The storm, located 150 miles south-southeast of Charleston, S.C. and 240 miles south-southwest of Wilmington, N.C., has top winds of 40 mph, according to the 8 a.m. Saturday advisory from the National Hurricane Center.

A tropical storm watch has been upgraded to a tropical storm warning from the South Santee River, SC to Cape Fear, NC.

Chantal is forecast to drift northwestward and then move inland over the southeastern United States by Sunday.

Rain and thunderstorms are likely in South Florida through this week and into next week, according to the National Weather Service forecast. Heavy rain is expected particularly for the west-central and southwestern Florida coast through early Saturday, the NHC said.

On Friday, South Florida experienced scattered thunderstorms in the morning that became more widespread in the afternoon. As the evening progresses, rain chances will decrease.

Don’t expect better outdoor weather on Saturday. The chance of rain increases to 90% with thunderstorms likely.

Colorado State University’s hurricane forecast for 2025 estimates 17 named storms, with nine of them becoming hurricanes.

Hurricane season runs through Nov. 30.

Topical storm watches are in effect for much of the South Carolina coast from Edisto Beach north, and extends into North Carolina to Bald Head Island.

Here’s the latest forecast track from the National Hurricane Center: