NC county emergency services reminds folks to ‘plan’ as chances up to 60% for tropical development

CLINTON, N.C. (WNCN) — One central North Carolina county is already encouraging residents to get ready as the chances for a tropical system developing increased again on Tuesday .

The National Hurricane Center on Saturday said a tropical wave in the central Atlantic had a 20 percent chance of developing into a Tropical Depression or named system over the next seven days.

But, by Tuesday, that chance has tripled — to 60 percent and various models predict a developing storm could aim for the Carolinas.

NHC forecasters said Tuesday morning that “the southeastern U.S. should monitor the progress of this system.”

CBS 17 models indicate tropical winds could be off the North Carolina coast near Wilmington just before sunrise Monday. The models show throughout Sunday that the system could skirt up the coast from Florida to South Carolina

The National Hurricane Center added that a tropical depression could form this week while the system is near the Bahamas or Greater Antilles.

Soon after that message went out, Sampson County Emergency Services forwarded it out on a social media post. The Clinton Police Department also shared the social media post from emergency services.

Officials with the Sampson County Emergency Services are asking people to think about a plan for “you and your family” if the system heads to North Carolina.

“Do you have a plan for you and your family should this system develop and head our way?” the Facebook post said.

Sampson County Emergency Services also encouraged residents to sign up for alerts from the county.

Officials said, “there is no better day than today to start preparing yourself and your family for whatever this hurricane season may bring.”

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