Article first published: Saturday, July 05, 2025, 4 a.m. ET

Article last updated: Saturday, July 05, 2025, 10 p.m. ET

System type: Tropical storm

System name: Chantal

According to the National Hurricane Center’s 10 pm Saturday advisory, the system strengthened enough to get a name: Tropical Storm Chantal. It found new strength and has evolved from a tropical depression into a tropical storm with sustained winds of 50 mph. The name gain was first included in the 7 a.m. update. Tropical Storm Chantal is currently in the Atlantic Ocean, 65 miles east of Charleston South Carolina and 120 miles south-southwest of Wilmington North Carolina. With maximum sustained winds of 50 mph, it is moving to the north at 8 mph.

“… the center of Chantal is expected to move across the coast of South Carolina overnight or early Sunday morning”, according to analysts. They also said “Little change in strength is expected before landfall, with rapid weakening forecast after landfall.”

Today, a system that was previously forecasted as a tropical depression has been officially named Tropical Storm Chantal as it has progressed into a fully formed tropical storm. The system’s new name was first made public in the 7 a.m. advisory.

Forecasters alert: a tropical storm watch in effect for portions of South Carolina.

Watches and warnings currently in effect

• Tropical Storm Warning for South Santee River, SC to Surf City, NC

• Tropical Storm Watch for Edisto Beach to South Santee River, SC

Meaning of the different watches and warnings

A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area, in this case within the next 12 hours

A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area, in this case within the next 12 hours.

Interests elsewhere along the southeast coast of the United States should monitor the progress of Chantal.

Hazards affecting land

Wind. Tropical storm conditions are expected in the warning area beginning soon and continuing through Sunday morning. Tropical storm conditions are possible in the watch area this evening and overnight.

Rainfall. Tropical Storm Chantal is expected to produce heavy rainfall across portions of North Carolina through Monday. Storm total rainfall of 2 to 4 inches, with local amounts up to 6 inches, is expected. This would result in an elevated risk for flash flooding.

For a complete depiction of forecast rainfall and flash flooding associated with Tropical Storm Chantal, please see the National Weather Service Storm Total Rainfall Graphic, available at hurricanes.gov/graphics_at3.shtml?rainqpf

Storm surge. The combination of storm surge and tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. The water could reach the following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated areas if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide…

South Santee, SC to Surf City, NC…1-2 ft

For a complete depiction of areas at risk of storm surge inundation, please see the National Weather Service Peak Storm Surge Graphic, available at hurricanes.gov/graphics_at5.shtml?peakSurge

Tornadoes. Isolated tornadoes are possible tonight and Sunday across parts of eastern South Carolina and eastern North Carolina.

Surf. Chantal is expected to bring life-threatening surf and rip currents to portions of the coast from northeastern Florida to the Mid-Atlantic states during the next day or so.

A depiction of rip current risk for the United States can be found at: hurricanes.gov/refresh/graphics_at3+shtml/? RipCurrents

Source: National Hurricane Center