Tropical Storm Chantal strengthened a little as it approached the Carolinas on Saturday evening. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Tropical Storm Chantal was located at latitude 32.7°N and longitude 78.8°W which put the center about 65 miles (105 km) east of Charleston, South Carolina. Chantal was moving toward the north at 8 m.p.h. (13 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 65 m.p.h. (105 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 1004 mb.
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the portion of the coast from South Santee River, South Carolina to Surf City, North Carolina.
A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for the portion of the coast from Edisto Beach to South Santee River, South Carolina.
Tropical Storm Chantal strengthened a little as it approached the Carolinas on Saturday evening. Even though Chantal was a little stronger, the distribution of thunderstorms was still asymmetrical. Thunderstorms were occurring in bands in the eastern side of Chantal’s circulation. Bands in the western part of Tropical Storm Chantal consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. Storms east of the center of Chantal’s circulation generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away to the north and east of the tropical storm. The removal of mass caused the surface pressure to decrease slowly.
The distribution of wind speeds in Tropical Storm Chantal was also asymmetrical. The strongest winds were occurring in bands of thunderstorms in the northeastern part of Chantal’s circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 140 miles (220 km) in the eastern side of Tropical Storm Chantal. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 35 miles (55 km) in the western side of Chantal.
Tropical Storm Chantal will move through an environment that will be somewhat favorable for intensification during the next few hours. Chantal will move over water where where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 28°C. It will move under the northeastern part of an upper level low over the southeastern U.S. The upper level low will produce southwesterly winds that will blow toward the top of Chantal’s circulation. Those winds will cause moderate vertical wind shear. The wind shear will inhibit intensification, but the shear may not be enough to prevent intensification. Tropical Storm Chantal could intensify a little more during the next few hours.
The upper level low over the southeastern U.S. will steer Tropical Storm Chantal toward the north during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Tropical Storm Chantal will make landfall on the coast near the border between South Carolina and North Carolina in a few hours.
Tropical Storm Chantal will bring strong winds and locally heavy rain to eastern South Carolina and to eastern North Carolina. The heaviest rain and strongest winds will occur in the northeastern part of Chantal’s circulation. Heavy rain could cause flash floods in some locations. Tropical Storm Chantal could cause a storm surge of up to four feet (one meter). Chantal will also bring high waves to the coast. The waves could cause beach erosion.
Flood Watches are in effect for portions of eastern South Carolina and Eastern North Carolina.
