After they collected the data, The National Hurricane Center in Miami determined they will start issuing tropical storm advisories at 5 p.m.
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Over the Memorial Day weekend, the NHC cautioned that all interests along the southeast coast from Georgia through North Carolina should monitor the progress of this low pressure area.
In addition, waves upwards of 13 feet and winds gusting to tropical storm force are likely in the offshore SC waters Saturday night into Sunday.
The storm, which would be named Bonnie, is only expected to be a minimal tropical storm when it reaches the SC coast on Sunday morning.
“This is a more challenging hurricane season outlook than most because it’s hard to determine whether there will be reinforcing or competing climate influences on tropical storm development.” the center’s lead seasonal hurricane forecaster Dr. Gerry Bell said.
The U.S. Air Force sent a Hurricane Hunter plane to the storm late Friday afternoon to gather more information.
It’s looking more likely we’ll see bands of showers and rain moving onto the coast by Saturday afternoon and into the Midlands late Saturday into Sunday.
The US National Hurricane Center in Miami said the warning extends across the entire SC coast. About two to four inches of rain is expected to fall over parts of coastal Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina.
US meteorologists have predicted an increase in the number of named storms this hurricane season compared with below-average numbers during the past three years. These winds may increase to 40 miles per hour near the coast and on the water.
NOAA Administrator Kathryn Sullivan wrestled with calling the storm season that begins June 1 “normal”, fearing people will underestimate the potential and compare it to recent below-average years.
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The center predicts a 45% chance of a near-normal season. Of course, this would also open the door to further intensification.
