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Potential Tropical Cyclone 8 could become Tropical Storm Helene this week off coasts of North, South Carolinas

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Published  September 15, 2024 1:05pm EDT
Tropical Storm Updates
FOX 35 Orlando

Invest AL-95: NHC tracking disturbance off US Coast

The National Hurricane Center has dubbed a potential disturbance off the southeastern coast of the United States as Invest AL-95. It has a 50% chance of potential development into a subtropical or tropical storm, which would be known as Helene.

The Brief

    • The eighth named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season could form this week, the NHC says.
    • A non-tropical area of low pressure is being watched near the southeastern U.S. coast.
    • North and South Carolina could see flooding and rough beach conditions regardless if a tropical or subtropical system forms or not.

A non-tropical area of low pressure off the coast of the Carolinas has been dubbed Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight, formerly Invest 95L – and could become Tropical Storm Helene this week – the eighth named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, according to the National Hurricane Center.

The disturbance was located 125 miles east of Charleston, South Carolina with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph. It is currently moving northwest at 7 mph. 

It's expected to continue moving north over the Gulf Stream's warm waters and towards the North Carolina and South Carolina coasts. 

"On the forecast track, the center of the system should reach the coast within the warning area on Monday. Maximum sustained winds are near 45 mph (75 km/h) with higher gusts.Some strengthening is possible before the system makes landfall.," the NHC said.

Watches and warnings issued for North Carolina and South Carolina

Tropical Storm Warning 

  • From Edisto Beach, South Carolina northward to Ocracoke Inlet, North Carolina.

3 tropical waves in the Atlantic and Caribbean

There are three tropical waves being monitored in the Atlantic and the Caribbean. Here is the latest from the National Hurricane Center:

  • An eastern Atlantic tropical wave extends along 23W south of 17N. The wave is estimated to be moving W at around 5 kt. No significant convection is depicted in association with this wave.
  • An eastern Caribbean Sea tropical wave is along 67W from 20N southward to central Venezuela, moving W at 10 kt. No significant convection is depicted in association with this wave.
  • A central Caribbean tropical wave is along 76W extending from 21N to inland Colombia. The wave is moving westward at 5 to 10 kt. No significant convection is depicted in association with this wave.