Tropical Depression Bonnie and its heavy rains dissipated over South Carolina on Monday, as a wet Memorial Day holiday weekend comes to an end in the area, according to AP. The depression fell apart early in the day about 45 miles north of Charleston, according to the National Hurricane Center. The storm was expected to continue as an area of low pressure, moving northeast into North Carolina and sporadically spreading heavy rain, especially during the daylight hours, forecasters said. The main concern throughout the holiday weekend has been heavy rains and strong surf more than wind. Bonnie dropped about 8 inches of rain in southern South Carolina on Sunday, closing the southbound lanes of Interstate 95 about 20 miles north of the Georgia state line for about 16 hours. The highway finally reopened around 1 a.m. Monday, and troopers reported the 10-mile backups caused by the detour had been cleared. Bonnie formed Saturday, becoming the second tropical storm in the Atlantic to form before the official start of the hurricane season on Wednesday. Hurricane Alex struck the Azores in the far eastern Atlantic in January.
