Tropical system forms off the coast. What could it mean for the Carolinas?
A tropical system that developed in the Atlantic is expected to make its way off the coast of North Carolina, bringing rough surf and high rip current risks to some areas.
Tropical Depression 15 — upgraded from an “area of low pressure” — was roughly 100 miles southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, as of 5 a.m. Tuesday, the National Hurricane Center said.
“A turn toward the east-northeast is expected later today, followed by a turn toward the east by Thursday,” forecasters said on Tuesday morning. “On the forecast track, the center of the depression will move away from the North Carolina coast today.”
But some beaches could still see impacts.
“Swells generated by the depression will continue to affect portions of the Outer Banks of North Carolina through this evening, causing life-threatening surf and rip current conditions,” forecasters said Tuesday morning.
From Oregon Inlet to Cape Lookout, there’s a risk for dangerous rip currents on Tuesday, forecasters say. It’s likely the elevated threat will come around low tide, which is forecast for 2 to 3 p.m.
To the north, there’s also a rip current risk, though the tropical depression is expected to have “minimal implications” there.
The National Weather Service in Wilmington reports the tropical system “should play very little role in our forecast.”
A tropical depression is a tropical cyclone that has maximum sustained winds of up to 38 mph.
“Although the depression still has a small chance to become a tropical storm later today, no significant changes in strength are expected during the next couple of days,” forecasters said Tuesday.
Tropical Depression 15 was one of three disturbances on the National Hurricane Center’s map as of Tuesday morning.
“As we head into the peak month of hurricane season, NHC is monitoring 2 systems for development,” forecasters said. “Potential tropical cyclone or tropical cyclone advisories will likely be issued later today for the Caribbean system, along with watches/warnings.”
The activity comes during a busy hurricane season that could bring “up to 25 named storms,” the Miami Herald reported.
This story was originally published August 31, 2020 at 9:07 AM.
