Storm Centered Just Offshore Tracks Across the Pee Dee Today and This Evening with Rain and Gusty WInds

The storm system known as "Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight" has not become fully trropical in structure yet. It still has a few more hours over water today, and the National Hurricane Center still gives it a 60% chance of becoming Tropical Storm Helena. Whether it makes that transition or not, the impacts for DIllon, Marion and Marlboro counties will stay the same.

Look for frequent showers and possibly a thunderstorm today into this evening. Some of the rain will be heavy. WInds will become gusty as the day wears on, with gusts this afternoon and evening as high as 35 to 45 mph. Total rain amounts from the storm are expected to be 3 to 5 inches. The higher amounts will tend to be in northern parts of the area. During the heavier downpours roads will have lots of standing water, so be careful during any needed travel. Winds gusts in this range typically don't cause any real damage, but a couple of downed tree limbs could cause a scattered power outage or two. I expect rain and wind to be winding down later this evening, and look for just a few scattered showers and breezy conditions after 11 pm or midnight.

Here is the latest satellite loop. It is a visible loop, so you wiil see the sun rise on the storm and then the features become clear. The actual circulation center is south of the solid area of showers and storms, about 90 miles ENE of Charleston, SC.

And here is the latest computer models tracks from 8 am this morning and the official track forecast from the NHC. Keep in mind the structure of the this particular storm has almost all the rain and the strongest winds north of the storm center. If there is any shift in the track forecast from the NHC, it may be to shift the track a little farther north.