Tropical Storm Chantal Strengthens Near The Carolinas Coast

After forming along the South Carolina coast on the Fourth of July, Tropical Storm Chantal is gaining strength as it continues to drift north over the warm waters of the Atlantic Ocean. 

As of 5 p.m. EDT, Tropical Storm Chantal was located near 31.9 N and 78.7 W, or about 105 miles south-southeast of Charleston, S.C., and 185 miles south-southwest of Wilmington, N.C. Chantal is packing top sustained winds of 45 mph and is moving north at 7 mph. It has a minimum central pressure of 1006 mb, or 29.71 inches of mercury.

A Tropical Storm Watch has been issued from Edisto Beach to South Santee River, South Carolina. A Tropical Storm Warning has been issued from South Santee River, South Carolina to Surf City, North Carolina.

Tropical Storm Chantal will move north to northwest during the next day, packing locally heavy rain along the Carolinas coast, particularly this afternoon into Sunday. Rain amounts of 2 to 4 inches with locally 6 inches are possible near the coast. Wind gusts of 25 to 35 mph will occur along the South Carolina and southeastern North Carolina coasts, with higher wind gusts of 40 to 55 mph near the central South Carolina coast this evening through Sunday morning. A storm surge of 1 to 3 feet is possible along coastal areas as well.

Chantal will likely be a moderate tropical storm before it makes landfall in South Carolina on Sunday morning.

This system is expected to move inland on Sunday and weaken into Sunday night and Monday. Some leftover rain could occur in eastern Virginia into southern Maryland and Delaware on Monday. Rain amounts will generally be less than an inch.

It is time to prepare for the hurricane season. Create a hurricane evacuation box now, before the storm, with bottled water, extra cell phone chargers, food and clothing. Scope out multiple different evacuation routes in case your preferred route is blocked or traffic jammed.