Flooding reported in Charleston, Berkeley counties

The rain is forcing all 16 Charleston County public libraries to close at 5 p.m. today.

College of Charleston classes are canceled after 5 p.m., as are Charleston School of Law classes.

Charleston Police reported several closed intersections because of high water this afternoon: Noisette Boulevard at Virginia Avenue, McMillan from Noisette to St. Johns, Viaduct at Hobson Street, and Buist Avenue at Park Place. In addition, the Interstate 26 on ramp at Cosgrove Avenue is closed to eastbound traffic. The North Charleston police department is assisting with the I-26 closure.

The Charleston County Sheriff’s Office is reporting minor to moderate road flooding in the following areas: Savannah Highway near Highway 526, Dorchester Road at Meeting Street Road, and parts of Azalea Drive between Cosgrove Avenue and Leeds Avenue.

The Charleston County Sheriff’s Office is asking motorists to use extreme caution while traveling on the roadways. There will be extra patrols in the James Island and West Ashley area to monitor road conditions.

Charleston police say flooding also is a problem at The Market, Morrison Drive and East Bay Street, Morrison and Meeting Street, Rutledge Avenue and the Crosstown, King and John streets and portions of Gadsden, Bennett, Wentworth, Beaufain and Pitt.

Trident Technical College has closed its Palmer Campus on Columbus Street in downtown Charleston due to the flooding.

David Hansen, director of public information for the college, said Trident Tech would cancel all classes beginning after 1:30 at the Palmer campus. Many streets in downtown Charleston are underwater as rain continues to fall.

Charleston schools are dismissing at regular time, but parents should expect delays because of road closures. All Charleston after-school athletic events and practices today are canceled, but after-school Kaleidoscope programs are NOT canceled and will operate on a normal schedule.

This does not affect other Trident Tech campuses around the Lowcountry. And for now, Wednesday classes at the Palmer campus are scheduled to be held at their normal time. That could change, depending on the weather. Hansen said if there is a need to cancel more classes, Trident Tech will make an announcement ahead of time.

Two to 3 inches of rain already has fallen in downtown Charleston, and another 2 inches is expected.

Motorists should expect delays and use detours around flooded streets, especially in preparation for high tide at 6:33 p.m.

Government forecasters said a line of thunderstorms extending from North Charleston to 15 miles south of Kiawah Island were moving northeast at 25 mph.

Areas affected by the weather include West Ashley, James Island, Johns Island, downtown Charleston and Mount Pleasant.

The Crosstown was reopened to traffic just after 11 p.m.

Reach Andrew Knapp at 937-5414 or twitter.com/offlede.