Tropical depression lurks off Carolinas
By Staff and Wire
Published in News on August 1, 2004 2:08 AM
Staff and wire
The first tropical depression of the season was announced by the National Weather Service on Saturday evening. A tropical storm watch was issued for coastal North Carolina.
The National Weather Service reported tropical storm conditions were possible along the North Carolina coast through early Monday, with wind gusts reaching 50 mph Sunday night and centered around Wilmington.
A tropical storm watch was in effect from Brunswick County north to Cape Hatteras. At 8 p.m. the storm was located about 145 miles south-southeast of Charleston, S.C. It was moving northwest at about 9 mph with winds ranging from 25-35 mph, according to the weather service.
The National Weather Service reported tropical storm conditions were possible along the North Carolina coast through early Monday, with wind gusts reaching 50 mph Sunday night and centered around Wilmington.
"There will be some heavy rip currents, probably this evening," said Mike Strickler, meteorologist intern with the weather service in Raleigh.
A storm is classified as tropical when winds reach 39 mph; hurricane conditions start at 74 mph.
The storm will likely bring 2-4 inches of rain early Sunday to areas of North Carolina east of Interstate 95, the weather service predicted.