A potential risk posed by a low pressure system prompted the issuance of a Tropical Storm Warning for the coast of the Carolinas. The low pressure system was designated as Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight by the U.S. National Hurricane Center. At 8:00 p.m. EDT on Sunday the center of Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight was located at latitude 32.1°N and longitude 77.8°W which put the center about 140 miles (220 km) east-southeast of Charleston, South Carolina. The low pressure system was moving toward the northwest at 7 m.p.h. (11 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 45 m.p.h. (75 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 60 m.p.h. (95 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 1006 mb.
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the portion of the coast from Edisto Beach, South Carolina to Ocracoke Inlet, North Carolina. The Tropical Storm Warning includes Charleston, South Carolina.
An extratropical cyclone off the coast of the Carolinas began to exhibit some characteristics of a tropical storm on Sunday and the U.S. National Hurricane Center designated the system as Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight. More thunderstorms formed near the center of the low pressure system. Bands of thunderstorms began to develop around the low pressure system. However, the low pressure system was still close to a nearly stationary frontal system. So, the distribution of thunderstorms was asymmetrical. Thunderstorms were occurring in bands in the northern side of the low pressure system. Bands in the southern part of Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds.
The distribution of winds speeds in Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight was also asymmetrical. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 175 miles (280 km) in the northern side of the low pressure system. The winds in the southern side of Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight were blowing at less than tropical storm force.
Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight will move through an environment somewhat favorable for intensification during the next 12 hours. The low pressure system will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 30°C. It will move under the western part of an upper level low off the coast of the Southeast U.S. The upper level low will produce southerly winds that will blow toward the top of Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight. Those winds will cause moderate vertical wind shear. The wind shear will inhibit intensification, but Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight could make a transition to a tropical cyclone during the next 12 hours. It could also intensify on Monday.
Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight will move around the southwestern part of a high pressure system over the North Atlantic Ocean. The high pressure system will steer the low pressure system toward the northwest during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight will make landfall on the coast of South Carolina northeast of Charleston on Monday afternoon.
Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight will bring strong winds and heavy rain to parts of South Carolina and North Carolina. The strong winds could cause electricity outages. Heavy rain could cause flash floods in some locations,
Flood Watches are in effect for parts of South Carolina and eastern North Carolina.
Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight could cause a storm surge of up to 4 feet (1 meter) along the coast of eastern South Carolina and North Carolina. Waves will also cause erosion of beaches.
Elsewhere, former Tropical Storm Gordon weakened to a tropical depression east of the Northern Leeward Islands. At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Sunday the center of Tropical Depression Gordon was located at latitude 19.2°N and longitude 46.1°W which put the center about 1115 miles (1790 km) east of the Northern Leeward Islands. Gordon was moving toward the west at 8 m.p.h. (13 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 1007 mb.