Kiawah is cool and dipped in sunshine this morning. We don't have much of a breeze, but the weather is lovely.  So we finish the month of August with great weather and sunshine!  Not too bad, right?

Weather: It is 76 degrees at 9:00 this morning. Are you ready for some incredible weather? Highs in the upper eighties, lows near seventy.

Storm News:  Everyone is keeping a close eye on Tropical Storm Katia. We won't know more until early next week. However, the storm began in the same area as Irene, and the "historical track" shows a few scenarios where it could make landfall in South Carolina. Click here to view information about Katia. 

Today's Kiawah Critter Count Two baby loggerhead turtles, two red-bellied woodpeckers, one male and three female painted buntings, two ruby-throated hummingbirds, one house finch, one male cardinal, two white-tailed deer, a few Carolina chickadees, a few tufted titmice, and dozens of snowy egrets on Sea Marsh Drive.

It is sunny and cool on Kiawah this morning. There is a cool breeze blowing in from the ocean that feels terrific.  Despite a slight chance of showers in the forecast, it seems that today will be a perfect summer day.  How will you spend your day today?  Swimming at the beach?  Riding your bicycle? At the pool?  Whatever your choice, you should have a wonderful day to get outside and play!

Weather: It is 78 degrees at 9:00 this morning. Not much humidity this morning, so the weather is amazing! Highs today in the upper eighties with a 20% chance of rain. Lows in the low seventies.

Today's Kiawah Critter Count One baby loggerhead turtle, one bobcat, one male and four female painted buntings, one ruby-throated hummingbird, two house finches, one male cardinal, three white-tailed deer, a few Carolina chickadees, a few tufted titmice, and dozens of snowy egrets on Sea Marsh Drive.

Turtle News: This was a sad week-end for Kiawah's turtles.  Though Hurricane Irene didn't make landfall here, her high tides and waves wreaked havoc on our beach. We lost many nests that had not yet hatched.  Turtle Patrol is still determining just how many were lost.

Kiawah is overcast this morning, but the clouds are supposed to clear up by this afternoon - we hope!

We were very lucky again this week-end.  Another storm passed us by. It looks like we will have time to pick up our yards and get things back in order from Hurricane Irene without getting drenched!  At least we hope so... 

Weather: It is 80 degrees at 9:00 this morning. High humidity is about all that remains of Irene. Highs near ninety today. Lows in the upper seventies with a 20% chance of showers.

Storm Update:  Irene hit Kiawah's beach with extremely high tides. Places on the beach are eroded back into the dunes.  See photos from the storm and its aftermath by clicking a link below.

Click here to send in your photos of Irene...

Click here to view photos of Irene

Turtle News: This was a sad week-end for Kiawah's turtles.  Though Hurricane Irene didn't make landfall here, her high tides and waves wreaked havoc on our beach. We lost many nests that had not yet hatched.  Turtle Patrol is still determining just how many were lost.

Week-end Kiawah Critter Count Spotted at various times and places around Kiawah during the week-end: Two baby loggerhead turtles, two male and four female painted buntings, two ruby-throated hummingbirds, one raccoon, three house finches, two male and two female cardinals, several white-tailed deer, several brown pelicans, several Carolina chickadees, several tufted titmice, and dozens of snowy egrets on Sea Marsh Drive.

Breaking Island News: The KICA offices will close Friday at 2:00 p.m. due to the threat of severe weather from Hurricane Irene.

Week-end Weather: It is 75 degrees at 9:00 Friday morning. We have a tropical storm warning in effect for the Charleston area. Highs Friday in the mid-eighties, lows in the mid-seventies. There is a 70% chance of rain throughout the day and evening Friday. Highs Saturday should be in the low nineties, with a 50% chance of showers. Lows in the mid-seventies. Sunday's high is supposed to be in the low nineties, with lows in the low seventies.

8/27 - 11:00 a.m. Storm Update:  Irene really hit the beaches hard on Kiawah last night with extremely high tides. Places on the beach are eroded back into the dunes.  The streets are littered with branches, leaves, palm fronds, and pine straw. However, a drive down Governor's Drive and the Kiawah Island Parkway didn't show any large branches or damage.  We are all hoping that our neighbors to the north come through the storm safely.

8/26 - 5:00 p.m. Storm Update:  Irene is still pelting Kiawah with heavy rains off & on, but still (thankfully!) not much else.

8/26 - 12:30 p.m. Storm Update:  Irene is bringing Kiawah Island some heavy rain off & on, but thankfully not much else at present. If Irene remains on her current path, the mid Atlantic and northeast US could be facing their worst hurricane in 50-60 years. Click here to watch Irene pass by Kiawah via the Sandcastle webcam. Click here for updates, or click here to review KICA's Storm Watch page.

8/26 - 8:00 a.m. Storm Update: As of 8 a.m. The outer bands of Hurricane Irene are approaching the Charleston coastline as the storm continues north toward the North Carolina coast.  The storm is expected to bring rain, wind, heavy surf and dangerous currents to the South Carolina coast, including the Charleston area. The core of the hurricane is not expected to impact the Charleston area. A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for parts of the South Carolina coastline including Charleston, Berkeley and Georgetown Counties. Winds of 30 to 40 mph are expected, with some gusts stronger than that.

Today's Kiawah Critter Count One male and two female painted buntings, one ruby-throated hummingbird, one red-tailed hawk, one raccoon, two house finches, one male cardinal, two white-tailed deer, a few Carolina chickadees, a few tufted titmice, and dozens of snowy egrets on Sea Marsh Drive.

August 25, 2011

Kiawah is sunny and beautiful this morning. It is difficult to believe that Hurricane Irene will pass by the island tomorrow. Despite a slight chance of showers in the forecast, it seems that today will be a perfect summer day. How will you spend it? Swimming at the beach? Riding your bicycle? At the pool? Whatever your choice, it should be a wonderful day to get outside and play!

Weather: It is 82 degrees at 9:00 this morning. There is a tropical storm watch in effect for the Charleston area, with the chance for tropical storm conditions at 57%. Highs today near ninety, lows in the upper seventies. There is a 20% chance of rain throughout the day and evening.

8:00 a.m. Storm Update: As of 8 a.m. Hurricane Irene has once again moved a bit further to the east. The Charleston area is currently completely out of the projected path of the storm.

Today's Kiawah Critter Count One male and two female painted buntings, one mama and two baby raccoons, two house finches, two American alligators, one male cardinal, five white-tailed deer, a few Carolina chickadees, a few tufted titmice, and dozens of snowy egrets on Sea Marsh Drive.

August 24, 2011

It is partly sunny on Kiawah this morning, with lots of clouds floating through the sky. Despite the possible appearance of Hurricane Irene later this week, today the island is gorgeous and ready for visitors. Will you be spending time outside today?

Weather: It is 77 degrees at 8:30 this morning. If you are battening down the hatches in preparation for Hurricane Irene, there should be nice weather to do so. Highs in the mid-eighties, lows in the mid-seventies. There is a 30% chance of showers throughout the day and evening.

2:00 p.m. Storm Update:  As of 2 p.m. Hurricane Irene has moved further to the east. The Charleston area is currently completely out of the projected path of the storm.

11:00 a.m. Storm Update:  As of 11 a.m. Hurricane Irene is even further to the east. We can't celebrate quite yet, but it is looking good for the Charleston area! Stay tuned...

8:00 a.m. Storm Update: As of 8 a.m. Wednesday Hurricane Irene has been upgraded to a category 3 hurricane. The forecasted track seems to indicate that it will NOT make landfall in South Carolina. Stay tuned...Click here for updates, or click here to review KICA's Storm Watch page.

Today's Kiawah Critter Count One male and two female painted buntings, two house finches, one male cardinal, three white-tailed deer, a few Carolina chickadees, a few tufted titmice, and dozens of snowy egrets on Sea Marsh Drive.

August 23, 2011

Kiawah is partly cloudy this morning, with just a few rays of sunshine spreading across the landscape. It looks like a fabulous day to go outside and play! The beach would be nice, the pools, bicycling, roller blading... the possibilities are endless!

A good place to visit... Kiawah has several areas set aside with nature trails, some with ponds, some with observation towers, and some with boardwalks. One such area is the Sparrow Pond Nature Trail. It is located along Sparrow Pond and Duneside Cottages. As you walk or bicycle the paths, you will see a natural pond and vegetated island. Native plants and animals are there for your viewing pleasure as well! Have you visited Sparrow Pond Nature Trail?

Weather: It is 77 degrees at 8:50 this morning. Today is supposed to be a wee bit cooler than recent days! Highs in the upper eighties, lows in the low seventies. There is a 20% chance of rain throughout the day and evening.

8:00 p.m. Storm Update: As of 8 p.m. Hurricane Irene is definitely NOT to be dismissed. However, it does look more likely to visit North Carolina rather than South Carolina. But of course, stay tuned...

5:00 p.m. Storm Update:  As of 5 p.m. Irene looks even more likely to visit NORTH Carolina rather than South Carolina... 

Storm Update:  Everyone is still watching Hurricane Irene as it makes it's way through the Atlantic. Click here for updates, or click here to review KICA's Storm Watch page.

Today's Kiawah Critter Count One male and two female painted buntings, one house finch, two American alligators, two male cardinals, four white-tailed deer, a few Carolina chickadees, a few tufted titmice, and dozens of snowy egrets on Sea Marsh Drive.

August 22, 2011

It is mostly sunny on Kiawah this morning, and a bit steamy. August is certainly serving up some hot, humid weather - is it possible to recall July?

The island is starting to get quieter. Vacationers have headed home, the little ones have started school, and no one seems to have much energy. Folks give the impression of being content to simply sit and rest. Perhaps we are taking a brief breather before fall truly arrives?

Weather: It is 82 degrees at 9:05 this morning. It seems that we are back into the dog days of summer, with a heat index today of 105. Highs near ninety, lows in the mid-seventies. There is a 60% chance of showers throughout the day and evening.

Storm Update:  Everyone will be keeping an eye on Hurricane Irene as it makes it's way across the Atlantic. Click here for updates, or click here to review KICA's Storm Watch page.

Turtle News: Another couple of wild nests have hatched, increasing Kiawah's grand total to 254 nests!

Week-end Kiawah Critter Count Spotted at various times and places around Kiawah during the week-end: One male and two female painted buntings, one ruby-throated hummingbird, three house finches, three American alligators, one Black Racer snake, one pileated woodpecker, two male and one female cardinals, several white-tailed deer, several Carolina chickadees, several tufted titmice, and dozens of snowy egrets on Sea Marsh Drive.

August 19, 2011 Week-end Edition

Kiawah is sunny and a slightly cooler this morning. It looks like we have a terrific week-end in store for us, with warm temperatures and only a slight chance of rain.

"A perfect summer day is when the sun is shining, the breeze is blowing, the birds are singing, and the lawn mower is broken."

~ James Dent

White-tailed Deer Kathy says, "This buck has more points than any other buck I have seen on Kiawah. He is not the largest to visit my property but is the shyest...maybe he is protecting that beautiful rack. If you look at the bush to our right, his left, you will see it is almost bald. The deer have no respect for my landscaping plans! How many points do you see? Click here to submit your guess!

Week-end Weather: It is 78 degrees at 9:00 Friday morning. Keep the sunscreen handy, because it seems we have warm temperatures and sunny skies headed our way! Highs Friday near ninety, with a 20% chance of showers. Lows in the low seventies. Saturday's high should be near ninety again, with lows in the mid-seventies. There is a 20% chance of rain throughout the day and evening. That 20% chance of showers lasts through Sunday, with highs in the low nineties and lows in the mid-seventies.

Today's Kiawah Critter Count One male and two female painted buntings, one ruby-throated hummingbird, one house finch, two male and one female cardinal, five white-tailed deer, a few Carolina chickadees, a few tufted titmice, and dozens of snowy egrets on Sea Marsh Drive.

August 18, 2011

It is sunny and already warm on Kiawah this morning. It looks like it will be a good day to go exploring, or to take in some of Kiawah's outdoor treasures.

Did you know?  Kiawah is home to many species of snakes. You can find them in all parts of the island: the dunes, the maritime forest, the beach, the surf, the ponds, the marsh, and swampy areas. About half of South Carolina's 30 species of snakes can be found here. The Town of Kiawah Island has a very informative brochure describing some of Kiawah's snakes. It is free, and is available at the Visitor's Center at the Town Hall.

Weather: It is 80 degrees at 9:00 this morning. Today is forecast to be the same temperature as yesterday, so we should have a fabulous day! Highs in the upper eighties, with a 20% chance of rain. Lows tonight in the mid- seventies.

Turtle News: Nesting patrol is done, as there have been no new nests for nearly a week.  That makes Kiawah's grand total 252 nests! Hatching patrols are out every morning watching the nests, so if a stray mama lays a nest, it will be marked too. And of course the final nest total will not be known until all the nests have hatched - just in case a sneaky mama turtle laid a nest that the Nesting patrol didn't find. Stay tuned!

Today's Kiawah Critter Count One bobcat, one pileated woodpecker, one yellow-bellied sapsucker, one red-headed woodpecker, one male and two female painted buntings, one ruby-throated hummingbird, three house finches, a few Carolina wrens, one male and one female cardinal, three white-tailed deer, a few golden silk spiders, a few Carolina chickadees, a few tufted titmice, and dozens of snowy egrets on Sea Marsh Drive.

August 17, 2011

Kiawah is mostly sunny this morning. August is in full stride now, with heat, humidity, and a slight chance of showers each day. Fortunately for us, Kiawah's weather is cooperating nicely! What will you be doing today to enjoy this amazing weather?

Weather: It is 78 degrees at 8:35 this morning. Can this weather be any more gorgeous? Highs in the upper eighties, with a 20% chance of showers. Lows tonight in the low seventies.

Today's Kiawah Critter Count One male and two female painted buntings, one ruby-throated hummingbird, two house finches, a few Carolina wrens, one male cardinal, one white-tailed deer, a few golden silk spiders, a few Carolina chickadees, a few tufted titmice, and dozens of snowy egrets on Sea Marsh Drive.

August 16, 2011

It is sunny on Kiawah this morning. It looks like yet another fabulous day on our little barrier island. This morning the ocean breezes blowing across Kiawah are gentle and fresh - like breaths of warm air brushing your face. Even the water is calm and peaceful. Will you be spending any time at the beach today?

Don't forget! School starts today in Charleston.  Watch for school busses!

Weather: It is 78 degrees at 8:55 this morning. Can this weather be any more gorgeous? Highs in the upper eighties, lows in the mid-seventies.

Don't be worried about Tropical Storm Gert. It is well away from the coast, posing no threat to Kiawah Island.

Today's Kiawah Critter Count One male and two female painted buntings, one ruby-throated hummingbird, two baby loggerhead turtles, two house finches, a few Carolina wrens, one male cardinal, three white-tailed deer, a few golden silk spiders, a few Carolina chickadees, a few tufted titmice, and dozens of snowy egrets on Sea Marsh Drive.

August 15, 2011

Kiawah is sunny and beautiful this morning. After receiving a few showers over the week-end, our Monday dawned cool and dry. Tourist season is winding down - school begins here later this week, and at most other schools soon after. Hopefully everyone who visited Kiawah this year enjoyed themselves immensely and will be back in the future. How was your summer?

Weather: It is 78 degrees at 9:00 this morning. The weather should be absolutely lovely today! Highs in the low nineties, lows in the low seventies.

Turtle News: Nesting patrol is definitely winding down on Kiawah.  As of August 14th, we have a grand total of 252 nests!

Week-end Kiawah Critter Count Spotted at various times and places around Kiawah during the week-end: One male and two female painted buntings, one ruby-throated hummingbird, fifty-one baby loggerhead turtles, two osprey, one red-tailed hawk, three house finches, a few Carolina wrens, two male and two female cardinals, several white-tailed deer, a few golden silk spiders, several Carolina chickadees, several tufted titmice, and dozens of snowy egrets on Sea Marsh Drive.

August 12, 2011 Week-end Edition

It is overcast on Kiawah this morning. We head into the last school-free week-end with the possibility of showers and lots of hot weather. It looks like the chance of rain will not clear out until Monday, so get outside and play whenever you can!

Astronomy Alert! The Perseids meteor shower is in town for the next couple of days. The source of the Perseids is Comet Swift-Tuttle, which has littered the August portion of Earth's orbit with space dust. The Perseids are one of the most prolific meteor showers of the year. It should reach its peak during the next 24 hours. Forecasters say the best time to look is during the dark hours before dawn on August 13th. Get comfortable in your lawn chair, and gaze directly overhead to catch some of this meteor shower.

Angel Oak The Angel Oak on Johns Island is a wonderful place to visit while you are on Kiawah. Take along a picnic and you have a perfect way to spend an afternoon!

Week-end Weather: It is 85 degrees at 9:00 Friday morning. No heat advisory today either, wahoo!  Highs near ninety, lows in the mid-seventies. There is a 50% chance of rain throughout the day and evening Friday. Highs should be in the upper eighties on Saturday, with lows in the mid-seventies. Saturday's chance of rain is 30% throughout the day and evening. Last but not least, Sunday is supposed to bring highs in the low nineties, and lows in the mid-seventies. There is a 50-50 chance of showers throughout Sunday.

Today's Kiawah Critter Count One male and two female painted buntings, eleven baby loggerhead turtles, dozens of wood storks, one house finch, one Carolina wren, one male cardinal, five white-tailed deer, a few golden silk spiders, a few Carolina chickadees, a few tufted titmice, and dozens of snowy egrets on Sea Marsh Drive.

August 11, 2011

Kiawah is sunny and quite humid this morning. The island was on the receiving end of a light shower yesterday evening which made temperatures relatively cool last night. But we awoke this morning to some serious humidity and fogged windows. Can you see outside through your windows this morning?

Weather: It is 83 degrees at 9:00 this morning. No heat advisory today either, wahoo! Highs near ninety, lows in the upper seventies. There is a 20% chance of showers throughout the day and evening.

Today's Kiawah Critter Count One ruby-throated hummingbird, one male and two female painted buntings, one baby loggerhead turtle, two house finches, one Carolina wren, one male cardinal, three white-tailed deer, a few golden silk spiders, a few Carolina chickadees, a few tufted titmice, and dozens of snowy egrets on Sea Marsh Drive.

August 10, 2011

It is sunny on Kiawah this morning. The brief showers we received late last night were enough to tamp down the humidity, so the temperature feels quite nice this morning. Do you welcome this respite from the heat?

Weather: It is 81 degrees at 9:00 this morning. For the first time in weeks, we have no heat advisory. Yea! Enjoy this "cool" weather! Highs in the low nineties, lows in the mid-seventies.

Today's Kiawah Critter Count Two male and two female painted buntings, three baby loggerhead turtles, two house finches, one Carolina wren, two male cardinals, four white-tailed deer, a few golden silk spiders, a few Carolina chickadees, a few tufted titmice, and dozens of snowy egrets on Sea Marsh Drive.

August 9, 2011

Kiawah is sunny and just a wee bit cooler than yesterday morning. It is S-T-E-A-M-Y this morning! It seems that we are receiving August's humidity all at once. But soon enough fall will arrive, and with it cooler temperatures - hopefully without hurricanes. All of this heat and humidity does provide the perfect excuse to head to the beach to enjoy the ocean breezes. Will you be in the water today?

Weather: It is 82 degrees at 8:55 this morning. We have a heat advisory, again with a heat index of up to 110. Highs in the mid-nineties, lows in the upper seventies. There is a 20% chance of rain throughout today and tonight.

Today's Kiawah Critter Count Two male and two female painted buntings, one house finch, one Carolina wren, one male cardinal, two white-tailed deer, a few golden silk spiders, a few Carolina chickadees, a few tufted titmice, and dozens of snowy egrets on Sea Marsh Drive.

August 8, 2011

Kiawah is sunny and already hot this morning. This is beginning to sound like a broken record... the weather today is supposed to be hot and humid. Stay hydrated and COOL out there!

Did you know? Kiawah is home to many species of snakes. You can find them in all parts of the island: the dunes, the maritime forest, the beach, the surf, the ponds, the marsh, and swampy areas. About half of South Carolina's 30 species of snakes can be found on Kiawah. The Town of Kiawah Island has a very informative brochure describing some of Kiawah's snakes. It is free, and is available at the Visitor's Center at the Town Hall.

Weather: It is 87 degrees at 9:00 this morning. Again we have a heat advisory, with a heat index of up to 110. Highs in the mid-nineties today, lows near eighty. There is a 20% chance of rain throughout today and tonight.

Turtle News: Nesting patrol reports another nest this morning, for a grand total of 250 nests! That is just six fewer nests than on August 8, 1999. You may remember that 1999 was Kiawah's biggest nesting year ever, with a final total of 296 nests! (262 regular + 34 wild nests).

Week-end Kiawah Critter Count Spotted at various times and places around Kiawah during the week-end: Two male and three female painted buntings, three house finches, one ladder-backed woodpecker, two Carolina wrens, two male and one female cardinals, several white-tailed deer, one five-lined skink, a few golden silk spiders, several Carolina chickadees, several tufted titmice, and dozens of snowy egrets on Sea Marsh Drive.

August 5, 2011 Week-end Edition

It is mostly sunny on Kiawah this morning. We head into the first week-end of August with high humidity, hot temperatures, and the ever-present threat of rain. In other words, everything is perfectly normal! Stay cool this week-end...

Water for wildlife: Humans aren't the only ones with the need to cool off during these dog days of summer.  Kiawah's critters do too! Click here to see simple ways that you can do-it-yourself to help provide ways for our neighbors to cool down.

Loggerhead turtles It is hatching season for loggerhead sea turtles on Kiawah!  Nests are popping like crazy all over our beach. If you happen to see hatchlings, please do not disturb them as they make their way to the ocean. But you can certainly help out by keeping crabs, sea gulls, and other predators away while they make their journey!

Weather: It is 86 degrees at 9:00 Friday morning. Once again we have a heat advisory, with a heat index of up to 110. Highs today near ninety, lows near eighty. There is a 20% chance of rain throughout Friday. Watch for highs in the upper eighties Saturday, with lows in the upper seventies. The heat index is supposed to be 105. There is a 40% chance of showers throughout Saturday. Sunday's high should be in the upper eighties again, with lows again in the upper seventies. A heat index of 107 is expected, along with a 20% chance of rain.

Tropical Storm Emily has left the building. No worries from that storm for Kiawah.

Today's Kiawah Critter Count One male and two female painted buntings, one house finch, one male cardinal, several white-tailed deer, one five-lined skink, one Black Racer snake, a few golden silk spiders, a few Carolina chickadees, a few tufted titmice, and dozens of snowy egrets on Sea Marsh Drive.

August 4, 2011

Kiawah is mostly cloudy this morning, and very humid. So once again we start our day with a giant dose of humidity. Isn't it humility we are supposed to have in abundance? J Quick! Someone contact the letter police. Our "l" has been stolen and replaced with a "d"!

Today should be a good day to test out the ocean waters, better still, the pool. Hot and steamy is the perfect excuse for some soothing cool water. Or perhaps a large serving of something C-O-L-D?

Weather: It is 84 degrees at 8:30 this morning. Once again we have a heat advisory, with a heat index of up to 115 today. Highs today in the mid-nineties, lows near eighty.

Tropical Storm Emily is heading towards the U.S., and looks to arrive on the East coast sometime late this week-end. Click here to see more information.

Today's Kiawah Critter Count One male and two female painted buntings, one house finch, two male cardinals, two white-tailed deer, a few Carolina chickadees, a few tufted titmice, and dozens of snowy egrets on Sea Marsh Drive.