Tropical storm warnings issued for the Carolina coast, tropical system brings heavy rains and coastal flooding threat

CNN
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According to the National Hurricane Center, meteorologists have issued tropical storm warnings for coastal areas of the Carolinas.

Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight, which has not yet formed but is expected to form soon, is expected to have impacts from Edisto Beach, South Carolina, to Ocracoke Inlet, North Carolina, within 48 hours. Tropical storm warnings are in effect Monday for more than 2 million people in the region.

Tropical storm force winds could hit the coast as early as Sunday evening, bringing torrential rain, strong winds and storm surge in the affected areas.

“The combination of a dangerous storm surge and high tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be inundated by rising waters moving inland from the coast,” the hurricane center said.

A storm surge of 1 to 3 feet is forecast along the South Santee River (South Carolina) to the Oregon Inlet (North Carolina), the Neuse and Bay rivers (North Carolina), and the Pamlico and Pungo rivers (North Carolina).

The disorganized disturbance has maximum sustained winds estimated at 45 mph and is moving northwest at 3 mph, hurricane center meteorologists said in their 2 a.m. update. The potential tropical cyclone is located about 115 miles east-southeast of Charleston, South Carolina.

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The system is expected to develop into a tropical storm by Monday and be named Helene. “On the forecast track, the center of the system should reach the coast within the warning area on Monday,” the National Hurricane Center said.

According to the Hurricane Center, the disturbance could intensify in the hours before landfall due to very warm waters in the Atlantic and relatively low wind shear.

Heavy rain will be a concern during the work week. “Through Wednesday, potential Tropical Cyclone Eight will bring 3 to 6 inches of rainfall, with isolated totals near 8 inches in northern and northeastern South Carolina and the North Carolina coastal plain,” meteorologists said.

The forecast calls for 2 to 4 inches of rainfall, with isolated cases of up to 6 inches of rain as far north as Virginia. “This rainfall could cause isolated sudden flash flooding and urban flooding, as well as minor river flooding,” the meteorologists warn.

The storm’s expected arrival comes as much of the region has already seen above-average rainfall this year, largely due to Debby, a tropical depression that caused flash flooding in Charleston and widespread rainfall of 6 to 12 inches in the Carolinas just over a month ago.

As with all swirling tropical systems that make landfall, some tornadoes are possible and some could touch down in eastern North Carolina on Monday.

Flood warnings have been issued for more than 8 million people in the Carolinas, including Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and Raleigh, North Carolina.

“The system brings with it the risk of isolated flash flooding and urban flooding, as well as minor river flooding, in eastern North Carolina and northeastern South Carolina from tonight through early Tuesday. There is also a risk of isolated flash flooding and urban flooding across much of the Mid-Atlantic region through Wednesday,” the forecasters said.