By Peter Vankevich
The National Weather Service out of Newport/Morehead City has issued a warning that a weather system in the waters off the southeast is expected to bring a variety of impacts to the Outer Banks and northeastern North Carolina, especially Monday and Tuesday, and it could become the eighth tropical cyclone of 2024.
Forecasters say the latest disturbance (shown by the X in the graphic below) has a 50% chance of becoming tropical. Whether or not this system becomes tropical, it has the potential to develop very quickly, with less lead time than normal.
Gusty winds from ENE in the 20-mph range will begin late Sunday morning and rain beginning early Monday morning has the potential to bring 4 to 6 inches on Ocracoke and Hatteras islands. This may cause overwash on NC 12 and minor coastal flooding that could make travel on both islands difficult.
This system will bring high surf and dangerous rip current and hazardous marine conditions.
The next tropical storm will be named Helene. Tropical Storm Gordon, named on Friday after a month lull of storm activity, is currently not a threat to land.
