Potential Tropical Cyclone Four Could Impact South Carolina: What to Know

Greenville, SC – A developing tropical storm has set its sights on the Southeastern United States, and it may affect parts of South Carolina and North Carolina by the middle of next week. Currently passing over Cuba, this system, named “potential tropical cyclone four,” could bring heavy precipitation, rough surf, and other weather effects to the region.

Current Status of the Storm

As of 11 a.m. on Friday, the National Hurricane Center released its initial advisory for potential tropical cyclone four. The storm, presently categorized as a depression, was positioned over Cuba and is projected to travel into the Gulf of Mexico before swinging back over Florida and entering the Atlantic. The long-term path is still uncertain, but the cone of uncertainty includes much of South Carolina.

Development and Forecasts

If the system intensifies into a tropical storm as forecasters anticipate, it would be named Debby, marking the fourth named storm of this season. Late Friday morning, the depression was noted to be approximately 420 miles southeast of Key West. The National Hurricane Center issued a Tropical Storm Warning for the southwest coast of Florida from East Cape Sable to Bonita Beach, and a Tropical Storm Watch for several other areas including the Florida Keys and parts of the Florida peninsula.

Weather Impacts in the Greenville Area

The weather forecast for Greenville next week hinges heavily on the storm’s development. How quickly the steering winds manage to move the storm north-northeast towards Florida’s panhandle and then back over land will determine the severity of the associated weather in our area. Currently, the storm is predicted to traverse northern Florida late Sunday, reentering the Atlantic on Monday morning, and then possibly hugging the coast up toward the Carolinas.

For this weekend, NOAA forecasts high temperatures in the 90s with possible overnight showers and thunderstorms. As of now, no high winds are expected.

Be Prepared!

Though it’s unclear if this particular system will pose a direct threat to South Carolina’s coast, hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. It’s always a good time to review and update your emergency plans and make sure you have necessary supplies on hand.

Stay safe, and keep an eye on weather updates as this system develops.