A low-pressure system off the coasts of North Carolina and South Carolina, known as Potential Tropical Cyclone 8 (PTC 8), has become the latest weather disturbance to threaten the continental United States. The system, located 75 miles east of Charleston, South Carolina, is currently generating tropical-storm-force winds and intense rainfall in the region, particularly impacting areas from Wilmington to Carolina Beach, North Carolina. This comes just days after Hurricane Francine wreaked havoc in Louisiana, leaving many residents without power for an extended period.

According to the National Weather Service in Wilmington, several areas have already experienced significant rainfall totals due to PTC 8, with Carolina Beach recording over 15 inches of rain. In addition to the heavy rainfall, buoys located off the Mid-Atlantic coast have reported strong wind gusts, including a sustained wind speed of 47 mph and a gust of 56 mph at the Frying Pan Shoals buoy in North Carolina.

Although PTC 8 is running out of time to develop into a fully organized tropical or subtropical system as it moves towards the coast, the unsettled weather associated with it is expected to move inland between Charleston and Myrtle Beach on Monday afternoon. The Carolina coast should prepare for tropical storm conditions throughout the day, including heavy rain, gusty winds, and isolated tornadoes.

The impact of the system will extend beyond the Carolina coast, with the Mid-Atlantic region, including Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, and New York, expected to experience lingering rainfall on Tuesday and Wednesday. A minor storm surge ranging from 1 to 3 feet is also forecasted along various rivers in North Carolina, including the Neuse, Bay, Pamlico, and Pungo Rivers.

An estimated six million people are under a Flood Watch, stretching from northeast South Carolina to central North Carolina. This includes major cities such as Myrtle Beach, Wilmington, Cape Hatteras, and Raleigh. Rainfall forecasts predict that South Carolina and southeast North Carolina may see 4 to 8 inches of rain, with locally higher amounts up to 10 inches, by Monday night. Interior North Carolina could receive 2 to 4 inches, with higher amounts up to 6 inches, through Tuesday. Virginia may receive 1 to 3 inches of rain by Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Tropical Depression Gordon is currently located over the open sea and poses no threat to land. However, it is expected to regain tropical storm status by the end of the week as it wanders across the Atlantic. Looking ahead, forecast models hint at potential development in the western Caribbean Sea, which may be a cause for concern heading into the final week of September.

As PTC 8 continues to bring heavy rain and strong winds to the Carolinas, residents are urged to stay informed, follow any evacuation orders or safety guidelines issued by local authorities, and take necessary precautions to protect life and property.