We continue to monitor the development of a disturbance that is a couple of hundred miles east of Cape Canaveral, Florida. It has a medium chance of becoming a tropical system, possibly a tropical depression at best, as it will battle a pocket of dry air and limited time before its chances quickly become depleted and move over land. The tropical disturbance is moving west-northwest between 10 and 15 mph, and it will likely reach the northeastern Florida coast of southern Georgia coast on Friday. The next name on the list is Beryl.
Hurricane Hunters have been investigating this system on Thursday afternoon and have not found that the system has a well-defined center of circulation and satellite imagery finds that the storms are very disorganized. Some storms will be moving onshore, fast. Expect rainfall totals of around half an inch along parts of the Lowcountry and southern Pee Dee. This compact system will not bring widespread severe weather, but it will cause more problems in the marine sectors for boaters, beachgoers, and swimmers. Friday will not be the best or safest day to be on the water or swimming anywhere along eastern Florida through the Carolinas’ coastline.
High risk for rip currents at area beaches today. Always swim near a lifeguard! #chswx #savwx pic.twitter.com/iZTPyw8hBi
— NWS Charleston, SC (@NWSCharlestonSC) June 20, 2024
Threats for the South Carolina coast through Friday evening:
- High risk of rip currents: Please stay off the waters. Rip currents are a silent killer and not easily detectable to the naked eye, especially when there is high surf and choppy seas.
- Small craft advisory also in effect through Friday evening as gusts could be up to 25 knots with northeast winds, and seas 4 to 6 feet.