An Atlantic storm was upgraded Saturday afternoon to Tropical Storm Bonnie and was beginning to pelt some South Carolina coastal areas with heavy rain.
The National Hurricane Center earlier issued a tropical storm warning for the state’s coastline. Maximum sustained winds increased to nearly 40 miles per hour.
“Some additional strengthening is possible tonight as Bonnie moves over the warm waters of the Gulf Stream. Gradual weakening is forecast on Sunday,” the center said. Bonnie was 125 miles southeast of Charleston.
The system comes as tourists hit the beaches for Memorial Day weekend.
It was unclear exactly when Bonnie would make landfall, said CNN meteorologist Jennifer Varian.
The primary impact will be 1 to 3 inches of rain, with higher amounts from eastern South Carolina through southeastern North Carolina.
The storm was moving northwest at 10 mph, forecasters said.