Tropical Storm Chantal Poised to Impact Carolinas with Heavy Rainfall

Tropical Storm Chantal was predicted to make landfall in South Carolina early Sunday, bringing significant rainfall to the Carolinas. The storm developed into a tropical storm Saturday morning, approximately 150 miles off the South Carolina coast, leading to tropical storm warnings for parts of the Carolinas.

The National Hurricane Center, located in Miami, anticipated Chantal to make landfall between Charleston, South Carolina, and Cape Fear, North Carolina, early Sunday. The storm was then expected to shift northeast by Sunday night, with its center moving across the South Carolina coast that day.

As of 11 p.m. Eastern Time Saturday, Chantal had sustained winds of 50 mph and was moving north at about 8 mph. The storm's center was located about 65 miles east of Charleston. The hurricane center expressed concerns about potential flash flooding in South Carolina overnight Saturday.

The hurricane center's latest advisory indicated that the storm's strength was not expected to change much before landfall, but rapid weakening was anticipated afterward. The South Carolina Emergency Management Division had previously stated that the storm's impact on the state was expected to begin Saturday, bringing heavy rain, possible flash flooding, strong winds, and dangerous rip currents through Monday.

Tropical storm warnings were in effect from the South Santee River in South Carolina to Surf City, North Carolina. A tropical storm watch was issued from Edisto Beach to the South Santee River. Forecasters predicted that Chantal would bring heavy rainfall to the coastal plain of the Carolinas through Monday, with total rainfall expected to be between two and four inches, and potentially up to six inches in some areas, which could lead to flash flooding.

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, with the most activity typically occurring between mid-August and mid-October. NOAA officials had predicted a high chance of an above-normal Atlantic hurricane season, with a forecast of 13 to 19 named storms. Of those, six to 10 were expected to become hurricanes, and three to five could potentially become major hurricanes.