Possible Helene Prompts Warnings In Carolinas | Weather.com
By weather.com meteorologists
3 hours ago
- An area of low pressure could become a tropical or subtropical storm before moving into the Carolinas Monday.
- The next Atlantic name is Helene.
- Heavy rain, gusty winds and coastal flooding are expected impacts.
A disturbance that could become Tropical or Subtropical Storm Helene before it moves inland later Monday has prompted tropical storm warnings along part of the coastal Carolinas.
Where the system is now: It’s currently a disturbance called Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight about 100 miles east-southeast of Charleston, South Carolina.
This is a procedure that allows the National Hurricane Center to issue advisories, watches and warnings for a system that hasn’t yet developed, but poses a threat of tropical storm-force winds to land areas within 48 hours.
In this case, a tropical storm warning has been issued from Edisto Beach, South Carolina, northward to Ocracoke Inlet, North Carolina. Tropical storm conditions (39+ mph winds) are expected in this area on Monday.
The area of low pressure is already producing rain and windy conditions along the Carolina coastline, as the latest radar snapshot shows below.
The low has been non-tropical in nature since the weekend. It would be named Helene if it can make a transition into a more subtropical or tropical low. Impacts from this system will be the same regardless if that happens or not.
Where it’s headed and when it could become Helene: The system has a high chance of becoming Tropical Storm Helene or Subtropical Storm Helene before it moves inland late Monday. No intensification is forecast before it tracks into the Carolinas.
Rainfall, gusty winds and coastal flooding are impacts early this week. Some locations from northeastern South Carolina to North Carolina and Virginia may see multi-inch rainfall totals.
Localized flooding is possible from eastern South Carolina and central and eastern North Carolina to southern Virginia through Monday night. Locally heavy rain and possible flooding will then spread toward the mid-Atlantic Tuesday.
Gusty winds will impact the eastern Carolinas and the southern mid-Atlantic and some coastal flooding is possible as well at times of high tide.
Storm surge is expected to be 1 to 3 feet above ground level from northeast South Carolina to southeast North Carolina if the peak surge arrives at high tide.
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