Rain and wind likely this weekend as low pressure system develops off South Carolina coast

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – Rain, wind, and a risk of coastal flooding are in the forecast for this weekend.

A frontal boundary that has stalled out to our south and over the Atlantic coastal waters will meander back and forth Friday through early next week, according to Storm Team 2 Meteorologist Josh Marthers.

“As it does so, we think an area of low pressure is going to try to develop along that front sometime later in the weekend. Because of where it is, normally it would like to sneak out and go right out into the Atlantic. But this big area of high pressure across New England is going to block that from happening and actually going to steer it back toward the South Carolina or North Carolina coast,” he said.

WHAT TO EXPECT

• An enhanced chance for rain Friday through the weekend
• Gusty wind: We could see wind gusts ranging from 20 mph to 30 mph Saturday and breezy Sunday into Monday
• High risk of rip currents
• Coastal flooding

“Those were already going to be there because of the northeast wind and us approaching the full moon next week, but you throw in a little coast storm on top of that and it just enhances that risk,” said Marthers.

The National Hurricane Center has been monitoring a non-tropical area of low pressure off the southeastern U.S. coast that could form this weekend. Forecasters there said some subtropical or tropical development is possible during the early part of next week while the system moves northwestward toward the coast.

“It’s too early for details at this time, but we have a risk for more rain, gusty wind, and coastal flooding Sunday into Tuesday,” said Marthers.

For now, the NHC says the system has a zero percent chance of formation through the next 48 hours and 30 percent through seven days.