The National Hurricane Center reported the development of a tropical depression along the Southeast U.S. coast on July 4 that could become Tropical Storm Chantal overnight.

A tropical storm watch has been put in place for parts of the South Carolina shoreline affecting the Myrtle Beach area.

What to Expect from Tropical Storm Chantal

Tropical Storm Chantal is likely to form from the depression, marking the third named storm of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season over the holiday weekend.

The hurricane center has announced a tropical storm watch in place from Edisto Beach, South Carolina, to Little River Inlet, South Carolina.

At 5 p.m. ET on July 4, the center of Tropical Depression Three was positioned roughly 150 miles south-southeast of Charleston, South Carolina, and was heading north at a speed of 2 mph. Its maximum sustained winds measured 35 mph, only 4 mph shy of reaching Tropical Storm Chantal status.

The hurricane center mentioned that an Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter was en route to assess the storm, which will provide further information on its structure.

Regardless of whether or not it becomes Chantal, “stormy weather will impact areas from Florida to southeast Georgia and along the Grand Strand’s coastal Carolinas,” Weather.com said in an online forecast.

The National Weather Service in Jacksonville, Florida, cautioned drivers about potential travel risks, such as slippery roads and heavy rain that could cause visibility issues. They also highlighted the possibility of flooding in urban areas with poor drainage systems.