RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — After making landfall in the U.S. early Sunday morning, Chantal has been downgraded to a Tropical Depression, according to the National Hurricane Center.
The advisory said Chantal arrived around 4 a.m. at Litchfield Beach, South Carolina — near Myrtle Beach and about 85 miles from Wilmington — with winds around 50 mph and gusts at 70 mph.
According to NHC at 11 a.m., the downgraded Tropical Depression has moved into eastern NC with winds at 35 mph. The pace of the system is about 9 mph, with the center of Chantal to hover over NC through Sunday night.
A Tropical Storm Warning is still in effect for the South Santee River, South Carolina to Surf City, North Carolina.
The CBS 17 Storm Team has declared an Alert Day for our area due to the excessive rain, gusty wind and possible tornadoes Chantal could produce.
Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 140 miles primarily to the east of the center.
"Heavy rain could produce localized flooding near the northeast SC and southeast NC coast. Dangerous surf will also be a concern for all area beaches," forecasters at the Wilmington office of the National Weather Service said Saturday afternoon.
Total rainfall of 2 to 4 inches is possible from Chantal, with local amounts up to 6 inches and a risk of flash floods, the National Hurricane Center said.
The National Hurricane Center has said that 50 mph maximum winds are forecast before Chantal makes landfall Saturday night. Rapid weakening of the storm is forecast after landfall.
Chantal is expected to hit central NC sometime between late Sunday morning and early Sunday afternoon.
The highest rain totals will be in coastal areas of the Carolinas, with up to 3 inches of rain possible. Across most of central NC, rain totals will be between a half an inch to an inch, but locally higher amounts will be possible, especially if the core of the storm stays somewhat intact as it moves inland.
The tropical storm warning includes North Carolina beaches in Brunswick, New Hanover and Pender counties.
A Tropical Storm Warning, according to NHC, means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area, in this case for the next 6 to 12 hours.
A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area, generally within 48 hours.
Wind gusts have been trending up the past day or so, with gusts upwards of 35 mph possible in the Sandhills, and 25-30 mph in the Triangle.
Due to the threat of excessive rainfall from Tropical Storm Chantal, the National Weather Service has issued a Flash Flood Watch from 6 a.m. Sunday through late Sunday night. It will impact all counties in central NC.
"Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations," the advisory said. "Flooding may occur in poor drainage and urban areas."
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