High surf means wipeouts, and that's great for business

The days of gray have translated into green for surfboard repairman Ian Riggs at Folly Beach's McKevlin's Surf Shop.

Riggs, who surfed the higher-than-normal waves earlier this week, fixed the broken noses, busted fins and dinged boards of others who took advantage of the late season swells.

"I have been pretty busy thanks to the swell," said Riggs, who as of Thursday afternoon had repaired 12 surfboards. "Not only do I get to surf, but I get to reap the benefit of damaged boards afterwards."

The recent spate of bad weather coupled with the unusually high tides has led to saturated marshes across the Lowcountry, along with the usual flooding and standing water around downtown.

Steven Taylor, a senior forecaster with the National Weather Service in Charleston, said that 2 to 4 inches of rain have fallen in the past two days.

Taylor also noted that the combination of the recent full moon and a strong northeast wind has contributed to the flooding as the tides have been 1 to 2 feet above normal.

"We have already passed the peak of the tides, so there should be no more coastal flooding issues," he said. "Tides at the end of the month will be high again, so we'll probably repeat all this."

He said there is a 70 percent chance of rain through tonight with a 50 percent chance of rain Saturday through the evening.

Sunday should be cloudy with a chance of showers heading into Monday, he said, when it is expected to be sunny and back in the 80s.

Charles Francis, spokesman for the Charleston Police Department, said no major issues with flooding were reported Thursday.

And some local businesses said it has not been as bad as in the past.

At Norm's Pizza and Subs on the corner of Smith and Calhoun streets, store manager Nancy Rhodes said on a scale of one to 10, the flooding Thursday was about a 3.

"Sometimes it gets the whole street flooded, but it's not been that bad today," she said, noting: "Yesterday was worse."

Anne Marie Klatt, manager with Palmetto Carriage Works, said carriages have been heading out regularly.

"People always come either way," she said. "Rain or shine, there is always someone who wants to go."

Reach James Scott at 745-5855 or at jscott@postandcourier.com.