Tropical Storm Beryl rains out Memorial Day plans WEATHER

Tropical Storm Beryl made landfall early Monday in northeastern Florida, bringing drenching rains and driving winds to the southeastern U.S. coast.

The National Hurricane Center in Miami reported that Beryl made landfall over Duval and northern St. John's counties just after midnight, with near-hurricane-strength winds of 70 mph.

Beryl was expected to dump 4 to 8 inches of rain across the region, with some areas getting as much as 12 inches. Forecasters predict the storm surge and tide will cause significant coastal flooding in northeastern Florida, Georgia and southern South Carolina. The weather system should weaken as it moves inland and become a tropical depression by Monday night.

Tropical storm warnings were in effect for the entire Georgia coastline, as well as parts of Florida and South Carolina.

The storm could complicate holiday traffic Monday, and it wrecked some Memorial Day weekend plans Sunday, causing shoreline campers to pack up and head inland and leading to the cancellation of some events.

Campers at Cumberland Island, Ga., which is reachable only by boat, were told to leave by Sunday. However, many people seemed determined to make the best of the soggy forecast.

At Greyfield Inn, a 19th century mansion and the only private inn on Cumberland Island, the rooms were nearly full Sunday, and everyone was planning to stay put through the wet weather, said Dawn Drake, a hotel employee.

In Jacksonville, Fla., Sunday's jazz festival and Memorial Day ceremony were canceled.

But business was booming at the Red Dog Surf Shop in New Smyrna Beach, Fla., where customers flocked in anticipation of the storm's high waves. Officials along the coast warned of rip currents, waves and high tides - all of which can be dangerous but also attract adventurous surfers. In South Carolina, rescuers searched for a missing swimmer.

On Tybee Island, a barrier island not far from Savannah, Ga., the beaches were closed for swimming Sunday. Tybee Island fire Chief C.L. Sasser said winds created "horrendous water currents."

"Even if you're standing in waist-deep water, the current can sweep you out quickly," he said.

A total of 48 people were pulled from the water Saturday, he said, including about 27 that were considered to be in life-threatening conditions. One man who was sucked under the water was rescued by friends and onlookers and was taken to the hospital in serious condition.