Is there a Hurricane brewin’ that could impact NC weather during July 4th weekend?

DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) — As of Friday afternoon, Tropical Depression 3 has formed in the Atlantic off the South Carolina coast. It’s expected to be Tropical Storm Chantal by Saturday and will impact North Carolina.

Current guidance has this system advancing northward into the Carolinas, bringing some showers and thunderstorms to the area late this weekend into early next week. We will see showers and thunderstorms on Sunday and Monday.

What does it mean in NC for the July 4th weekend?

Regardless of the amount of organization of this system, there will be coastal impacts of rough surf and dangerous rip currents from the Outer Banks through the northeastern Florida Coast.

That means a better chance for rain across the ABC11 viewing area, with the higher amounts east and lesser amounts west. The showers linger into Monday before it scoots on out to sea.

The First Alert Weather Team will continue to monitor it and update you right here.

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Scattered gusty rain showers and rip currents will be an issue at the coast. Tropical Storm Chantal could form by Saturday.

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GREENSBORO, N.C. — We’re tracking the first tropical system of the year that will impact the Carolinas. Tropical Depression Three formed on Friday, and we’re expecting it to become Tropical Storm Chantal on Saturday.

For us in the Piedmont, we’re looking at potential rain on Sunday in an on and off fashion as the storm gets closer to us.

Where’s the new storm now?

Currently, Tropical Depression Three is located offshore of South Carolina and Georgia. It’s weak. Tropical Depressions are more or less just gusty rainstorms that are trying to get more organized.

The National Hurricane Center sent in the hurricane hunter aircraft Friday afternoon. They found winds of about 35 mph and an organized low pressure center. It’s drifting northward, but not moving all that much.

Where’s the storm going?

The National Hurricane Center is issuing forecast tracks for the storm. Right now, they bring the storm inland over South Carolina overnight Saturday and into early Sunday. Tropical Storm Watches are posted for most of the SC coastline. This means that tropical storm conditions are possible there this weekend.

The storm track does bring this closer to the Piedmont areas of North Carolina, and us here in the Triad, by late Sunday.

We should be looking at Sunday for scattered gusty rain showers as our main impact here in the Piedmont.

NOTE: if winds grow to be sustained above 39 mph, this system will be named Tropical Storm Chantal.

Rainfall Totals: Carolinas

The main threat from this system is expected to be heavy rainfall late Saturday into Sunday and early Monday along the Carolina coastlines. While higher amounts are offshore, several inches are still possible along coastal areas.

Here in the Triad, we’re likely to see see some scattered showers or storms at times on Sunday. A half inch of rain or so could be possible.

Increased Rip Current Risk

Heading to the beach for the holiday weekend? While the storm gains traction offshore the next few days it could increase the risk of rip currents for Carolinas beaches for the weekend.

If you’ll be at our beaches, make sure you look at the color of the flags before getting in the water! Also, ensure everyone in your group knows how to escape a rip current (swim parallel to shore). Dangerous swells are possible from this system.

Current Rip Current Risk: Medium to high rip risk for SE NC beaches. Likely to be impacted by a potential offshore tropical system over the weekend. Heading to the beach? Keep an eye on the flags! pic.twitter.com/48GbyhZMuE — Claire Fry (@clairefrywx) July 3, 2025