Tropical Storm Chantal formed on Saturday as it slowly moved in the Atlantic toward the Carolinas, according to the National Weather Service.
As of the NHC’s 8 a.m. advisory, what had been Tropical Depression Three that formed off the coast of Florida on Friday grew into the season’s third named storm.
It was located about 150 miles south-southeast of Charleston, S.C. and 240 miles south-southwest of Wilmington, N.C. with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph moving north at 2 mph.
Tropical-storm-force winds extend out up to 70 miles, mostly to the east of the system’s center.
A tropical storm warning is in effect from the South Santee River, S.C. north to Cape Fear, N.C. while a tropical storm watch is in effect from Edisto Beach to the South Santee River.
“A slow motion toward the north-northwest is expected to begin later today, followed by a turn to the northeast by Sunday night,” forecasters said. “On the forecast track, the center of Chantal is expected to move across the coast of South Carolina Sunday morning.”
The system for now is just over the minimum threshold for tropical-storm status, but could strengthen before landfall.
The system that led to heavy rain that struck Florida on Thursday and Friday is expected to bring 2-4 inches of rain with some areas getting up to 6 inches across the coastal plain of the Carolinas.
Storm surge could be from 1-3 feet from the South Santee River to Cape Fear and 1-2 feet from Edisto Beach to the South Santee River while dangerous surf and rip currents are forecast from northeastern Florida to the mid-Atlantic over the next couple of days.
Chantal is the first storm of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season to threaten 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 from June 1-Nov. 30.