Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight Diminishing Over The Carolinas

Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight continues to diminish over the Carolinas, likely bringing heavy rain this week along the East Coast.

As of 5 p.m. EDT, Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight was located near 33.9 N and 78.8 W, or about 45 miles west of Cape Fear, N.C., and about 100 miles northeast of Charleston, S.C. The system was crawling north-northwestward at about 5 mph, with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph. The minimum central pressure was 1006 mb, or 29.71 inches of mercury as its center made landfall.

The low pressure system is expected to move northwestward toward North Carolina's Coastal Plains, moving into the Appalachians and dissipating after interacting with the same frontal system currently in the Mid-South. Waves of Atlantic moisture will spread along the northern side of the system into the Carolinas through Tuesday. 

This same system will spread into the Mid-Atlantic on Tuesday and Wednesday. Rounds of moderate to heavy rainfall will be possible for Richmond, Va., Washington, D.C., and possibly as far north as Philadelphia.
 
Rainfall totals through the middle to the latter half of the week will likely be in the 2-to-4-inch range across the Carolinas and the southern Appalachians, with isolated totals up to 6 inches possible. One to 2 inches of rain along the Delmarva and into the Interstate 95 corridor of the Mid-Atlantic will also be possible. Fortunately, this area has been unseasonably dry so far in September, so the rain will be welcome and widespread flooding is not expected.

However, at their highest, rainfall totals could approach 18 inches in localized spots near Wilmington, N.C., as storms train over the area, with 4 to 8 inches of rain on the radar for the rest of northeastern South Carolina and far southern North Carolina. With already healthy moisture levels before the system's main impact, flood conditions are likely to rise across the region as it receives such a surplus of water. As a result, Flood Watches were issued by the National Weather Service for parts of the eastern Carolinas and includes towns such as Wilmington and Lumberton, N.C. and Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Additionally, storm surge will elevate the flooding issue for areas along the coast. A surge of 1 to 3 feet will be possible from the South Santee River, S.C., to Oregon Inlet, N.C., as well as Neuse and Bay Rivers, N.C., and Pamlico and Pungo Rivers, N.C. As with any tropical system, isolated tornadoes could spin-up across North Carolina today as this system organizes further. High surf and riptides are possible along the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic coasts through midweek. Use caution in the water if you are planning an end-of-summer beach trip this week.

Check with WeatherBug for the latest on this developing weather system and for all information on the tropics throughout the season.