Tropical Storm Chantal has developed off the southeast coast of the U.S., and is anticipated to deliver significant rainfall to areas in the Carolinas on Saturday. The National Hurricane Center in Miami has issued tropical storm warnings for parts of both states.
As of 2 p.m. EDT, Chantal’s center was positioned approximately 105 miles (170 kilometers) southeast of Charleston, South Carolina, and 185 miles (300 kilometers) south-southwest of Wilmington, North Carolina. The storm’s maximum sustained winds reached 45 mph (75 kph), and it was progressing northward at a speed of 3 mph (6 kph).
The center of the storm is projected to reach the South Carolina coast late on Saturday or early Sunday, with expectations of some additional intensification before making landfall.
Heavy rain was forecast for the coastal plain of the Carolinas through Monday — total rainfall of 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 centimeters), with local amounts up to 6 inches — threatening flash flooding.
