A subtropical storm is quietly making its way towards the Carolinas, raising concerns among forecasters. While the aftermath of Hurricane Francine continues to wreak havoc, with flooding reported in several areas, attention is now shifting to a potential storm forming near the Carolinas next week.

After making landfall as a Category 2 hurricane on Wednesday, about 60 miles southwest of New Orleans, Francine unleashed gusts of 90 to 100 mph along the coastline. New Orleans recorded a gust of 78 mph and received over 8 inches of rain, resulting in significant flooding. As the storm's remnants move further inland, they threaten to bring more flooding to parts of the South.

In the wake of Francine, more than 100,000 customers in Louisiana are still without power. Meanwhile, flood watches are in effect in Middle Tennessee and much of Alabama, where sporadic heavy rainfall is expected to continue, causing variable rain totals across the region.

Although Francine is nearing its end in the Lower Mississippi Valley, attention is now focused on a potential storm forming near the Carolinas. This storm, if it develops, could bring heavy rain and gusty winds as early as next week. The Atlantic hurricane season has already witnessed three landfalls this year, with Beryl hitting the coast south of Houston in July and Debbie making landfall in Florida in August.

Despite initial projections of a hyperactive hurricane season due to warm Atlantic water temperatures and a La Niña weather pattern, the season has been relatively calm so far. However, experts remain uncertain about what the latter half of the season will bring.

The impact of Francine's heavy rain has been particularly felt in multiple areas. On Thursday, significant rainfall was observed in the northeastern parts of Arkansas, northwestern parts of Mississippi, and southwestern parts of Tennessee, where a total of 4.22 inches fell in Memphis, marking it as the city's third-wettest September day on record. In the Florida Panhandle, feeder bands from Francine resulted in a general 4 to 6 inches of rainfall, with a maximum total of 12.62 inches near Lanark Village.

As Francine continues to transport tropical moisture inland, additional rainfall is expected in Alabama and western Tennessee on Friday, with an additional 2 to 3 inches forecasted. The saturated soils, combined with the new rainfall, could pose a flood threat. The Weather Prediction Center has issued a flood watch for northwest Alabama, with a Level 3 out of 4 risk of flash flooding and excessive rainfall.

The forecasters' attention will soon shift to the Mid-Atlantic coast, where a stalled frontal boundary off the Carolina coast could lead to the formation of a low-pressure system. Extending into early next week, heavy rains will likely be the main concern, with increased shower activity expected over the coastal Carolinas. The low-pressure system could potentially develop into a subtropical or tropical storm as it moves ashore, bringing 3 to 6 inches of rain to eastern parts of North and South Carolina.

While the National Hurricane Center currently gives this system a 30 percent chance of becoming a tropical depression or tropical storm, no other obvious disturbances in the Atlantic are expected to develop into storms and impact land. A weak tropical wave near the Lesser Antilles is expected to struggle due to dry air, and a tropical depression located between the islands and Africa is projected to become Tropical Storm Gordon, drifting westward over the open Atlantic.

As residents and authorities prepare for the possible development of a storm in the Carolinas, the ongoing drought conditions in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia may finally be relieved by the arrival of much-needed rainfall. The European and American GFS models differ in their predictions for the intensity and path of the system, but any rain would be welcomed in the midst of the prevailing drought.

The situation continues to evolve, and people are advised to stay informed about any updates or warnings issued by meteorological agencies as the potential storm progresses.