Article first published: Sunday, July 06, 2025, 4 a.m. ET

Article last updated: Sunday, July 06, 2025, 7 a.m. ET

System type: Tropical storm

System name: Chantal

According to the National Hurricane Center’s 7 am Sunday advisory, Chantal is now affecting South Carolina. Tropical Storm Chantal is 15 miles northwest of Conway South Carolina and 80 miles west of Wilmington North Carolina. Packing maximum sustained winds of 40 mph, it is tracking north-northwest at 8 mph.

“… the center of Chantal is expected to move further inland over South Carolina and then North Carolina through the day today”, according to analysts. They also said “Additional weakening is expected as Chantal moves inland, and the system is forecast to degenerate into a trough of low pressure on Monday.”

Yesterday (Saturday)

The system strengthened enough to get a name: Tropical Storm Chantal. It found new strength and had evolved from a tropical depression into a tropical storm with sustained winds of 40 mph. Yesterday’s 7 a.m. report was the first to confirm the system’s new name. Northward in North Carolina placed under a tropical storm warning by forecasters.

Watches and warnings currently in effect

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

Meaning of the different watches and warnings

A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area.

Hazards affecting land

Wind. Tropical storm conditions will continue within portions of the warning area this morning.

Rainfall. Tropical Storm Chantal is expected to produce heavy rainfall across portions of northeastern South Carolina today and 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

Tornadoes. Isolated tornadoes will be possible today across portions of eastern North Carolina and extreme northeastern South 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