We’re thrilled that your family has chosen to spend this week with our family, and we’ve got some great news for you as well.
Your vacation this year happens to coincide with a full moon, meaning that you’ll get to enjoy one of the most beautiful sights our beach has to offer. However, a full moon often brings with it unusually high tides (known as “King Tides,”) and we are expecting that possibility this week.
Beginning on Sunday (9/15) and continuing through Friday (9/20,) you may see water in the streets around our office (including the “causeways” of Atlantic Ave. and Cypress Ave.) in both the morning and evening hours. The severity of this flooding can range from a few inches to a few feet, and is largely dependent on a number of factors including the wind direction and barometric pressure.
The important difference between this flooding and that which you may encounter inland is that this consists of salt water and can be corrosive to your vehicle. For this reason, we recommend that you avoid driving through it whenever possible.
The good news is that this condition only lasts for a few hours on either side of the high tide, and may not even be noticeable if the wind is favorable. (The early forecasts look good for the mid-week days, but not so good as we get towards Friday.) In addition, the phenomenon only occurs in Garden City Beach due to the area's proximity to the Murrells Inlet saltmarsh; if you're staying in Surfside Beach, you won't notice a thing (except for the full moon!) In either location, however, it’s a good idea to be prepared and to have alternate routes in mind to travel to and from the beach.
Our staff is always available to help, and can let you know if your property is located in an area likely to be affected. We can also recommend alternate routes and areas to avoid, so please don’t hesitate to call us with any questions you may have at (843) 651-2116.
Thank you and have a great week!
