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Possible Tropical Cyclone 8 hits Carolina coast with heavy rains and winds

Strong winds and heavy rains will move across parts of southeastern North Carolina on Monday as potential Tropical Cyclone Eight approaches land and could soon develop into Tropical Storm Helene.

WILMINGTON, NC – Strong winds and heavy rains are sweeping across parts of southeastern North Carolina on Monday as potential Tropical Cyclone Eight approaches land and could soon develop into Tropical Storm Helene.

Potential Tropical Storm Eight is causing a combination of salt and freshwater flooding in the Carolinas. Roads in Carolina Beach have been closed due to high tides and thunderstorms associated with the storm have prompted flash flood warnings. The National Weather Service is forecasting another 2-3 inches of rain on Monday.

According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), the system, formerly known as Invest 95L, is now classified as a potential tropical cyclone, allowing the agency to issue tropical storm warnings along the southeast coast. A tropical storm warning is in effect for most of the coast of North Carolina and South Carolina.

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  • Beachgoers should avoid the ocean for the next few days as potential Tropical Cyclone Eight is creating extremely dangerous surf conditions from Georgia to Virginia. The Carolina coast, including Kure Beach, is at risk of life-threatening rip currents and waves in excess of 10 feet.
    (Brandy Campbell)

  • Beachgoers should avoid the ocean for the next few days as potential Tropical Cyclone Eight is creating extremely dangerous surf conditions from Georgia to Virginia. The Carolina coast, including Kure Beach, is at risk of life-threatening rip currents and waves in excess of 10 feet.

    Beachgoers should avoid the ocean for the next few days as potential Tropical Cyclone Eight is creating extremely dangerous surf conditions from Georgia to Virginia. The Carolina coast, including Kure Beach, is at risk of life-threatening rip currents and waves in excess of 10 feet.
    (Brandy Campbell)

  • Beachgoers should avoid the ocean for the next few days as potential Tropical Cyclone Eight is creating extremely dangerous surf conditions from Georgia to Virginia. The Carolina coast, including Kure Beach, is at risk of life-threatening rip currents and waves in excess of 10 feet.

    Beachgoers should avoid the ocean for the next few days as potential Tropical Cyclone Eight is creating extremely dangerous surf conditions from Georgia to Virginia. The Carolina coast, including Kure Beach, is at risk of life-threatening rip currents and waves in excess of 10 feet.
    (Brandy Campbell)

  • Beachgoers should avoid the ocean for the next few days as potential Tropical Cyclone Eight is creating extremely dangerous surf conditions from Georgia to Virginia. The Carolina coast, including Kure Beach, is at risk of life-threatening rip currents and waves in excess of 10 feet.

    Beachgoers should avoid the ocean for the next few days as potential Tropical Cyclone Eight is creating extremely dangerous surf conditions from Georgia to Virginia. The Carolina coast, including Kure Beach, is at risk of life-threatening rip currents and waves in excess of 10 feet.
    (Brandy Campbell)

  • Beachgoers should avoid the ocean for the next few days as potential Tropical Cyclone Eight is creating extremely dangerous surf conditions from Georgia to Virginia. The Carolina coast, including Kure Beach, is at risk of life-threatening rip currents and waves in excess of 10 feet.

    Beachgoers should avoid the ocean for the next few days as potential Tropical Cyclone Eight is creating extremely dangerous surf conditions from Georgia to Virginia. The Carolina coast, including Kure Beach, is at risk of life-threatening rip currents and waves in excess of 10 feet.
    (Brandy Campbell)

  • Beachgoers should avoid the ocean for the next few days as potential Tropical Cyclone Eight is creating extremely dangerous surf conditions from Georgia to Virginia. The Carolina coast, including Kure Beach, is at risk of life-threatening rip currents and waves in excess of 10 feet.

    Beachgoers should avoid the ocean for the next few days as potential Tropical Cyclone Eight is creating extremely dangerous surf conditions from Georgia to Virginia. The Carolina coast, including Kure Beach, is at risk of life-threatening rip currents and waves in excess of 10 feet.
    (Brandy Campbell)

  • Beachgoers should avoid the ocean for the next few days as potential Tropical Cyclone Eight is creating extremely dangerous surf conditions from Georgia to Virginia. The Carolina coast, including Kure Beach, is at risk of life-threatening rip currents and waves in excess of 10 feet.

    Beachgoers should avoid the ocean for the next few days as potential Tropical Cyclone Eight is creating extremely dangerous surf conditions from Georgia to Virginia. The Carolina coast, including Kure Beach, is at risk of life-threatening rip currents and waves in excess of 10 feet.
    (Brandy Campbell)

  • Beachgoers should avoid the ocean for the next few days as potential Tropical Cyclone Eight is creating extremely dangerous surf conditions from Georgia to Virginia. The Carolina coast, including Kure Beach, is at risk of life-threatening rip currents and waves in excess of 10 feet.

    Beachgoers should avoid the ocean for the next few days as potential Tropical Cyclone Eight is creating extremely dangerous surf conditions from Georgia to Virginia. The Carolina coast, including Kure Beach, is at risk of life-threatening rip currents and waves in excess of 10 feet.
    (Brandy Campbell)

  • Beachgoers should avoid the ocean for the next few days as potential Tropical Cyclone Eight is creating extremely dangerous surf conditions from Georgia to Virginia. The Carolina coast, including Kure Beach, is at risk of life-threatening rip currents and waves in excess of 10 feet.

    Beachgoers should avoid the ocean for the next few days as potential Tropical Cyclone Eight is creating extremely dangerous surf conditions from Georgia to Virginia. The Carolina coast, including Kure Beach, is at risk of life-threatening rip currents and waves in excess of 10 feet.
    (Brandy Campbell)

Where is Potential Tropical Cyclone 8 located?

Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight is located about 100 miles east of Charleston, South Carolina, and about 85 miles south of Cape Fear, North Carolina.

WHAT IS A POTENTIAL TROPICAL CYCLONE?

Current statistics and radar for PTC 8.
(FOX Weather)

Where are watches and warnings in effect for potential Tropical Cyclone 8?

A tropical storm warning is in effect from Edisto Beach, South Carolina, northward to Ocracoke Inlet, North Carolina.

Current tropical warnings for PTC 8.
(FOX Weather)

A flood warning is in effect for large parts of eastern North Carolina, including Raleigh and Willington, and northeastern South Carolina, including Myrtle Beach.

A look at the flood warnings issued in the Carolinas through Tuesday.
(FOX Weather)

A coastal flood warning remains in effect until 6 p.m. ET Tuesday, with flooding of up to 5 feet (1.5 meters) expected in low-lying areas along parts of the Carolina coast.

A look at the flood warnings for the coastal regions of the Carolinas through Tuesday.
(FOX Weather)

WHAT TO DO IF HURRICANE OR TROPICAL STORM WARNINGS AND ADVISORIES ARE ISSUED FOR YOUR CITY?

What is the forecast for potential Tropical Cyclone 8?

Forecast cone for PTC 8.
(FOX Weather)

Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight is likely to bring gusty winds, heavy rains with the possibility of flash flooding, coastal flooding and hazardous beach conditions to parts of the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic coasts over the next few days, the NHC warned. It could strengthen into a subtropical or tropical storm on Monday.

FOX Weather has been closely monitoring developments off the Carolina coast. FOX Weather Meteorologist and Storm Specialist Mike Seidel is reporting live from Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina with the latest updates.

Computer forecast models show widespread rainfall of 4 to 8 inches Monday, with isolated amounts of 10 inches in parts of northeastern South Carolina to southeastern North Carolina. The rest of North Carolina is expected to see rainfall of 2 to 4 inches through Tuesday, with isolated amounts of 6 inches.

Rainfall amounts between 1 and 3 inches are expected in much of Virginia through Wednesday, with higher amounts possible in some areas.

The precipitation forecast for the southeast.
(FOX Weather)

NOAA's Weather Prediction Center has announced flood dangers for Monday in northeastern South Carolina, eastern North Carolina and southeastern Virginia, with the highest risk in the area around Wilmington, North Carolina.

WATCH: HURRICANE ERNESTO'S THINNING CAUSES NORTH CAROLINA HOUSE TO COLLAPSE INTO OCEAN

A look at the flash flood danger until Tuesday in the east.
(FOX Weather)

Rough seas lead to backwash and beach erosion

The development of a potential tropical cyclone poses an increased risk of backwash and the possibility of further coastal erosion.

The coast of the Outer Banks of North Carolina and southeastern Virginia is very vulnerable to rough seas, as demonstrated by the swells caused by Hurricane Ernesto, which occurred over 1,000 miles away.

WHEN DOES THE LAST HURRICANE USUALLY MEET THE COAST OF THE USA?

Waves triggered by the Category 2 hurricane caused flooding along North Carolina Highway 12, the main thoroughfare through the islands, and at least one abandoned home collapsed into the sea.

Video taken Friday from North Carolina's Outer Banks showed a house falling into the Atlantic Ocean. Images of collapsing unoccupied homes have become a common sight along the coast due to severe erosion. (Chicamacomico Banks Fire & Rescue)

After the collapse, parts of Cape Hatteras National Seashore were closed to swimming due to concerns about debris in the water.

So far, there is no indication from authorities that the surf from potential Tropical Cyclone Eight will be larger than that of Ernesto or destroy more homes. However, the local National Weather Service in Morehead City, North Carolina, has issued several advisories for beachgoers and boaters warning of the rough conditions.

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