Meteorologists track developing tropical system near Hilton Head ahead of July 4 holiday
Those planning to fire up their grills or head to the beach may need to keep an eye on the skies this Fourth of July weekend.
The coming days will bring a mix of sun and the occasional isolated thunderstorms in the afternoon and evenings. The National Hurricane Center is also monitoring a disturbance off the South Carolina coast, which can bring heavy rainfall and a possible tropical or subtropical depression in the next seven days.
“The current thinking is that if anything develops, it’s going to be relatively weak,” Emily McGraw, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said.
The development is the result of a weak cold front moving across the area. The front will then stop off the coast, a pattern that is “notorious” for tropical cyclone development, according to a newsletter from Frank Strait, severe weather liaison with the State Climate Office.
At the moment, meteorologists don’t have a great idea of the situation, but it’s most likely that the low-pressure area will bring lots of rain Saturday through Sunday, according to Strait. Given that the storm would have little time over the ocean to develop, it will likely remain weak before moving inland. In the event that it does become a tropical storm, it would form quickly and there would be some wind and storm surge concerns along the coast. Meteorologists are closely monitoring the situation.
The forecast on Friday, July 4 includes scattered thunderstorms and showers in the afternoon and evening, though the storms are likely to dissipate before the start of most fireworks displays, Strait said. Highs will be in the mid 90s, with the heat index reaching up to 102 degrees.
Saturday will be partly sunny with a high of 87 degrees. It’s likely the area will see showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Sunday will see much of the same.
For those planning to hit the beach, there is an enhanced risk of rip current over the weekend, McGraw said.
This story was originally published July 3, 2025 at 12:23 PM.
