SAVANNAH, Ga. () — After a very rainy weekend, Monday started off with scattered showers and storms. Our coastal communities were able to dry out a bit during the afternoon.

A drier pattern is much needed in the Coastal Empire and Lowcountry. VIPIR Radar estimates that many locations along and east of Interstate-95 received over 10″ of rain over the past seven days.

A LOOK AHEAD

A few stray showers are possible Monday night with temperatures cooling into 70s.

Scattered showers and storms are possible again for Tuesday afternoon, but the overall rain chances will be lower than what we have experienced over the past several days.

Tuesday will warm into the upper 80s to lower 90s for highs with the slightly drier patten.

Showers and storms will continue into Tuesday evening with temperatures cooling into 70s by Wednesday morning.

Rain chances Wednesday through the weekend will be even lower as high pressure tries to build in over the southeast. Just a few isolated showers or storms are possible each day.

Temperatures due to the drier conditions will be able to warm into the low to mid 90s. Heat index values will be even hotter.

Stay cool any hydrated and typical summertime temperatures make a return.

TRACKING THE TROPICS

The National Hurricane Center is now tracking Tropical Storm Erin and watching three tropical waves in the Atlantic basin  for potential development. 

Tropical Storm Erin formed as of 11 a.m. (EDT) Monday just west of the Cape Verde Islands in the eastern Atlantic. Erin remains a minimal tropical storm with 45 mph sustained wind as of 5 p.m. (EDT).

Wind gusts are as high as 60 mph. Erin is forecast to slowly become stronger over the next several days.

It is possible that Erin becomes the season’s first hurricane late Wednesday or sometime Thursday. Environmental conditions will support more strengthening as this system moves westward.

Erin is forecast to become a major hurricane by the weekend when it is just north of the Greater Antilles.

The overall steering pattern with a strong high located over the North Atlantic favors a westward track over the next 5-7 days. A turn to the north will be favored as it gets closer to the Bahamas within about a week to a week and a half.

This path keeps Erin safely away from the southeastern United States. Tropical Storm Erin poses no threat to the U.S. at this time, through this forecast is worth monitoring. 

The other systems that the NHC is monitoring have low-end chances for development. One located just south of Nova Scotia has just a 10% chance of developing.

A second tropical wave located near Bermuda now has a low (0%) chance of developing.

The third wave located in the northern Gulf also has a low (0%) chance of development. However the Gulf wave will help to enhance rain chances over the next few days for the northern Gulf Coast.