Tropical Storm Chantal strikes Carolina coast

Richard Tribou, Orlando Sentinel on Jul 6, 2025

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

Tropical Storm Chantal moved inland Sunday morning, bringing rain and flood threats after striking the Carolina coast with 50 mph winds.

As of the National Hurricane Center’s 11 a.m. advisory, the storm had diminished into a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph as it moved into eastern North Carolina. It was located about 20 miles southwest of Lumberton and 80 miles west of Wilmington, N.C., moving north at 9 mph.

“A turn toward the northeast is expected this evening and that motion should continue into Monday. On the forecast track, the center of Chantal is expected to move over eastern North Carolina through tonight,” forecasters said. “Additional weakening is expected during the next 24 hours, and the system is expected to degenerate into a trough of low pressure on Monday.”

The storm is forecast to drop 2-4 inches of rain, with some areas getting up to 6 inches over portions northeastern South Carolina today and across portions of North Carolina through Monday, bringing with it a threat for flooding.

“An isolated tornado or two is possible today over parts of eastern North Carolina,” the NHC warned.

Rough surf and rip currents are a threat from northeastern Florida to the mid-Atlantic into Monday.

Chantal was the first storm of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season to strike the United States.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasts 13 to 19 named storms this year, of which 6-10 will become hurricanes. Three to five of those would grow into major hurricanes of Category 3 strength or higher.

Hurricane season runs June 1-Nov. 30.

_____