Dangerous surf, stormy weather could affect portions of US from Florida to Carolinas
While chances are low for tropical development of a system off the coast of the U.S., that doesn't mean it won't affect holiday plans for thousands of people living or vacationing in the Southeast.
Dangerous surf, along with stormy conditions are in the forecast for portions of the U.S. from Florida into the Carolinas.
The system first appeared on the National Hurricane Center's tropical outlook map Wednesday. By Thursday morning, chances for development remained low, 10 percent over the next seven days and zero for the next 48 hours.
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How will the system off the coast affect the Southeast?
Even if the system does not strengthen into a tropical depression or storm, it is expected to bring gusty winds and dangerous surf and rip current conditions to portions of the southeastern United States coast late this week and into the weekend.
Heavy rainfall is expected in portions of the Carolinas, with hazardous marine conditions expected over the coastal and offshore waters where gale warnings are in effect.
Weather forecast for Northeast Florida
Strong northeast winds winds and large northeasterly swells will build across the Northeast Florida offshore waters beginning Thursday night and spread southward to near Daytona Beach Friday through Saturday.
Northeast gales are expected offshore North Florida beginning Friday evening and continuing through the night. Seas will build to near 15 feet Friday night, according to the Hurricane Center. Winds and seas will diminish late Saturday into Sunday as the low moves north.
The National Weather Service Jacksonville issued a rip current statement extending to 8 p.m. Saturday for Northeast Florida beaches. Dangerous rip currents are expected.
The forecast calls for 5- to 8-foot seas and wind gusts of 25 to 35 mph.
If the storm does not stall in the Southeast, weather conditions should improve over much of Florida and southern Georgia by Memorial Day. Surf conditions will likely improve, as well, according to AccuWeather.
Weather radar for Northeast Florida, Jacksonville
Impact on Georgia, Carolinas, Virginia
AccuWeather forecasters say as the system develops, residents can expect increasing winds and a more concentrated area of rain and thunderstorms.
"Saturday may be the worst day of the three days of the holiday weekend along the Carolina and Georgia coasts," AccuWeather On-Air Meteorologist Kristina Shalhoup said.
Sporadic power outages and flooding are possible, and some thunderstorms could bring strong wind gusts. A waterspout near coastal waters is possible.
Coastal flooding and beach erosion are likely, along with strong rip currents — especially from southeastern Virginia to the Carolinas and Georgia — into the weekend, AccuWeather said.
As the center of the system continues moving north Saturday and Sunday, AccuWeather meteorologists expect rainy conditions to move inland over parts of the Carolinas, Georgia and southern Virginia.
How far north is the system expected to go?
A dome of dry air over the Northeast may stop the northward path of the system Sunday and Memorial Day over northern Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and southern New Jersey.
Cool breezes and water temperatures in the upper 50s to mid-60s may mean beach conditions may not be ideal from the Delmarva Peninsula to New Jersey and possibly extending as far north as Long Island, New York.
Rough surf conditions and strong rip currents are possible in these areas, though.
Weather watches and warnings issued for your area
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Tropical forecast over the next seven days
Excessive rainfall forecast
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Memorial weekend weather forecast includes thunderstorms, rough surf
