MIAMI (AP) - Tropical Depression Beryl is heading back toward the ocean as it brings rain to South Carolina. The depression's maximum sustained winds increased early Wednesday to near 35 mph. Additional strengthening is expected and the U.S. National Hurricane Center says Beryl could regain tropical storm strength later in the day.

South Georgia farmers hoped that Beryl would give their crops a good soaking, helping replenish ground water and ponds after high temperatures and drought. Widespread heavy rain falls did not happen though; WALB studiosonly measured 13/100ths of an inch of rainfrom Beryl.

But Beryl is expected to dump up to 6 inches of rain, with isolated amounts of 8 inches, in northeastern South Carolina and eastern North Carolina. The depression is centered about 25 miles north-northeast of Charleston, S.C., and is moving east-northeast near 14 mph. On that track, forecasters say the depression's expected to skim along the South Carolina coast before moving back over the Atlantic.

Beryl was raising hopes in the Okefenokee Swamp that boat and canoe traffic could get back to normal with higher water levels. The Florida Times-Union reports that within the past three days, three rain gauges in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge had recorded rainfall totals of 3.75 inches to nearly 6 inches.

On May 24, the swamp was at 118.68 feet above sea level at the refuge headquarters but 119.14 feet Tuesday with rain still falling. Arthur Webster, supervisory ranger at the refuge, said he'd like to see the water level reach 120 feet. He said the extra foot would allow the refuge to reopen some canoe trails and allow the refuge get its trail cutter into canals to clear them of vegetation so boats can get through.

The National Park Service says Cumberland Island National Seashore will remain closed to visitors until the weekend to give rangers time to clean up after Tropical Storm Beryl. Fred Boyles, the island's superintendent, said Wednesday that downed trees and other debris still need to be cleared before the coastal Georgia island re-opens to tourists Saturday.

Cumberland Island has been closed to visitors since Sunday afternoon, when rangers evacuated all campers and day-trippers to the mainland well ahead of the tropical storm's landfall at nearby Jacksonville, Fla. Cumberland Island is a federally protected wilderness area reachable only by boat. The island off Georgia's southeast corner gets about 43,500 visitors each year.

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Beryl heads back to sea, leaves scant rain for GA