A strong summer storm that swept through the Lowcountry Saturday evening knocked down trees, disrupted traffic signals and left thousands of customers without power as the National Weather Service issued a flash-flood warning that includes downtown Charleston.
The storm affected the Old Village section of Mount Pleasant, where residents reported multiple toppled trees and local intersections with darkened traffic lights on major corridors such as Chuck Dawley Boulevard and Bowman Road.
What residents need to know
- Flash-flood warning: The National Weather Service has the warning in effect for Charleston; it was scheduled to run through 11:45 p.m.
- Road hazards: Officials warned that streets in portions of the city will be flooded and impassable; drivers are urged to avoid flooded areas.
- Power outages: Dominion Energy and Berkeley Electric Cooperative reported thousands of impacted customers across the tri-county area.
The Charleston Police Department posted an advisory describing the situation:
"Very heavy rain continues to move into the Downtown Charleston area. Roadway flooding is expected. Drive with extreme caution and obey all officers blocking roadways or directing traffic."
Authorities repeated the standard safety message to motorists: do not attempt to drive through standing water — "turn around, don’t drown." Emergency responders are prioritizing public safety at flooded intersections and downed utility lines.
Power outage figures
| Utility | Estimated customers affected |
|---|---|
| Dominion Energy | ~12,245 |
| Berkeley Electric Cooperative | ~2,370 |
Officials did not provide a county-by-county outage breakdown in the initial reports. Utility crews typically stage repairs as crews can safely access damaged lines; customers are advised to check their provider's outage map or social channels for updates.
Motorists in the affected corridors should expect signal outages and intermittent lane closures while crews respond to downed trees and power equipment. Local police said they will be directing traffic where needed. Residents who encounter blocked roads or hazardous downed lines should call nonemergency dispatch unless there is an immediate life-threatening emergency.
As storms continue to move through the region, the National Weather Service and local public-safety agencies urged people to monitor updates and avoid unnecessary travel until flooding subsides and utility crews complete initial repairs.
News Block will continue to update this report as utilities and emergency officials release more information.
