Storm brewing in the Atlantic could impact Carolina coast this weekend, forecasters say
The first tropical system of the 2020 Hurricane Season could form into a subtropical storm in the coming days and will probably bring impacts to the Carolinas coast this weekend, forecasters said.
The system, which has a 70% chance of developing into a subtropical depression or storm, will likely pass “well offshore,” forecasters said. But it will bring big waves to the coast and moderate to strong rip currents starting late Sunday and into early next week for the southern coast of North Carolina and northern South Carolina.
The National Weather Service in Wilmington issued a hazardous weather outlook for this weekend for the coast from Pender and New Hanover counties in North Carolina and for South Carolina’s Grand Strand, including the Myrtle Beach area and Georgetown County.
The low pressure system has good conditions to develop into a subtropical depression or storm over the next five days, according to the National Hurricane Center.
The storm is likely to develop a couple hundred miles northeast of the Bahamas as it heads northeast over the Atlantic, forecasters said.
The 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season starts June 1. This year is expected to have more big storms than normal.
Warm Atlantic Ocean temperatures will make it easier for tropical storms and hurricanes to develop.
Weather Channel forecasters say they expect 18 named storms this year, with nine hurricanes and four that could become major hurricanes. There are on average 13 named storms each year.
Forecasters with AccuWeather predict 14 to 20 named tropical storms and hurricanes this year.
If this tropical disturbance gathers strength and get more organized, it will be named Arthur.
