US East Coast to be hit by heavy rain and strong winds by Tomasz Schafernaker
The National Hurricane Center in Florida is keeping a watchful eye on a cluster of thunderstorms which are lying off the southeast coast of the US. The storm cluster is showing signs of merging, with the potential risk of developing into a tropical storm later.
Even if this disturbance doesn’t turn into a tropical storm, torrential rain and strong winds will hit the North and South Carolina coastlines and much of the eastern seaboard, bringing the risk of flooding, coastal surges, high surf and dangerous rip currents.
According to the National Hurricane Center the storm system is currently about 225 miles (360 km) southeast off the coast of the Carolina’s and is moving slowly westwards. Warnings have been issued along the US east coast.
Meanwhile, out in the western Atlantic, another tropical depression has developed with the potential of becoming the 11th named hurricane of the 2008 Atlantic season. This storm system is centred about 140 miles (225 km) east-northeast of the Turks and Caicos Islands and is moving northwards. Thunderstorms with torrential rain could cause floods and mudslides over parts of Hispaniola, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands through today.
