Storm to have no local effect
By From staff reports
Published in News on August 29, 2016 1:46 PM
Wayne County can expect some clouds with a chance of rain and some wind gusts late Tuesday into Tuesday night, but little else as a developing tropical storm churns off the coast.
Meanwhile a tropical storm watch remains in effect this morning from Cape Lookout to Oregon Inlet as Tropical Depression 8 moves west-northwest toward the coast.
A tropical storm watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area, generally within 48 hours.
It is possible that Wayne County could get a band of showers from the storm and wind gusts of up to 20 miles per hour, said Mike Moneypenny, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Raleigh.
There is a 40 to 50 percent of showers Tuesday into Tuesday night, but no heavy rains are forecast, he said.
"It is really too far off shore to cause any problems for us," he said.
This morning the depression, which is expected to strengthen into a tropical storm tonight, was located about 230 miles southeast of Cape Hatteras.
It is forecast to turn toward the northwest and a decrease in forward speed today and then slow as it track turns northwestward into Tuesday. The storm center is expected to pass offshore of the Outer Banks late Tuesday and Tuesday night.
Its primary impact will be heavy rain and a threat of localized flash flooding mainly along the Outer Banks where rainfall of amounts of 1 to 2 inches are expected with locally higher amounts of up to 5 inches possible.
Tropical storm force winds will be possible along the coast mainly from Cape Lookout to Oregon Inlet.
Gov. Pat McCrory is encouraging coastal residents to keep a close eye on the weather this week because of the system.
McCrory said in a news release Sunday that while the storm isn't expected to pose a major threat to North Carolina that he still advises residents to stay alert in case the track changes.
He reminded residents to discuss their emergency plans and update supply kits. Public Safety Secretary Frank Perry said state emergency management officials are coordinating with local officials to ensure they have what they need.
-- The Associated Press contributed to this article.