Tropical Storm Chantal Forms, Takes Aim at the Carolinas
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Tropical Storm Chantal formed off the Southeastern coast of the U.S. on Saturday morning, with warnings being issued by state and federal weather agencies for coastal areas of the Carolinas.
Why It Matters
The approach of Tropical Storm Chantal marked a significant threat for the Carolina coastline and surrounding states just as the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season entered its traditionally active months.
Meteorologists have been monitoring the disturbance in the Atlantic all week. Chantal is the third named storm of an already active season and is forecast to bring "heavy rainfall" that carries an "elevated risk of flash flooding," along with rip currents and tropical storm force winds, the latest alert from the National Hurrican Center (NHC) said.
As the region prepares for the impact, emergency management agencies have distributed resources and guidance to limit storm-related injuries and property damage, with rip currents and flash flooding topping the hazards list.
What To Know
The NHC upgraded the Tropical Storm Watch to a Tropical Storm Warning in its third advisory for the storm issued for the area from Santee River in South Carolina to North Carolina's Cape Fear.
As of Saturday morning, Chantal was about 150 miles south-southeast of Charleston, South Carolina, moving about 2 miles per hour, with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph, the alert from NHC said.
"Chantal will begin impacting the state on Saturday, bringing heavy rain, isolated flash flooding, gusty winds, and high rip currents through Monday," South Carolina's Emergency Management Division (SCEMD) said in a press release on Saturday morning.
The warning, issued at 8 a.m. ET, said the area should expect the storm within the next 12 hours.
Chantal's path looks to be making landfall along South Carolina's southeast coastline late Saturday into Sunday morning, after which the storm would track northeast over North Carolina and southeastern Virginia before weakening by Sunday afternoon.
Rain bands and gusty winds are expected to reach as far south as central Florida and as far north as coastal Virginia, Newsweek previously reported.
With heavy rainfall, capable of causing localized flash flooding and hazardous travel, being the primary threat, the National Weather Service (NWS) is warning drivers of potential hazards such as slick roads and blinding downpours, recommending caution in urban, low-lying, or poor drainage areas.
In its press release, the SCEMD gave a warning about rip currents.
"Rip currents are powerful, fast-moving channels of water that can pull swimmers away from shore quickly," the SCEMD said. "The National Weather Service reports these currents can be difficult to spot and are especially dangerous for unsuspecting beachgoers. Swimming against a rip current can lead to exhaustion; instead, swim parallel to the shore to escape the current."
Large bands of rain are expected to affect west-central and southwestern Florida through early Saturday, with precipitation moving through eastern Georgia, eastern South Carolina, and eastern North Carolina as the weekend continues. Eastern parts of Virginia were also forecast to be affected before the storm exited the mainland early next week.
This image provided by NOAA shows Tropical Storm Chantal forming off the coast of the Carolinas on July 5.
This image provided by NOAA shows Tropical Storm Chantal forming off the coast of the Carolinas on July 5.
NOAA via AP
What People Are Saying
South Carolina Emergency Management Division said in a press release Saturday morning: "SCEMD officials are working closely with the members of the State Emergency Response team, the National Weather Service, and local officials to provide updated information and guidance on the storm's potential effects."
The National Hurricane Center said in an advisory Saturday: "The tropical storm is expected to bring life-threatening surf and rip currents along the coast from northeastern Florida to the Mid-Atlantic states during the next couple of days."
South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on Friday: "As South Carolinians and visitors celebrate our nation's freedom, a potential tropical storm may show up for the weekend, starting tomorrow. Time to pay attention to forecasts. Follow @SCEMD for official news & information. #TeamSC."
What Happens Next?
The NHC and local emergency agencies plan to provide frequent advisories as U.S. Air Force crews collect more data.
Rain and strong winds are expected to hit coastal areas for several days, with the storm predicted to weaken as it accelerates up the Eastern Seaboard early next week.
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