Tropical Storm Chantal Develops Near South Carolina Coast

Tropical Depression Three, located near the South Carolina coast, is forecast to strengthen into Tropical Storm Chantal before making landfall north of Charleston early Sunday. The storm is expected to bring heavy rains and thunderstorms primarily to the Carolinas and the North Carolina beaches, with possible impacts including spotty power outages and high surf. While the storm is currently weak with sustained winds around 35 mph and limited time to organize, it will produce scattered thunderstorms extending inland into the Piedmont Triad region. The overall impact is anticipated to be moderate, with heavy rain and some choppy boating conditions along Florida's west-central and southwestern coasts continuing through early Saturday. Forecasters note that the storm's slow movement over warm Gulf Stream waters could slightly fuel its intensification, but it will weaken quickly after moving inland by Sunday. Despite the tropical activity, the rest of the Atlantic, Caribbean, and Gulf remain quiet, with a 2025 hurricane season forecast predicting 17 named storms and nine hurricanes.