Forecast "50/50" For Wednesday Afternoon

The Tropical Storm that refuses to go away is making life difficult for many in the southeastern United States. After wrecking havoc throughout Florida last week, the remnants of T.S. Fay pushed through Mississippi and into Georgia and South Carolina Monday evening... threatening the start of the US National Hot Air Balloon Championships.

Glen Moyer, editor for the Balloon Federation of America, tells ANN a practice flight set for Tuesday morning was scrubbed, and pilots feared they wouldn't be able to fly at all until Friday -- 48 hours after the event in Anderson, SC was scheduled to begin.

Conditions have since improved... but only slightly. Moyer says events planned for Wednesday morning have also been scrubbed, but there's a "50/50" chance pilots might be able to fly in the afternoon. In happier news, the skies should clear in time for competition Thursday.

Much of upstate South Carolina remains under a flash flood watch through Thursday morning, with local forecasters predicting anywhere from 4-10 inches of rain. While the balloonists are understandably upset that Mother Nature has rained on their plans so far, Moyer says they're keeping the setback in perspective.

"With the exception of the balloonists everyone in the upstate SC area is thrilled to see the arrival of serious rain," Moyer wrote. "The area has been in a drought for more than a year and rain levels this year alone are almost 12-inches below normal."

Actually, if history is any indicator... drought-stricken areas may wish to consider asking the balloon championships to come to them. As ANN reported, last year's event in Waco, TX came at the tail end of record summertime rainfall, leaving the field soaked and with low-hanging clouds postponing the event's start.

Fortunately, things are looking brighter by this weekend for South Carolina. "If the weather does clear for the weekend the weekend the sky over Anderson may feature a man-made rainbow," Moyer said. "Scheduled to join the 50 national competitors on Friday-Saturday-Sunday are another 35 pilots participating in Anderson's 2nd Annual Great Southeast Balloonfest and the BFA-sanctioned South Carolina State Championship."

FMI: www.bfa.net