According to the NHC, some slight strengthening is expected before Chantal reaches the coast and rapid weakening after landfall. Chantal has picked up speed and is moving north at 7 mph. A motion north-northwest is expected to begin this evening and forecasters expect the center of Chantal to move across the coast of South Carolina overnight or early Sunday.

A tropical depression formed in the Atlantic off the coast of Florida on Friday headed for the Carolina coast and expected to become a tropical storm, according to the National Hurricane Center.