Tropical Storm Chantal makes landfall in eastern South Carolina
Chantal, the third tropical storm of the 2025 Atlantic season, could bring total rainfall of 2 to 4 inches − and localized amounts up to 6 inches − across portions of the coastal plains of the Carolinas, the National Hurricane Center said.
"The combination of storm surge and tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline," the center warned.
Isolated tornadoes were also possible along the coast of eastern South Carolina and much of North Carolina, the center said.
Where will the worst impacts of Chantal be felt?
The circulation of Chantal could lead to dangers far from the storm's track in areas from Savannah, Georgia, to Jacksonville, Florida, such as rough surf and treacherous rip currents, Accuweather said.
The storm's most intense winds should remain offshore, but risks remain, forecasters said.
"The strongest winds are expected near and to the east of where the storm makes landfall and can produce tree damage, localized power outages and some structural damage," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Tyler Roy said.
Tropical Storm Chantal tracker
When did the 2025 hurricane season start?
The Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1 and will last through the end of November.
Active hurricane weather typically peaks between mid-August and mid-October.
Chantal, which intensified into a tropical storm Saturday, followed two earlier tropicals storms in June: Andrea, which was the first named storm of the 2025 season, and the short-lived Barry.
How do hurricanes form?
Hurricanes are born in the tropics, above warm water. Clusters of thunderstorms can develop over the ocean when water temperatures exceed 80 degrees Fahrenheit. If conditions are right, the clusters swirl into a storm known as a tropical wave or tropical depression.
A tropical depression becomes a named tropical storm once its sustained wind speeds reaches 39 mph. When its winds reach 74 mph, the storm officially becomes a hurricane.
Prepare now for hurricanes: Here's what you should do to stay safe before a storm arrives
How to prepare for hurricanes
Delaying potentially life-saving preparations could mean waiting until it's too late. "Get your disaster supplies while the shelves are still stocked, and get that insurance checkup early, as flood insurance requires a 30-day waiting period," NOAA recommends.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Rounds of flooding downpours, severe storms to target Eastern US
Conditions will remain conducive for thunderstorms to produce excessive rainfall and damaging wind gusts through the end of this week from the Appalachians to the Atlantic coast, AccuWeather meteorologists warn. The combination of lingering moisture and weak fronts moving in slowly from the central United States will be enough to set off rounds of slow-moving, but potent thunderstorms. The highest risk to lives and property is from torrential rainfall. One issue with storms in the summertime is when they erupt, they can grow skyward and move very slowly at the same time--just like they do in tropical rainforests or jungles. This has the potential to unload a tremendous amount of rain. In localized areas, 2-4 inches can fall in an hour's time and quickly overwhelm storm drains, streets, highways and small streams. Adjacent locations a mile or even just several blocks away may receive little or no rainfall. On Tuesday, this same setup triggered deadly flash flooding in Ruidoso, New Mexico, and inundated streets and cars in downtown Chicago. Areas from New England to the mid-Atlantic, southern Atlantic and Appalachians will be locked into this pattern into the weekend. The areas of torrential downpours and severe thunderstorms will shift from day to day as the weak fronts from the Midwest approach and depart. "We are concerned about the flash flood threat being enhanced from Durham, North Carolina, into central Virginia, which is in the area that received 2-12 inches of rain this past weekend from Tropical Storm Chantal. The ground across this area is already saturated," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Tyler Roys said. As AccuWeather accurately predicted, Durham was hit again by torrential rain and flash flooding on Wednesday evening. Drivers are strongly urged not to attempt to drive through flooded roads. Where possible, turn around or move the vehicle to higher ground as water may still be rising or the road may have been washed away, and vehicles can stall or float into dangerous, deep and fast-moving the app? Unlock AccuWeather Alerts™ with Premium+ "It is estimated that in this area and other parts of the East, as little as an inch of rain per hour can lead to flash flooding, and the atmosphere is capable of unleashing rainfall of two to three times that amount," Roys explained. Given the deadly and disastrous flooding events of late, people camping or living along the floodplain of small streams, which are most prone to flash flooding in the Eastern states, are urged to have an audible means of receiving flash flood alerts 24 hours a day. Residents and visitors should be aware of the quickest means to get to higher ground should flash flooding occur. A flash flood watch means weather conditions are conducive for flash flooding. A flash flood warning means flash flooding is imminent at the location specified--move to higher ground immediately. Along with the likelihood of flash flooding with the weather pattern will be zones of severe thunderstorms on a daily basis into the weekend. Just as this setup is conducive to storms with torrential rainfall, some storms are likely to produce powerful wind gusts in certain locations. Tall thunderstorms and downpours can produce a downward rush of air that spreads out as it reaches ground level. These downburst or microburst winds can knock over trees, trigger power outages and cause property damage, similar to some tornadoes. On Friday, the risk of severe thunderstorms with high winds will ease a bit, and that lull may last into part of the weekend in the Northeast. However, on Saturday, the next round of severe thunderstorms will march across the Great Lakes and the Ohio Valley. As the front associated with the severe weather continues to move along during the weekend, the risk of severe weather is likely to increase in the Appalachians and eastern Great Lakes on Sunday. As severe thunderstorms and torrential downpours affect the major metro areas of the East into this weekend, substantial and long-lasting travel delays can unfold in a matter of minutes. Severe thunderstorms can prompt ground stops at the airports, while flooding downpours can bring traffic to a standstill on some of the major highways. Thunderstorms will make a run for the coastline on Monday next week. However, drier air and surface high pressure will likely prevent storms from pushing into some major cities in the I-95 corridor such as Boston and New York City. If the storms speed up, there is a greater chance of them making it to those areas later in the afternoon, which could potentially slow down the evening commute. Want next-level safety, ad-free? Unlock advanced, hyperlocal severe weather alerts when you subscribe to Premium+ on the AccuWeather app. AccuWeather Alerts™ are prompted by our expert meteorologists who monitor and analyze dangerous weather risks 24/7 to keep you and your family safer.
Miami Herald
6 hours ago
- Miami Herald
Hurricane center keeps forecasting potential system near Florida
The National Hurricane Center continued Sunday to predict a system could develop near Florida this week that could develop into the season's next tropical depression or storm. As of the NHC's 2 p.m. tropical outlook, forecasters said a trough of low pressure is likely to form near the southeastern U.S. coast in the next day or two and then move west across the Florida peninsula and into the Gulf by Tuesday. "Environmental conditions could support some gradual development of this system during the middle to late part of this week while it moves westward over the northeastern and north-central portions of the Gulf," forecasters said, The NHC gave it a 20% chance of development in the next seven days, the same as when it began forecasting the potential system on Saturday. "Regardless of development, heavy rainfall could produce localized flash flooding over portions of Florida and the north-central Gulf coast through the mid to late portion of this week," forecasters said, If it were to spin up into a named storm, it could become Tropical Storm Dexter. In Central Florida, the National Weather Service in Melbourne says some areas could get up to 2 inches of rain on Monday and Tuesday, and trailing moisture as the low moves west could keep it wet through midweek. "Stronger storms will be capable of occasional to frequent lightning strikes and water loaded downdrafts which can produce localized gusty winds," the NWS stated. The state was previously doused by rains associated with what developed into Tropical Storm Chantal earlier this month. That storm ended up striking the Carolina coast and dumped flooding rains inland. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration had before the start of hurricane season forecast an expected 13 to 19 named storms for the year, of which 6-10 would grow into hurricanes. Three to five of those would develop into major hurricanes of Category 3 strength or higher. Researchers out of Colorado State University this week, though, updated their forecast saying they expect the season to be slightly less busy than what they had predicted earlier this year. Hurricane season runs June 1-Nov. 30. Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
Bryan Norcross: Disturbance to drench Florida, then watching for development in the Gulf
An area of disturbed weather offshore of the Southeast coast is going to turn into a problem for the Florida Peninsula this week. It's going to take an unusual path from east to west, slowly looping toward the Gulf. It will bring a tremendous amount of tropical moisture to Florida and produce slow-moving downpours. This type of weather scenario often produces flash flooding. So plan to stay aware. After the system moves into the Gulf mid-week, the National Hurricane Center is giving it a slight chance of developing into at least a tropical depression. The strong consensus of the various computer forecasts is that the system will stay weak and disorganized, but it's important to remember that forecasts for systems that haven't even begun to develop are always subject to change. The current consensus is that the disturbance with its expansive tropical moisture will track toward the northern Gulf coast and spread heavy rain along the coast and well inland. The system might stall late in the week over or near the northern Gulf. If that happens, extremely wet weather will affect coastal areas next weekend. Plan to stay informed. The disturbance developed from the tail end of a cold front that moved offshore of the U.S. East Coast. The main storm system and front are pushing away into the Atlantic, but the disturbance was left behind over the warm Gulf Stream waters offshore of Georgia and South Carolina. The system is best organized in the middle levels of the atmosphere. When a disturbance develops from a non-tropical system, like a front, it often takes a number of days to gain much organization. That's why the National Hurricane Center has the Area to Watch in the Gulf. It will take until about Wednesday before the disorganized, but very wet system gets there. Rain looks likely to increase across the Florida Peninsula tomorrow and continue into Wednesday. Then our attention will focus on the Gulf and the northern Gulf coast. The atmosphere is extremely moist over Florida, and that moisture level is forecast to increase. So heavy rain looks very likely over a good part of the Florida Peninsula. It appears that the thunderstorms will be slow moving, increasing the threat of local flooding. Otherwise, the tropics remain calm. Hostile upper winds and dry air are holding development at article source: Bryan Norcross: Disturbance to drench Florida, then watching for development in the Gulf
