Officials have issued a severe tropical storm warning for residents of North and South Carolina as a low-pressure system bringing heavy wind and rain approaches the coast.
The warning applies to more than two million people in the area.
On Monday morning, the system that could become Tropical Storm Helene neared the Carolina coast, bringing 50 mph winds.
Officials have issued a severe tropical storm warning for residents of North and South Carolina as a low-pressure system bringing heavy wind and rain approaches the coast
On Monday morning, the system that could become Tropical Storm Helene neared the Carolina coast, bringing 50 mph winds
Officially referred to as Potential Cyclone Eight, the weather pattern has not yet been deemed tropical or subtropical storm.
By early Monday morning, heavy rain was already lashing eastern areas of the Carolinas, resulting in flash flood warnings.
Howling winds also buffeted the coast and further agitated the turbulent ocean.
By early Monday morning, heavy rain was already lashing eastern areas of the Carolinas, resulting in flash flood warnings
Normally a systems center features its heaviest rain and winds. But this storm unusually bucks that trend, with the worst rain and wind concentrated far away from the the systems heart.
According to CNN, this suggests that while the storm will likely touch down in South Carolina - somewhere between Charleston and Myrtle Beach - North Carolina will actually bear the brunt of the weather system.
The National Hurricane Center warned that the system could draw additional strength before making landfall because of warm Atlantic waters and comparatively low wind shear.
It further noted that the storm might precipitate violent tornadoes in the eastern Carolinas.
While the storm will likely touch down in South Carolina - somewhere between Charleston and Myrtle Beach - North Carolina will actually bear the brunt of the harsh weather
The National Hurricane Center warned that the system could draw additional strength before making landfall because of warm Atlantic waters and comparatively low wind shear
According to the Weather Prediction Center, locations along the border between North and South Carolina are facing a level three of four risk of flooding rainfall on Monday
However, meteorologists observed that that rain-fueled flooding is likely to be the storms most destructive effect.
According to the Weather Prediction Center, locations along the border between North and South Carolina are facing a level three of four risk of flooding rainfall on Monday.
A significantly larger level two of four risk threatens most of North Carolina and swathes of northern South Carolina.
Flash flooding is considered highly likely for any area that suffers several rounds of rain.
Meteorologists determined that that rain-fueled flooding is likely to be the storms most destructive effect
Experts predict that four to eight inches of rainfall will hit North and South Carolina through Monday night
Experts predict that four to eight inches of rainfall will hit North and South Carolina through Monday night.
AccuWeather suggested that some locations might experience over 20 inches.
It also warned that coastal flooding, beach erosion, and rip currents could affect an area stretching from northeastern Florida to Delaware.
From the northern coast of South Carolina to southern parts of North Carolinas Outer Banks, the system is expected to produce up to three feet of storm surge.
AccuWeather suggested that some locations might experience over 20 inches of rainfall
Howling winds also buffeted the coast and further agitated the turbulent ocean
In its latest advisory, the National Hurricane Center said: The combination of a storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline.
It added: The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast near and to the east of the landfall location, where the surge will be accompanied by large and dangerous waves.
Although the rain is forecast to continue and expand in scope, experts say that the storm will weaken by midweek.
If the system manages to become a full-blown tropical storm on Monday, it will be the first named storm to touch down in South Carolina since Hurricane Ian in 2022.