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Potential Tropical Cyclone 8 on its way to the Carolinas, flood risk

The low-pressure system we were monitoring during the weekend is now better organized and can strengthen into a tropical storm before landfall in the northeastern portion of South Carolina.

Potential Tropical Cyclone number 8 formed late Sunday evening. Tropical storm warnings have been issued from South Santee River in South Carolina northward over North Carolina. The Carolina coasts have been experiencing tropical storm conditions. They will continue to do so through the late evening or early morning on Tuesday as this system moves inland. The heaviest rainfall will remain over North Carolina.

Potential Tropical Cyclone 8 could become better organized and be a depression or tropical storm by the time it makes landfall at some point in the early evening on Monday. The name name on the list is Helene.

What is a potential tropical cyclone?
A PTC is how the National Hurricane Center classifies a storm that is not organized enough to be a depression or tropical storm, but is near the coast and has a good chance of being a storm before it makes landfall, allowing for warnings and watches to be issued.

What's happening now?

Surface wind observations indicate that its maximum sustained winds are at 50 mph, but the system lacks a well-defined center, therefore its PTC categorization. Tropical storm-force winds extend 175 miles from its center, mainly to the east-northeast. Still, the South Carolina coast is dealing with some strong winds and gusts as well. Flood watches are in effect for Horry, Marion, Georgetown, and Dillon counties through Tuesday morning.

When and how much rain?

The heavy rounds of rain have been present since Sunday night and they are expected to continue through Tuesday, especially among the northern portion of South Carolina through much of North Carolina, where heavier rainfall is expected. There are flash flood warnings already in effect across the southern area of North Carolina, some flash flood warnings might be put in effect for parts of northeastern South Carolina.

For South Carolina, the heaviest rainfall will be focused over coastal and northern Pee Dee where additional rainfall could range between 4 to 6 inches, and some isolated spots could reach 10 inches. The Midlands could receive between 4 and 6 inches and up to 8 inches in some isolated spots. While the northern areas of Upstate can receive between 2 and 4 inches of rain during the next 36 hours.

Keep away from flooded roads. Turn around, don't drown. Remember that if there is any deviation of the center of the storm, there will be chances to the locations where the heaviest rain would fall. If it shifts a bit more south, then there would be heaviest amounts falling over the Pee Dee and Midlands. If the system were to move a bit more north, then fewer amounts would fall over the northern portion of South Carolina.

Swimmers and boaters are asked to please stay off the water. Seas will be rough as waves will be large and there is the risk of powerful rip currents. We are closely monitoring the evolution of the low-pressure system and will continue to bring you updates.