SAVANNAH, Ga. () — Monday afternoon was hot and humid with a few isolated showers and storms in our southern counties.

Most of the area was cloud free which helped temperatures to reach the lower to middle 90s.

More days like today are in the forecast for the workweek due to high pressure settling in over the southeast. 

Our weather pattern will also be affected by Hurricane Erin, which will be moving approximately 450 miles off the coast of Georgia and South Carolina. Major concerns for our beaches include high surf and rip currents.

We will experience a strong northerly breeze as Erin’s wind field expands in the coming days. The next few high tide cycles will see increased levels due to an onshore flow.

Some minor coastal flooding is possible.

Tropical storm or hurricane conditions are not expected in the Coastal Empire and Lowcountry. 

Afternoon highs from Tuesday through Thursday will range from the low to mid-90s, with minimal chances of rain. Once Erin moves north and then northeast away from the U.S., rain and storm chances will reappear in the local forecast.

Scattered showers and storms are anticipated on Friday afternoon and continuing through the weekend. Increased rain chances and more cloud cover will help temperatures return to normal, ranging from the upper 80s to lower 90s on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

TRACKING THE TROPICS

Hurricane Erin remains a powerful category 4 system with sustained winds of 130 mph as of 8 p.m. Monday. Although it has weakened throughout the day, it will continue to weaken over the coming days. Nonetheless, Erin is predicted to remain a major hurricane through Thursday.

Tropical storm watches have been established for the Outer Banks and coastal Virginia due to the potential for experiencing tropical storm force winds. Erin will be somewhat closer to the coast as the storm proceeds northward.

Other than high surf and rip currents, no other direct impacts are expected in the Coastal Empire and Lowcountry from Hurricane Erin.

MORE DEVELOPMENT

The National Hurricane Center is monitoring two other systems for potential development in the Atlantic. A large tropical wave that is located southwest of the Cape Verde Islands has a medium chance of becoming a tropical depression or tropical storm over the next five to seven days.

The environment that it is in will support more development and organization as it gets closer to the islands of the Caribbean. The path that this system will take is looking to be more southerly than what Erin took.

This storm may be an issue for the Northern Leeward Islands and Puerto Rico later this week or early next week. This system is also worth keeping an eye on for the southeastern United States.

A second tropical wave is emerging off of the west coast of Africa now. It has a low chance of developing into a tropical depression or tropical storm now.

However, as we get further into hurricane season, tropical waves of this nature are always worth keeping an eye on. Cape Verde storms are often the largest and strongest systems.