Tropical Storm Chantal Makes Landfall in South Carolina, Triggers Flood and Tornado Threats Across Southeast

Hadisur Rahman, Jadetimes Staff  

H. Rahman is a Jadetimes news reporter covering the USA

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Image Source: NOAA/NESDIS/STAR GOES

Tropical Storm Chantal officially made landfall in Litchfield, South Carolina early Sunday morning, bringing with it heavy rainfall, gusty winds, and the potential for flash flooding across parts of the Southeast.

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) confirmed that Chantal came ashore around 3 a.m. EDT, becoming the third named storm of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season. At landfall, Chantal had peak winds of 60 mph, but has since weakened while tracking further inland.

As of 7 a.m. CDT, the center of the storm was located approximately 80 miles west of Wilmington, North Carolina, moving north-northwest at 8 mph. Sustained winds had dropped to 40 mph, classifying Chantal as a minimal tropical storm.

The storm continues to deliver widespread rainfall, with 2 to 4 inches expected in northeastern South Carolina and across eastern North Carolina through Monday, posing a significant flash flooding risk.

A Tropical Storm Warning remains in effect from South Santee River, S.C., to Surf City, N.C., although most other coastal watches and warnings have now been canceled.

The NHC warns of the possibility of isolated tornadoes throughout Sunday, particularly across eastern North Carolina and extreme northeastern South Carolina. Even far from the storm's center, dangerous rip currents are expected to persist along the Southeast coast. Forecasters warn swimmers and beachgoers from northeastern Florida to the mid-Atlantic region to exercise caution through at least Monday.

Chantal is expected to continue weakening as it moves further inland and will likely become a trough of low pressure by Monday, according to the hurricane center. While no new tropical disturbances are active in the Atlantic Basin, which includes the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, forecasters remain vigilant as the 2025 hurricane season progresses.

Residents across the storm’s path are advised to monitor local forecasts, heed weather alerts, and take necessary precautions against flooding and possible tornadoes. For the latest updates on Tropical Storm Chantal and other severe weather developments, visit weather.gov or follow your local National Weather Service office.