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Tropical Storm Nate forms, will possibly approach Gulf Coast as a hurricane


Tropical Storm Nate forms, possibly approaching Gulf Coast
Tropical Storm Nate forms, possibly approaching Gulf Coast
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Tropical Storm Nate has formed off the coast of Nicaragua and is on a forecast track that shows it eventually approaching the U.S. Gulf Coast.

Nate's maximum sustained winds Thursday morning are near 40 mph (65 kph) and the U.S. National Hurricane Center says strengthening is likely as the storm moves over the northwestern Caribbean Sea Thursday night and Friday.

The storm is centered about 10 miles (15 kilometers) south Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua, and is moving northwest near 8 mph (13 kph). The storm's current forecast track shows it possibly approaching the Gulf Coast over the weekend as a hurricane.

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VIEW CHARLESTON AREA FORECAST

Nate is expected to continue north through the Gulf of Mexico this weekend. The system looks to bring some tropical moisture into the Lowcountry, which will mean more clouds and a better chance of showers and thunderstorms Sunday through Tuesday. A cold front is then slated to move through the area on Wednesday.

The storm is expected to bring torrential rain and possibly tropical storm force winds to parts of Nicaragua and the Honduras. The Lowcountry of South Carolina is no longer in the cone of uncertainty, and recent model trends have been pushing farther to the west. Even so, we will be watching this system for impacts.

At this point, the most likely impacts would be coastal flooding, some flooding from rain, to a much lesser extent isolated tornadoes, and wind. Again, this all depends on the track of the storm so we will continue to monitor it.

COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY: 6AM-10AM. With high tide around 8AM this morning, shallow flooding is possible in low-lying areas including downtown Charleston.

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