COLUMBIA, S.C. — Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight formed off the South Carolina coast on Sunday and is expected to become Tropical Storm Helene by Monday. The News19 Weather Team has issued a Weather Impact Alert for the Midlands on Monday and Tuesday ahead of this system.
The system is currently 125 miles off the coast of Charleston, and landfall is expected later in the day on Monday.
A tropical storm warning has been issued along the North and South Carolina coast from Edisto Beach to Ocracoke Inlet, North Carolina.
The storm's track takes it from making landfall on the coast on Monday afternoon to leaving the state by late Tuesday morning.
Heavy rainfall is possible throughout the Midlands on Monday, with a higher chance of heavy rainfall in the Northeastern Midlands. Heavy rain could begin in the Midlands mid-morning on Monday and last through Monday evening.
Rainfall totals in the Midlands are expected to stay below one inch. Higher totals upwards of four to five inches are possible in the Pee Dee region. The Midlands have a chance for excessive rainfall on Monday, with the NE Midlands having the highest chance. Flash flooding is possible across Northeastern South Carolina on Monday.
Breezy conditions have already begun in the Midlands, but wind speeds are expected to increase into the start of the week.
On Monday morning, winds will increase with gusts reaching upwards of 40 mph in the Midlands. High wind speeds will continue through Monday afternoon and evening. High winds begin to diminish through the overnight hours into early Tuesday morning, but breezy conditions are still expected through the day on Tuesday.
Temperatures are expected to warm back up through the remainder of the week with lower chances for rainfall.