Tropical Storm Threatens July 4th Weekend Plans!

Repeated rounds of stormy weather lingering off the Southeast coast could have more than just a dampening effect on fireworks celebrations in Florida this weekend. There is a strong likelihood that it could develop into the next named storm of the hurricane season. As of Thursday afternoon, the National Hurricane Center gives this system a 60% chance of forming into a tropical depression or storm over the weekend or early next week. If it does develop into a tropical storm, it will be named Chantal.

Regardless of whether it receives a name, this system is already bringing heavy rainfall to Florida, saturating the ground and increasing the risk of flooding. This poses a particular concern as millions of people are gearing up for outdoor festivities over the Independence Day weekend.

The Weather Prediction Center warns that portions of Florida and coastal Georgia could experience flash flooding through Friday, with the threat shifting to the Carolina coast over the weekend. This system has the potential to bring over 3 inches of rain to parts of the Carolina coast and up to 6 inches in some areas of Florida by the end of the holiday weekend.

Even without a name, this weather system can still bring trouble, especially during a holiday weekend when many people are out and about. The stormy weather will continue to draw moisture across the coastal Southeast, resulting in localized heavy rainfall, potential rip currents, and rough seas.

If it becomes named, Chantal would be the third named storm of the season, but the first to pose a significant flood threat to the United States due to its location. While the first two storms, Andrea and Barry, were weak and short-lived, this system has the potential to cause more impact.

Looking beyond the Southeast, most of the country is expected to enjoy favorable weather conditions for the July 4th weekend, except for parts of the Plains and Upper Midwest where strong to severe thunderstorms with damaging winds and hail are possible.

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