Charleston, South Carolina Hit by Storm Surge Caused Brought by Irma

Irma had been downgraded to a tropical storm by the time it reached Charleston, South Carolina, but the formerly Category 5 hurricane is still causing serious damage with a record-setting storm surge.

Charleston, one of Travel + Leisure's best cities to travel to in 2017, was practically underwater on Monday; photos and videos showed a nearly 10-food tide submerging streets downtown.

The tide was about four feet more than normal, and eight inches higher than Hurricane Matthew's last year, according to The Post and Courier.

Related: Hurricane Irma Has Left a Trail of Destruction

Photos show whitecaps threatening to breach the High Battery in Charleston, and locals kayaking down Aiken Street. Guests reported floodwaters in the lobby at the Tides hotel.

Both White Point Garden and Cannon Park were submerged by water that coursed through the streets of Charleston’s historic downtown district.

The Post and Courier reported that power went out at Folly Beach, adding that the road to the beach had been closed. The landmark Folly Boat, which has sat along the causeway since Hurricane Hugo ripped through the region in 1989, was picked up by the surge and carried to a nearby marsh.

Nearby Hilton Head reported a 12.23-foot surge that submerged entire docks.

A majority of flights to and from Charleston International Airport were canceled when tropical storm winds, which reached 72 miles per hour, began thrashing the city.

A representative at the local tourism board told T+L on Tuesday that the floodwaters had mostly retreated.