Will SC be hit by potential tropical storms forming in the Atlantic? Here’s the latest forecast

Two tropical disturbances in the Atlantic could develop into cyclones over the next week. Although the National Weather Service is monitoring the situation, at this time experts don’t anticipate impacts to South Carolina.

Showers and thunderstorms in the Southwestern Atlantic about 250 miles northeast of the northern Leeward Islands will very likely develop into a tropical storm over the weekend. The disturbance has an 80% chance of forming by Sunday afternoon and a 90% chance of formation over the next week.

“The first disturbance, kind of northeast of the Caribbean right now, has a pretty high chance of development, but it looks like that system will not come anywhere near the area, and it likely won’t be too strong,” said NWS meteorologist Bob Bright. “This system looks like it’s not going to be anywhere near, so no concerns about that one.”

Rain and storms associated with a tropical wave between Africa and the Windward Islands are less likely to form a tropical depression. According to the NWS, there’s a 30% chance of forming a cyclone by Wednesday afternoon and a 40% chance that one forms over the next week.

If the disturbance does become a tropical storm, it’s still far from the mainland U.S. and too soon to predict if its path would near South Carolina.

“There’s really no strong indications right now [that] it would have any impact on us. So we’re not concerned about that one either,” Bright said. “[It’s] no threat to the local area over the next week, but beyond that, we’ll have to continue to watch it.”

Experts stress that South Carolina residents and visitors should be prepared for hurricanes and tropical storms in late summer and fall. August through October is the worst season for named storms in South Carolina, though the Palmetto State has avoided serious impacts in 2025 so far.

Hurricane Erin passed through the Atlantic this week, but remained hundreds of miles offshore and only hit South Carolina with coastal hazards. Heading into the weekend, the South Carolina coast could see residual high tides from Hurricane Erin and a risk of rip currents remains in Horry and Georgetown Counties.