Tropical Storm Chantal inched closer to the South Carolina coast Saturday afternoon, prompting expanded tropical storm warnings and raising concerns about flash flooding, heavy rainfall, and gusty winds across the Carolinas through the end of the weekend.
According to the National Hurricane Center, as of 2 p.m., Chantal was located about 105 miles south-southeast of Charleston, South Carolina and about 185 miles south-southwest of Wilmington, North Carolina.
“Chantal is moving toward the north near 3 mph. A motion toward the north-northwest is expected to begin later today, followed by a turn to the northeast by Sunday night.“ NHC officials stated.
They also noted that a “tropical storm warning has extended northward in North Carolina,” with the potential for strong winds, heavy rain, and dangerous surf impacting coastal communities.
A tropical storm warning is in effect from South Santee River, South Carolina, to Surf City, North Carolina, as well as from Edisto Beach to South Santee River, South Carolina, according to the NHC.
The center of Chantal is expected to move across the coast of South Carolina overnight or early Sunday morning.
“Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 45 mph with higher gusts,“ the NHC reported. ”Some additional strengthening is expected before Chantal reaches the coast."
According to the NHC, tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 105 miles primarily to the east of the storm’s center.
“Tropical Storm Chantal is expected to produce heavy rainfall across portions of the coastal plain of the Carolinas through Monday. Storm total rainfall of 2 to 4 inches, with local amounts up to 6 inches is expected and these rains could cause flash flooding,” the NHC reported.
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