According to weather forecasts, potential Tropical Cyclone 9 is strengthening as it moves toward Florida, potentially becoming a hurricane and bringing heavy rains to parts of South Carolina later this week.
The storm was located about 150 miles west of Grand Cayman with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph at 8 a.m. Tuesday, according to an advisory from the National Hurricane Center. The system is moving toward the northwest at about 9 mph but is expected to accelerate and move north to north-northeastward on Wednesday and Thursday, the hurricane center said.
“The system is expected to strengthen into a major hurricane before reaching the northeastern Gulf Coast on Thursday, increasing the potential for life-threatening storm surge and damaging hurricane-force winds along the Florida Panhandle and west Florida Gulf Coast,” NHS said.
Hurricane and storm surge warnings have been issued.
When and where will the storm hit South Carolina?
The storm is expected to move toward the Southeast and South Carolina late Thursday night and early Friday morning.
Much of the Upstate and Midlands are expected to have a 15% chance of extreme rainfall that could lead to flash flooding on Thursday. A portion of the Upstate, including Greenville and Anderson, could experience a higher 40% chance of heavy rainfall that could lead to flash flooding, the forecast shows.
The rest of South Carolina is experiencing only about 5% of the excessive rainfall and flooding from the storm.