Tropical Depression Four Forms, Tropical Storm Warning for South Carolina

Tropical Depression Four formed on Monday morning and the National Hurricane Center issued a Tropical Storm Warning for a portion of the coast of South Carolina. At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Monday the center of Tropical Depression Four was located at latitude 31.9°N and longitude 78.3°W which put it about 110 miles (175 km) east-southeast of Charleston, South Carolina. Tropical Depression Four was moving toward the west-northwest at 16 m.p.h. (26 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 35 m.p.h. (55 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 45 m.p.h. (75 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 1013 mb.

A Tropical Storm Warning was issued for the portion of the coast from Edisto Beach to South Santee River, South Carolina. The Tropical Storm Warning included Charleston.

The National Hurricane Center designated a low pressure system off the coast of South Carolina as Tropical Depression Four on Monday morning. Bands of showers and lower clouds were revolving around the center of Tropical Depression Four. Thunderstorms were occurring in bands on the far western side of the circulation around the depression. An upper low was centered over northern Florida on Monday morning. The upper low was producing easterly winds that were blowing across the top of the tropical depression. The easterly winds were causing moderate vertical wind shear and the wind shear was blowing the tops off clouds in many of the bands closer to the center of the depression

Tropical Depression Four will move through an environment that is only slightly favorable for intensification during the next 12 hours. The depression will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 27°C. The upper level low will continue to cause vertical wind shear that will inhibit the formation of thunderstorms near the center of Tropical Depression Four. If the wind shear decreases, then there is a chance Tropical Depression Four could strengthen to a tropical storm later on Monday.

Tropical Depression Four will move south of a high pressure system over the western Atlantic Ocean during the next 24 hours. The high will steer the depression toward the west-northwest. On its anticipated track the center of Tropical Depression Four could make landfall near Edisto Beach, South Carolina on Monday night. The depression will produce gusty winds along the coast of South Carolina. It could also drop locally heavy rain over parts of southern South Carolina and extreme eastern Georgia.