CHARLESTON, SC (WCSC) -
Tropical Storm Chris is strengthening as it remains stationary 200 miles off the Carolina coast, and is expected to become a hurricane early Tuesday morning.
However, based on current models, it's not going to be an issue for the Lowcountry as forecasts show the system heading towards the northeast on Tuesday.
Currently, the center of the system was located by an Air Force Reserve hurricane hunter aircraft near latitude 32.3 North, longitude 74.3 West with 70 mph winds.
NHC officials say a northeastward motion should begin by late Tuesday, and Chris is forecast to accelerate northeastward on Wednesday and Thursday.
"On Tuesday, an upper level trough is going to push Chris away from our area and fly it off to the northeast," said Live 5 Forecaster Danielle Prinz.
In fact, the only type of effects we're experiencing from Chris, is some moderate rip current risk off our coasts which is expected to last until Tuesday evening.
"Right now Chris isn't moving, but it's over warm waters which is intensifying it," Prinz said.
Chris is expected to remain off the coast of the Carolinas for the next several days.
"An acceleration toward the northeast is expected to begin on Tuesday," NHC official said.
Tropical Storm Beryl more disorganized
Meanwhile, Beryl, which was downgraded from a Category 1 hurricane to a tropical storm Saturday morning, continues to weaken
National Hurricane Center reports indicate that the remnants of Beryl are producing strong gusty winds and areas of heavy rain over the north-central Caribbean Sea, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
"This system is expected to move west- northwestward across Hispaniola overnight and Tuesday with little development expected during that time due to land interaction and unfavorable upper-level winds," NHC officials said."A turn to the northwest and then north is expected to begin by Tuesday night taking the system across the Bahamas and the adjacent Atlantic waters."
CLICK HERE to download the free Live 5 News and First Alert Weather apps.
CLICK HERE for information on building your Hurricane Disaster Kit.
CLICK HERE for instructions on how to create a severe weather plan for your family.
A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area.
A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area.
Beryl's upgrade to a Category 1 storm made it the first hurricane of the 2018 Atlantic Hurricane season.
Storms named Beryl have made landfall in the United States three different times over the years, in 1988, 1994 and 2012.
"The tropics have become increasingly active as we've flipped the calendar over to July," Meteorologist Joey Sovine said.
The first tropical storm of the season, Alberto, formed on May 25 on the edge of the Yucatan Peninsula on the western end of the Caribbean. The system made landfall in the Gulf but its remnants created downpours over the Memorial Day weekend.
Copyright 2018 WCSC. All rights reserved.