Ana has been downgraded to a tropical depression with maximum winds now at 35 mph. Heavy rains caused the lake between 30th and 33rd Ave. North at Nixon Street to flood into homeowners back yards. Nixon St. was blocked off to traffic with cones, water could be seen 6 inches over ground level of homes.
2-3 feet of beach erosion could also be witnessed at the shoreline. People at Cherry Grove Pier say that adds to the 50-60 feet of sand the area has lost since the last renourishment project took place back in 2008.
Ana made landfall as a tropical storm just north of Myrtle Beach around 6am this morning. The tropical depression is currently stalled over Columbus County, NC and winds will continue to slowly diminish through the rest of the evening. Rain will continue to be an issue with the heaviest rain over North Carolina. Some spots in North Myrtle Beach have already seen over 3 inches of rain, and parts of Brunswick County has seen over 4 inches of rain. These are the areas that will continue to see rain this afternoon.
Areas along the Grand Strand from Myrtle Beach southward, plus the Pee Dee will continue to see breezy conditions with 15-25 mph winds. Scattered showers will also continue, and some spots could see some brief heavy rain, but for most of us, the worst of the storm is over.
Ana with slowly push to the north this afternoon. Ana will gradually pick up speed tonight and throughout Monday, exiting the area.
The Myrtle Beach Police Department issued a Red Flag Alert Thursday morning for city beaches and will not allow any swimming until the threat has passed.
—WBTW News Staff contributed to this story.
