(WPDE) — 11:30 AM FRIDAY TROPICAL UPDATE
Showers and thunderstorms are becoming more organized around an area of low pressure just off the Florida coast. Hurricane Hunters are scheduled to investigate the system this afternoon.
There’s a good chance it could briefly strengthen into a tropical depression or a weak tropical storm (potentially named Chantal) later today or Saturday.
Regardless of development, high pressure is expected to steer the system inland near the South Carolina coast by Sunday. Whether it remains a disturbance or becomes a named storm, the local impacts will be similar and minor.
RAIN – An isolated storm or two is possible this afternoon, with a few more on Saturday, but many areas will stay dry.
By Sunday, the approaching tropical system will pull in more moisture, increasing the chance for scattered showers and thunderstorms throughout the day.
Sunday won’t be a washout, but some storms could produce heavy downpours and localized flooding.
Typical for summertime: if a storm hits your area, you could see one to two inches of rain in a short period. Dryer, more typical summer weather returns Monday and continues into next week.
WIND – It’ll turn breezy along the coast Saturday and Sunday, with gusts between 20–30 mph. Even if the system becomes a weak tropical storm, the strongest winds will likely stay offshore. No significant wind impacts are expected for our area…