Forecasters Monitoring Areas in the Atlantic for Tropical Development

Forecasters with the National Hurricane Center (NHC) have barely had a chance to catch their breath after monitoring Hurricane Francine as a new system is coming together off the coast of the Carolinas. This is in addition to a tropical depression that came to life in the eastern Atlantic on Wednesday. Here is a look at what tropical features are brewing next.

Homebrew Tropical System Presenting Concerns in the Atlantic

What was once a Category 2 hurricane when it made landfall, Francine is now a tropical rainstorm as it moves farther inland. Francine will continue to spread significant rainfall to the north and into the Mississippi and Tennessee valleys on Friday. Poor drainage areas and land surrounding small streams and secondary rivers will be susceptible to flooding in the coming days. Some of the moisture associated with Francine's remnants may also creep into the Ohio Valley by the end of the work week.

Just as Francine has moved inland and lost steam over the central U.S., a homebrew tropical system is showing signs of activity off the Carolina coast. A homebrew system is defined as a feature that forms closer to the coastline. This type of weather maker is most common during the early part of the hurricane season rather than during the peak of the season.

This feature off of the Atlantic coastline is being fueled by some of Francine's energy. The energy will move into the warm Gulf Stream waters that circulate in this part of the Atlantic. This is the location in which a homebrew system is most likely to take root over the weekend.

Meteorologists will be monitoring if this system is able to take on defined tropical characteristics. Should that happen, there is a chance that the Carolinas could face a landfall of a potential tropical depression or tropical storm. The forecast models do not indicate that the system will have enough time to develop into a hurricane.

While the Carolinas and Georgia are likely to take the brunt of these impacts, heavy rain could also expand into the lower mid-Atlantic as the storm moves to the west and the northwest. How quickly this storm organizes and intensifies will determine how much rain it is able to generate for the coastal Carolinas, Georgia, and the southern half of Virginia.

Its forward speed once it reaches the shoreline will also dictate how much rain falls on any particular area. Rainfall amounts will be limited should the system pick up speed and rush through the region quickly. Conversely, a system that stalls out will translate to more significant rainfall for this part of the Southeast coastline. Weak steering breezes in the forecast will be the culprit if the system stalls after coming onshore.

The high winds associated with the homebrew system will also whip up winds as the storm inches closer. Those along this stretch of coastline should prepare for the likelihood of rough surf conditions, dangerous rip currents, and beach erosion. The accompanying thunderstorms will also raise the threat of tornadoes and waterspouts.

Forecasters are also warning that the storm's location near the coast could send moisture inland to the southern Appalachians. This precipitation could also stretch up into the Ohio Valley and the central Appalachians by the time that all of the moisture is squeezed out.

Any non-flooding rainfall will be good news for the portions of the interior eastern U.S. that have been dealing with increasing drought conditions. However, the zone of high pressure anchored to the north will work to keep the moisture away from New England.

Specific Area Forecasts