Hurricane Irma: South Carolina Evacuations Ordered For Some Barrier Islands (UPDATE)

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster has ordered evacuations in South Carolina as Hurricane Irma barrels towards the U.S. McMaster said state officials would wait for the 5 p.m. update from the National Hurricane Center before making a decision.

In South Carolina, mandatory evacuations have been ordered for the following areas beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday:

• Colleton County: Edisto Beach
• Beaufort County: Dafuskie, Fripp, Harbor, Hunting and Hilton Head Islands
• Jasper County: Knowles and Tullifiny

McMaster said no other evacuations would be ordered and for those outside these areas in affected counties, McMaster said he encouraged those who are concerned for their personal safety to seek shelter. (For more hurricane news or local news from South Carolina, click here to sign up for real-time news alerts and newsletters from Charleston Patch, and click here to find your local South Carolina Patch. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

"Although the latest Hurricane Irma forecasts are increasingly favorable for South Carolina, the National Weather Service still expects Irma to cause high winds, heavy rains and localized flooding due to a possible storm surge of four to six feet," McMaster's office said in a press release.

Shelter locations will be announced as they are opened. Officials advised residents in the evacuation areas to pack essentials in case the evacuation period is lengthy like required medications and essential personal items.

The Post and Courier reports that McMaster will not call for statewide school closings and state offices would close only in counties that decide to close their offices. Irma's path shifted somewhat west of South Carolina, which was good news for the state. A hazardous weather outlook is in effect, and the National Weather Service says there is a high risk of rip currents.

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Irma is expected to have the greatest effect on the area Sunday through Monday night. The NWS said considerable uncertainty remains about the forecast track and intensity, though it is increasingly likely that portions of the area will be impacted by winds, rainfall, dangerous rip currents, high surf and isolated tornadoes.

A coastal flood advisory is in effect for coastal areas of southeast South Carolina.

Patch will update this post when a decision is made on evacuations. Check back here for updates.

Photo by Desmond Boylan/Associated Press