JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – While we continue to monitor Tropical storm Chantal, the biggest effects for our region is high rip current risk along our southeast Georgia beaches and moderate risk for northeast Florida. Wave heights are 2-4′ with breezy conditions along the coast, gusts to 20 mph.
At 800 AM EDT (1200 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Chantal was located near latitude 30.9 North, longitude 79.0 West. The storm is moving slowly toward the north near 2 mph (4 km/h). A slow motion toward the north-northwest is expected to begin later today, followed by a turn to the northeast by Sunday night. On the forecast track, the center of Chantal is expected to move across the coast of South Carolina Sunday morning.Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 40 mph (65 km/h) with higher gusts. Some additional strengthening is expected before Chantal reaches the coast.Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 70 miles (115 km) primarily to the east of the center. The estimated minimum central pressure is 1009 mb (29.80 inches).