Forecasters have issued warnings for tropical storm conditions along a stretch of the U.S. Southeast seacoast as a strong storm system approaches. The system is bringing gusty winds, heavy rain, and potential flooding to the region.
The storm system is projected to reach the South Carolina coast on Monday afternoon before moving inland across the Carolinas from Monday night through Wednesday, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center.
A tropical storm warning is currently in effect from Edisto Beach, South Carolina, northward to Ocracoke Inlet near the southernmost tip of North Carolina's Outer Banks.
As of early Monday, the low-pressure system was located approximately 95 miles east-southeast of Charleston, South Carolina, with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph. It is moving to the northwest at a speed of 3 mph.
While the chances of the system developing into a tropical or subtropical cyclone may be decreasing due to its less organized structure, tropical-storm-force winds are still expected within the warning areas. The storm is likely to dissipate over the Carolinas by late Wednesday.
Forecasters predict that the storm will bring significant rainfall to the region, with 4 to 8 inches expected in northeast South Carolina into southeast North Carolina and up to 10 inches in isolated areas. Smaller amounts of rain are anticipated across the rest of North Carolina through Tuesday.
In Virginia, 1 to 3 inches of rainfall, with locally higher amounts, are expected from Monday night through Wednesday. The heavy rainfall could result in isolated and scattered flash and urban flooding, as well as minor river flooding.
Additionally, rough surf conditions are expected along the Southeast coast over the next few days, posing potential hazards to coastal areas.
