South Carolina in forecast track of developing tropical cyclone

Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine was designated Friday in the southwest Atlantic, putting portions of the Southeast U.S. on alert as the system organizes and begins to move in the general direction of the Carolinas.

As of Friday afternoon, the system was located in the vicinity of eastern Cuba and the southeastern Bahamas and is expected to strengthen into Imelda over the weekend.

The PTC designation, issued by the National Hurricane Center, allows officials to issue tropical storm or hurricane alerts ahead of the system becoming a full-fledged tropical cyclone.

As of Friday, no watches or warnings had been issued for the U.S. coastline; however, Tropical Storm Warnings and Watches were in effect for parts of the Bahamas.

NOAA

Forecasters continue to stress there is uncertainty in the forecast track, but at this point, a landfall along the Southeast coast is possible next week.

The NHC expects Imelda to reach the strength of a Category 1 hurricane while offshore Charleston, South Carolina, on Tuesday but the cyclone’s forward progress is expected to stall.

Preparations are already underway in the state, with low-lying areas deploying stormwater pumps and a local state of emergency declared in Conway, outside of Myrtle Beach.

South Carolina potential impacts

Tropical storm–force winds are likely across a portion of the Palmetto State, with the potential for low-end hurricane conditions depending on the track and intensity of the cyclone.

Winds of this strength could snap or uproot large trees, cause scattered power outages and lead to disruptions in communications.

The highest winds are expected along the immediate coastline, east of I-95, but are not expected to arrive until at least Tuesday.

Rainfall amounts of 5 to 10 inches are forecast, particularly along and east of the system’s track. Areas west of the center are expected to see less precipitation due to the intrusion of drier air.

Coastal flooding and storm surge will also become a threat by Monday, which could inundate roads and impact some neighborhoods along tidal creeks and barrier islands.

Exact impacts will continue to be fine-tuned over the weekend as the event gets closer in time.