AAA Carolinas predicts Labor Day travel increase

Triple-A Carolinas predicted on Wednesday that Labor Day travel in the state would go up by 7.7 percent this year. The report estimated 32-thousand more South Carolina residents would drive at least 50 miles or more this weekend than at the same time last year. The group also reported a 26 percent increase in the number of travel bookings for the weekend. They say more than 92 percent of travelers would drive to their weekend destinations.

If you have plans to be at the beaches over the Labor Day weekend, forecasters say Sunday and Monday will be the best days for a dip in the ocean.

Public safety officials are urging people to stay out of the water along the South Carolina coast through much of the weekend to avoid dangerous rip currents caused by Hurricane Earl. The Myrtle Beach Sun News reports that hotels are receiving many calls about their cancellation policies, but few visitors have used them so far.