SAVANNAH, Ga. () — Monday afternoon was hot and humid with a few isolated showers and storms in our southern counties.

Most of the area was cloud free which helped temperatures to reach the lower to middle 90s.

More days like today are in the forecast for the workweek due to high pressure settling in over the southeast. 

Our weather pattern will also be influenced by Hurricane Erin which will be tracking about 450 miles off of the coast of Georgia and South Carolina. High surf and rip currents are major concerns for our beaches.

We will also have a strong northerly breeze as Erin’s wind field continues to expand over the coming days. The next few high tide cycles will be elevated due to an onshore flow.

Some minor coastal flooding is possible.

Tropical storm or hurricane conditions are not expected in the Coastal Empire and Lowcountry. 

Afternoon highs Tuesday through Thursday will be in the low to mid 90s. Rain chances will be minimal. As Erin tracks north and then northeast away from the U.S., rain and storm chances will return to the local forecast.

Scattered showers and storms are expected Friday afternoon and through the weekend. Higher rain chances and more cloud cover will help temperatures to return to normal in the upper 80s to lower 90s Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

TRACKING THE TROPICS

Hurricane Erin remains a powerful category 4 system with sustained wind of 130 mph as of 8 p.m. Monday. It has weakened through the day and will become weaker over the coming days. However, Erin is forecast to remain a major hurricane through Thursday.

Tropical storm watches have been issued for the Outer Banks and coastal Virginia because of the possibility of experiencing tropical storm force wind. Erin will be a little closer to the coast as the storm moves northward.

Other than high surf and rip currents, no other direct impacts are expected in the Coastal Empire and Lowcountry from Hurricane Erin.

MORE DEVELOPMENT

The National Hurricane Center is monitoring two other systems for potential development in the Atlantic. A large tropical wave that is located southwest of the Cape Verde Islands has a medium chance of becoming a tropical depression or tropical storm over the next five to seven days.

The environment that it is in will support more development and organization as it gets closer to the islands of the Caribbean. The path that this system will take is looking to be more southerly than what Erin took.

This storm may be an issue for the Northern Leeward Islands and Puerto Rico later this week or early next week. This system is also worth keeping an eye on for the southeastern United States.

A second tropical wave is emerging off of the west coast of Africa now. It has a low chance of developing into a tropical depression or tropical storm now.

However, as we get further into hurricane season, tropical waves of this nature are always worth keeping an eye on. Cape Verde storms are often the largest and strongest systems.