Tropical Storm Chantal Heads for South Carolina

Tropical Storm Chantal has formed off the southeast US coast. The National Hurricane Center in Miami says tropical storm warnings have been issued for portions of the Carolinas. Tropical storm conditions are expected in the affected areas later Saturday, the AP reports. This will be the first storm of this year's Atlantic hurricane season to affect the US and while it's not seen as a major threat, it could create risky conditions at beaches over the weekend. CNN reports. According to the Weather Network, Chantal is expected to bring "potent wind gusts, soaking rains, flash flooding and life-threatening surf" ahead of landfall in South Carolina Sunday morning.

At 9am Eastern, the storm's center was located about 150 miles south-southeast of Charleston, South Carolina, and about 240 miles south-southwest of Wilmington, North Carolina. Chantal's maximum sustained winds were measured at 40 mph. It was moving north at 2 mph. The center of Chantal is expected to move across the coast of South Carolina on Sunday morning, the hurricane center said. Some additional strengthening is expected before Chantal reaches the coast.