Tropical Storm Warnings Dropped on Part of Coast.
The National Weather Service dropped a tropical storm warning for northern Georgia, South Carolina and the southeastern coast of North Carolina at 8 a.m. Tuesday.
But the warning continues in part of North Carolina, from just north of Wilmington to Oregon Inlet, which is just south of Nags Head on the Outer Banks.
Forecasters say up to another 3 inches of rain could fall along the Outer Banks. Wind gusts of up to 50 mph are still possible.
Schools in Wilmington were opening two hours later than usual.
Duke Energy reported just a handful of customers without service in eastern North Carolina.
Some cities in Florida got 9 inches of rain during Tropical Storm Colin.
The National Weather Service said Tuesday that parts of Pinellas County, along Florida's Gulf Coast, got that much rain. Other areas, from Levy to Sarasota counties, were also soaked with 1 to 6 inches of rain in a 24-hour period.
Flood warnings were issued in many parts of the Tampa Bay area and Tuesday's commute was shaping up to be a difficult one with roads underwater and in some areas, closed entirely. Rain fell steadily in the Tampa-St. Petersburg area overnight.
Storms are expected to continue through the afternoon.
Susie Morris, the proprietor of the Lighthouse Inn Bed & Breakfast on Georgia's Tybee Island, said she awoke Tuesday to no wind and no rain.
Morris said that to her relief, Tropical Storm Colin had not flooded the inn, a restored 1910 home.
The National Hurricane Center said Colin marked the earliest that a third named storm has ever formed in the Atlantic basin. Morris said she's not worried about the early start to the 2016 hurricane season, but will continue to listen to weather reports and take precautions when needed.
Forecasters expect Tropical Storm Colin's forward progress to speed up during the day Tuesday as it chugs along the southeast coast, most likely just off shore.
Jack Beven, senior hurricane specialist at the National Hurricane Center, said the storm was moving at 31 mph early Tuesday morning, and was expected to move even faster later in the day.
Beven said the storm's track will be roughly parallel to the U.S. coast as it moves northeast near the South Carolina and North Carolina coast.
Beven said there's a chance for 1 to 3 inches of rain in parts of the Carolinas.
Tropical Storm Colin seems to be bypassing South Carolina.
No rain was reported early Tuesday across the state, although earlier rain has brought the usual street flooding in downtown Charleston.
The National Weather Service still has a tropical storm warning in effect for the entire coast, although winds are expected to be only around 15 to 25 mph, with occasional gusts up to 35 mph. Forecasters say no additional rain is expected.
No injuries have been reported.
Transportation Department officials say parts of nine roads are closed, six in Charleston County and three in Jasper County.
South Carolina Electric & Gas reported 72 customers without service Tuesday morning. Jasper County had the biggest problem with about three dozen customers without service.
Duke Energy reported only a handful of customers without service.
Meanwhile, Jack Beven, a senior hurricane specialist, at the U.S. National Hurricane Center, says 1 to 3 inches of rain are possible along the coast of North Carolina.
The storm's maximum sustained winds Tuesday morning are near 50 mph (85 kph). Some strengthening is expected, but the storm is forecast to lose its tropical cyclone status by Tuesday night.
As of 5 a.m. EDT, Colin was centered about 90 miles (145 kilometers) south-southwest of Charleston, South Carolina, and moving northeast near 31 mph (50 kph).
Colin is expected to produce 3 to 6 inches of rain across western to northern Florida, southeast Georgia and coast areas of the Carolinas through Tuesday. Isolated areas could see up to 10 inches.
Also, tornadoes will be a possibility across parts of the coastal Carolinas on Tuesday.
The weather service says the center of the storm was located about 55 miles (90 kilometers) west-southwest of Jacksonville early Tuesday morning.
It says the storm's maximum sustained winds were around 50 mph (85 kph) with higher gusts and it is moving to the northeast at 23 mph (37 kph).
It is expected to continue moving in that direction at a faster speed over the next 48 hours.
Colin is expected to produce 3 to 6 inches of rain across western to northern Florida, southeast Georgia and coast areas of the Carolinas through Tuesday. Isolated areas could see up to 10 inches.
source: abcnews
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