Stay Informed: Tropical Storm Watch Issued for Southeast Coast as Tropical Depression Three Set to Transform into Chantal

The National Hurricane Center has confirmed the development of Tropical Depression Three off the Southeastern coast. This weather system is likely to bring heavy rain to the Carolinas in the coming days.

Formerly known as Invest 92L, this system is predicted to deliver tropical downpours, regardless of how strong it gets. A Tropical Storm Watch has been issued for parts of South Carolina, signaling that communities there should prepare for potential impacts soon.

Warnings stretch from Edisto Beach to Little River Inlet, with winds expected to begin affecting the coast by Sunday morning. The National Hurricane Center warns of the risk of flooding rains, especially in eastern North Carolina, where some areas have already seen over five inches of rainfall.

Experts have noted that while Hurricane Hunter aircraft flew into the storm to gather data, the cyclone may not strengthen beyond a minimal tropical storm. Winds are expected to range between 40 to 50 mph, likely leading to a gradual decay as it moves over land.

This season’s activity is noteworthy; Tropical Storm Chantal would be the third named storm, typically not seen until early August. The previous two storms, Andrea and Barry, were relatively weak, with Barry making landfall in Mexico at the month’s end.

Interestingly, the impacts from this storm may mirror those of Tropical Storm Colin in 2022, which caused 2 to 5 inches of rain and dangerous rip currents along the coast.

As of now, authorities are closely monitoring the situation. People should stay informed about updates from the National Hurricane Center and local meteorological services.

For further insights on the storm effects and hurricane preparedness, explore resources from the [National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration](https://www.noaa.gov).

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