Tropical Depression Bonnie dissipates after heavy rains

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) – 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.

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.

Bonne 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.

The only possible death attributed to the storm is a missing swimmer off of Carolina Beach, North Carolina, just south of Wilmington.

Rescuers plan to continue searching Monday for 21-year-old James Cameron of Graham, North Carolina. He disappeared while swimming with two friends Saturday evening in the rough surf. The friends made it back to shore safely, authorities said.

Lifeguards in Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina were warning people of dangerous rip currents, which can suddenly pull swimmers out to deep waters. Officials in Myrtle Beach put up the no swimming flags again Monday because conditions were just too rough.

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.