Tropical Storm Chantal formed Saturday morning about 150 miles off the coast of South Carolina, prompting tropical storm warnings for parts of the Carolinas.
According to the National Weather Service in Miami, the storm was located south-southeast of Charleston, South Carolina, and about 240 miles south-southwest of Wilmington, North Carolina. Chantal had maximum sustained winds of 40 mph and was moving slowly at 2 mph.
Forecasters expect the storm to turn northeast by Sunday night, with Chantal’s center likely to move across the South Carolina coast the same day. The National Weather Service said, “Some additional strengthening is expected before Chantal reaches the coast.”
Tropical storm warnings are in effect from South Santee River, South Carolina, to Cape Fear, North Carolina. A tropical storm watch has also been issued from Edisto Beach to the South Santee River.
Heavy rainfall is expected across parts of the coastal Carolinas through Monday, with two to four inches of rain possible and isolated amounts up to six inches, which could cause flash flooding.
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30, with peak activity typically between mid-August and mid-October. NOAA has predicted a 60% chance of an above-normal season this year, forecasting 13 to 19 named storms. Of those, six to ten are expected to become hurricanes, and three to five could become major hurricanes.
