Rain in Lowcountry forecast as Beryl grows into season's first hurricane
Beryl became the first hurricane of the 2018 season early Friday morning.
As of midday Friday, the center of the Category 1 storm was east of the Lesser Antilles, according to the National Hurricane Center. It was moving west at around 15 mph.
Meteorologists expect Hurricane Beryl, which had 80 mph sustained winds, to continue to strengthen on Friday and remain at hurricane strength when it crosses the Lesser Antilles.
Meanwhile, the Lowcountry could see a rainy weekend, with a chance of thunderstorms on Saturday and Sunday, said the National Weather Service in Charleston.
On the forecast track, the center of Beryl will approach the island chain over the weekend and cross it late Sunday or Monday. The storm is expected to weaken as it reaches the Caribbean Sea, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Weather watchers also continue to eye an area of low pressure off the East Coast that has potential to form a tropical storm or depression over the next few days, said AccuWeather's forecast.
"We are monitoring an area of disturbed weather a couple of hundred miles south of Bermuda at this time," reported AccuWeather meteorologist Max Vido.
Even if a system organizes, it is expected to move northeast and not directly affect land.
The National Hurricane Center said the system, for now, is producing disorganized showers and a few thunderstorms.
The hurricane center's outlook says the system likely will move slowly northwestward then northward off the coast of North Carolina, but it could linger off the southeastern U.S. coast where some additional development is possible.
The chance a tropical depression could form was forecast at 40 percent over the next 48 hours and 50 percent over the next five days.
At the end of May, before hurricane season started, Subtropical Storm Alberto made its way through the Gulf of Mexico.
June saw no named storms for the first time in several years.
The next storm that develops will be named Chris.
Beaufort County forecast
Friday
A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly between 1pm and 3pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. Calm wind becoming east 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.
Friday night
A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 9pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 75. South wind around 6 mph becoming calm after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.
Saturday
A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 10 a.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 88. Light and variable wind, becoming east 5 to 8 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Saturday night
Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. Northeast wind 3 to 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Sunday
Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 84. East wind 7 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Sunday night
A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent.
Monday
Partly sunny, with a high near 89.
Monday night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 73.
Tuesday
Sunny, with a high near 90.
Tuesday night
Mostly clear, with a low around 74.
This story was originally published July 6, 2018 at 7:40 AM.