the water, he said.

"Now that the storm's finally onshore and people can see that it's so dangerous and the winds and the current are up, people are lot more hesitant to go in, more so than yesterday," Anderson said.

The weather system also would likely complicate things for returning holiday travelers, some of whom had to scrap their beach and camping trips early because of the weather. Cumberland Island National Seashore off the Georgia coast will be closed at least through Tuesday and park Superintendent Fred Boyles said campers were asked to leave the area Sunday. He said the park does not seem to have serious damage.

In northeast Florida, several Memorial Day events were canceled, including one honoring veterans at the St. Augustine National Cemetery and a parade in Palatka.

"I don't mean to sound mushy, but today is Memorial Day and I hate that it ruined some plans," said Glynn County, Ga., emergency management director Jay Wiggins. "But that's just the nature of the weather." His county between Savannah and Jacksonville also had some downed trees and power outages, but there the rain is also welcome.

"I know it had a lot of folks worried, but it certainly will help us," he said.

Beryl was expected to bring 4 to 8 inches of rain to parts, with some areas getting as much as a foot. Forecasters said the storm surge and high tide could bring 2 to 4 feet of flooding in northeastern Florida and Georgia, and 1 to 2 feet in southern South Carolina.

Officials reported no serious injuries, but the Coast Guard said crews in Charleston Harbor in South Carolina rescued three people and a dog from a sinking recreational vessel late Sunday morning.