Tropical Storm Chantal moved inland Sunday morning bringing rain and flood threats after striking the Carolina coast with 50 mph winds.
As of the National Hurricane Center’s 8 a.m. advisory, the center of the storm was located about 15 miles northwest of Conway, S.C. and 80 miles west of Wilmington, N.C. with maximum sustained winds that had dropped to 40 mph as it moved north-northwest at 8 mph.
A tropical storm warning remained in effect from the South Santee River, S.C. to Surf City, N.C.
“A turn northward and then northeastward is anticipated over the next 24 hours. On the forecast track, the center of Chantal is expected to move further inland over South Carolina and then North Carolina through the day today,” forecasters said.
Tropical-storm-force winds extend out up to 80 miles from its center, mostly out over the water to the southeast.
“Additional weakening is expected as Chantal moves inland, and the system is forecast to degenerate into a trough of low pressure on Monday,” forecasters said.
The storm is forecast to drop 2-4 inches of rain with some areas getting up to 6 inches over portions northeastern South Carolina today and across portions of North Carolina through Monday, bringing with it a threat for flooding.
“Isolated tornadoes will be possible today across portions of eastern North Carolina and extreme northeastern South Carolina,” the NHC warned.
Rough surf and rip currents are a threat from northeastern Florida to the mid-Atlantic.
Chantal was the first storm of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season to strike the United States.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasts 13 to 19 named storms this year, of which 6-10 will become hurricanes. Three to five of those would grow into major hurricanes of Category 3 strength or higher.
Hurricane season runs June 1-Nov. 30.