The Carolinas are experiencing heavy rainfall and gusty winds as a system that could potentially become Tropical Storm Helene draws closer to the South Carolina coast. As of Monday (September 16) morning, the system was approximately 100 miles east of Charleston, South Carolina, with tropical storm-force winds of 50 mph. Tropical storm warnings are currently in effect for the coastal Carolinas.
The system, currently referred to as Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight, has not yet organized enough to be classified as a tropical or subtropical storm. However, it still has a medium chance of doing so before making landfall Monday afternoon.
The system’s center, typically where its strongest winds and heaviest rain occur, is poorly defined. Most of the system’s heaviest rain and gusty winds are far removed from its center, according to satellite imagery. This means that while the system will likely make landfall in South Carolina, between Charleston and Myrtle Beach, southern North Carolina will endure most of its significant impacts.