Potential tropical system could bring heavy rains, wind to South Carolina coast
Meteorologists are monitoring an area of low pressure forming off the coast of Jacksonville, Florida. That system could further evolve into a tropical depression or storm this holiday weekend, bringing heavy rains and wind.
While it’s too early to pinpoint the storm’s path, it is likely to move into or near South Carolina, according to Frank Strait, severe weather liaison at the S.C. State Climate Office. Computer models are showing the storm moving north more slowly than the forecasts showed in previous days, pushing back the timing of impacts on the state to Saturday night into Sunday.
An Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft will investigate the system Friday afternoon, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Since the storm is moving slower, it could have more time over the ocean to intensify, possibly increasing heavy rainfall in the state, Strait said. The models indicate that this system will be relatively weak, possibly creating a tropical depression or weak tropical storm later Friday.
Current predictions show that Hilton Head will experience between 1 and 2 inches of rainfall between Friday and Sunday evening, according to the National Weather Service.
Forecasts show the threat of tropical-storm-force winds, which exceed sustained speed of 39 mph, is largely limited to coastal waters and beaches. Impacted areas could change depending how the low-pressure system develops and moves across the region, according to the NWS.
These conditions also bring a moderate rip-current risk on Friday. That rises to a high rip current risk on Saturday, which meteorologists expect to continue throughout the weekend and possibly early next week.
