Brewing tropical system to bring heavy rain, wind to the Tri-State area

Thursday, September 21, 2023 5:15PM

NEW YORK (WABC) — A tropical storm warning has been issued from coastal North Carolina to Delaware ahead of a potential tropical cyclone that’s headed up the East Coast.

AccuWeather says the formation of a tropical or subtropical storm, which would warrant a name, could occur just prior to, during or perhaps even shortly after landfall in North Carolina on Saturday.

The disturbance was located about 370 miles (595 kilometers) southeast of Charleston, South Carolina, forecasters said, and moving north at 9 mph (15 kph). Maximum sustained winds were 35 mph (55 kph).

The hurricane center defines a potential tropical cyclone as a disturbance that poses a threat for tropical storm or hurricane conditions to land within 48 hours. The current system could reach the North Carolina coast around Friday night or early Saturday.

The tropical storm warning is in effect from Cape Fear, North Carolina, to Fenwick Island, Delaware. It also includes the Chesapeake Bay south of Smith Point, and Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds.

A storm surge watch was also issued from Surf City, North Carolina, to Chincoteague, Virginia. The hurricane center said storm surge between 2 and 4 feet (.6 to 1.2 meters) was expected.

The tropical wind and rainstorm will spread drenching downpours and strong gusts northward along the Atlantic coast into the Tri-State area for the first half of the weekend.

The clouds will roll into the area by midday on Friday and rain will begin to fall late Friday and early Saturday morning.

Some drier pockets will cause breaks in the rain, so not a total washout.

The heaviest rain is expected to stay to the south and east of New York City along coastal communities.

Rough surf and some beach erosion is possible along with minor to moderate coastal flooding.

It will be windy with gusts up to 40 mph along the coast.