Flash floods force road closures and transport delays in Charleston, South Carolina
Flash floods hit Charleston, South Carolina on September 7, 2025, after thunderstorms dropped heavy rainfall on already saturated ground. Up to 30 cm (12 inches) of standing water was reported in parts of downtown Charleston, with traffic and power disruptions affecting the city.
Another day of flash flooding in Downtown Charleston. The usual spots saw flooding like Calhoun St, Ogier St, Ashley Ave, & Wentworth St. #scwx #chswx #flooding @NWSCharlestonSC @SheaGibsonWx @BILLWALSHTV @liamswx @RobStormTeam2 @LCWxDave @foxweather @WeatherNation @accuweather pic.twitter.com/7GifmC8phi
— Evan Deese (@EDeeseSC1) September 7, 2025
The National Weather Service (NWS) issued multiple flash flood warnings for Charleston County on Sunday afternoon, September 7, covering downtown Charleston, West Ashley, and North Charleston. The alerts remained in effect until the evening hours.
While the total rainfall accumulation during the event was not significant, antecedent soil conditions contributed to rapid surface runoff. Charleston had experienced heavy precipitation throughout August, leaving the soil saturated and reducing infiltration capacity. As a result, even moderate rainfall on September 7 led to widespread urban flooding.
Standing water of up to 30 cm (12 inches) was seen in parts of downtown Charleston due to the flooding on September 7.
Charleston Police Department reported road closures on sections of Meeting Street, King Street, and Lockwood Drive, where floodwaters made travel impossible. Several Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) bus routes were suspended or rerouted due to impassable streets.
Dominion Energy reported around 1 200 outages across Charleston and North Charleston caused by water intrusion into underground equipment. Power was restored to nearly all affected customers by the morning of September 8.
Feature image credit: EDeeseSC1
I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.
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