How will newly formed Hurricane Francine impact SC weather? Here’s the latest forecast

It appears South Carolina has dodged another bullet this hurricane season.

Hurricane Francine officially became a Category 1 storm Tuesday evening, strengthening from tropical storm status in the Gulf of Mexico as it moved northeast, according to the National Hurricane Center .

The storm is projected to gain speed as it barrels toward the Louisiana coast and generate hurricane-force winds of about 90 mph, as well as heavy rain.

Francine is expected to impact the Louisiana coast Wednesday morning, then continue moving inland.

Hurricane impact on SC

Mike Proud, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in West Columbia, said forecasters expect little impact from the storm on South Carolina.

“We’re just looking at some rain on Thursday, Friday and into the weekend,” Proud said.

The rainfall over the next few days should be light to moderate. The state should also expect mostly sporadic rainfall.

“We’re not looking at any flooding at this point,” Proud added.

Hurricane season 2024

So far, the Atlantic hurricane season this year has not been as wild and active as forecasters predicted. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted an above-normal hurricane season for 2024, with between 17 and 25 total named storms. That’s the most number of storms federal forecasters have ever predicted before the start of a hurricane season.

Francine is the sixth named storm of the season.

However, it should be noted that the Atlantic is entering the typically busiest time of hurricane season and there is plenty of time left for more violent storms.

Hurricane season lasts from June 1 through November.