Despite downgrade, Beryl still soaks states on Memorial Day

Associated Press

SAVANNAH, Ga.

Joyce Connolly and her daughters left their home in Hurricane, W.Va., to head south for a Memorial Day beach vacation — and ended up in the center of Tropical Storm Beryl.

Though it left little damage after sweeping ashore with 70 mph winds around midnight Monday at Jacksonville, Fla., the storm still wrecked much of Connolly’s trip. She skipped a graduation because powerful winds kept her and her daughters from venturing past the beach boardwalk when the storm approached Sunday. And she postponed their drive home Monday as Beryl, downgraded to a tropical depression, continued to dump rain near the Georgia-Florida state line.

“It definitely changed our vacation to unfortunate circumstances that we’re not happy with. But you just have to live with it,” said Connolly, who at least found the irony of her hometown’s name “pretty funny.”

Beach trips, backyard barbecues and graveside Memorial Day observances got a good soaking in southeastern Georgia and northern Florida.

Veterans groups, meanwhile, carried out outdoor Memorial Day ceremonies despite the grim forecast.

Aside from ruining holiday plans, the rain was welcome on the Georgia coast for bringing some relief from persistent drought.