Heavy Rain Falling Across Region

UPDATE (2:30 p.m.) Charleston County Schools reports the following extracurricular updates related to the weather: All after school ATHLETIC events and practices are canceled today. Kaleidoscope after school programs are NOT canceled today and will be operating on a normal schedule.

UPDATE (2:20 p.m.) Charleston closings: Charleston Police are currently diverting eastbound traffic on I-26 to Highway 17 at the Cosgrove exit (216) due to flooding, according to a Police statement. The Crosstown is also impassable at this time, according to another Police statment.

UPDATE (2 p.m.) Mount Pleasant reports an important road closure: Due to a ruptured sewer line Rifle Range Road from Hidden Lakes Subdivision to Isle of Palms Connector is closed to all traffic except those persons who live in the immediate area. It is anticipated this closure will be approximately eight hours while the problem is repaired. The public is encouraged to avoid the affected area.

UPDATE (2 p.m.) The Citadel reports evening class closures: With bad weather projected to continue today and high tide occurring at about 6 p.m., all classes beginning at 4 p.m. and after have been cancelled. Employees and visitors to campus are asked to use caution due to significant flooding on and around campus.

UPDATE (1:50 p.m. Tuesday): Charleston County Schools released the following statement: "At this point, we are still scheduled to dismiss schools at our regular time. We realize that many streets and roads across the county are closed so please let parents know they should expect delays and we will have staff remain at the schools after official dismissal to ensure all students return home safely. Their child will be safe and supervised by a caring adult until they arrive.  No child will be left unattended. Again, all CCSD schools are operating under a normal schedule at this time and all students are safe."

UPDATE (Noon Tuesday): Heavy rain is dumping large amounts of rain across the Charleston region. As much as two inches may fall in parts of the region between noon and 3 p.m. There will be a break in the storms sporadically today, but the region will see off and on thunderstorms through Thursday, according to local forecasters.

Here are specific advisories from the region...

Downtown Charleston: Charleston Police are advising motorists to avoid the following flooded streets: The Market, Morrison and East Bay, Broad, Ashley Morrison and Meeting, Rutledge and the Crosstown, King and John and portions of Gadsden, Bennett, Wentworth, Beaufain and Pitt.

Mount Pleasant: Due to extremely heavy rainfall, many roads in Mount Pleasant are flooded. Please use caution while traveling. After your rain event, please report your localized flooding area to the Public Services, Stormwater Division at (843) 856-2157.

Though Isaac won't make landfall until Wednesday morning, a band of storms broke off earlier in the week and is passing the Lowcountry today. The National Hurricane Center predicts as much as three inches of rain this week throughout the state. The storm is expected to drop as much as 18 inches of rain in parts of Louisiana.

The original story appears as follows:

Just one day shy of the seven-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans and the Gulf Coast are preparing for an evening landfall Wednesday from Hurricane Isaac.

The storm is predicted to reach land by 7 a.m. Wednesday as a Category 1 storm, according to the National Hurricane Center. At 4 a.m. Tuesday, the storm had 60 mph winds as it approached the coast. It is expected to strengthen quickly just before landfall.

HERE'S WHAT TO EXPECT

AT HOME: In the Lowcountry, ocassionally heavy rain are expected throughout today and into Thursday as rain bands from Isaac break off and dump rain throughout the region.

Rip current warnings are in place at all South Carolina beaches. Dangerous make swimming and recreating on local waters a bad idea.

ON THE GULF COAST: Wind is not expected to be a major factor with Isaac, but precipitation and storm surge are, especially in low-lying southern Louisiana.

Though much weaker than the Category 3 Hurricane Katrina from 2005, Isaac is widely regarded as serious test for the billions spent there on flood control and levvy improvement.

Check back for updates from Patch throughout the day.