‘Don’t let your guard down’ SC weather liaison says as 2 storms form in the Atlantic
Days after Idalia, which moved into Beaufort County as a tropical storm Aug. 30, two new storms are brewing in the Atlantic with looming threats.
On Tuesday, the National Hurricane Center was monitoring two low-pressure systems in the Atlantic, forecasting that the tropical depression could become a major hurricane in “a few days,” according to a center advisory. Currently deemed Tropical Depression 13, moving 15 mph west-northwest in the central tropical Atlantic Ocean and boasting 35 mph winds, if the storm gains strength, it would be named Lee.
The tropical depression “could bring impacts to the Leeward Islands” by the weekend, the center wrote on Tuesday morning. Right now, it’s located about 1,400 miles east of the Lesser Antilles.
“While it is too soon to determine the location and magnitude of these possible impacts, interests in this area should monitor the progression of the depression and updates to the forecast,” the center continued.
Another system, a strong tropical wave near the coast of West Africa, has a 70% chance of forming into a tropical storm withing the next seven days. The now-disturbance is stirring up an area of large “cloudiness and showers,” and unless another storm beats it to the punch, if formed, the system would be called Margot.
The disturbance could form in the far eastern tropical Atlantic while it moves west-northwest at 10-15 mph, the center forecast Tuesday. It’s expected to move across the Cabo Verde Islands Wednesday night and Thursday.
Frank Strait, severe weather liaison for the state’s climate office, said of the two systems that “sneak attacks” can happen from storms developing along stationary fronts to the United States’ south and east or from disturbances forming over Central America.
“So, don’t let your guard down,” Strait said.
Even still, without any direct threats to South Carolina right now, about half of hurricane season remains. And in a couple of days, peak season sets in.
Sept. 10 is the prime day. It’s the “climatological peak” of the Atlantic hurricane season. But what does that mean?
“Around 50% of all Atlantic hurricane seasons since the dawn of the satellite era in 1966 have had at least one hurricane traveling across the basin on Sept. 10,” according to Meteorologist Brian McNoldy in an AccuWeather report.
Meteorologists say it’s because there’s “low vertical wind shear, plenty of moisture and increasing sea surface temperatures.”
South Carolina doesn’t stray from the trend.
Between 1851 to 2018, South Carolina has had 98 tropical cyclones in September, the center recorded. The next closet is October, with 71 tropical cyclones.
During those years but throughout the June through November season, nine have made landfall in Beaufort County with three happening in September.
- Sept. 26-27, 1894: Landfall on Hilton Head Island as a Category 1 hurricane with winds around 80 mph.
- Aug. 30-31, 1898: Landfall on Hilton Head Island as a Category 1 hurricane.
- Aug. 27-30, 1911: Landfall on Hilton Head Island, SC as a Category 2 hurricane with winds near 100 mph
- Aug. 10-13, 1940: Landfall near Hilton Head Island as a Category 2 hurricane with winds near 100 mph.
- Sept. 16-17, 1945: Landfall near the Georgia/South Carolina border as a tropical storm.
- Aug. 30-31, 1952: Able made landfall near Beaufort as a Category 2 hurricane with sustained winds near 100 mph.
- Sept. 28-30, 1959: Gracie made landfall near Beaufort as a Category 4 hurricane with sustained winds near 130 mph.
- June 24-25, 1985: Bob made landfall on Fripp Island as a Category 1 hurricane.
- June 28-29, 2021: Danny made landfall on Pritchards Island as a very weak.
This story was originally published September 5, 2023 at 3:16 PM.
