Tropical Rain, Windstorm Could Flood GA Coast: Latest Forecast

Georgia and the rest of the East Coast remains on standby for a storm that could develop into a hurricane and slam multiple states with flooding and dangerous surf conditions in coming days.

AccuWeather has dubbed the system a "tropical wind and rainstorm" to allow for better readiness, the private weather company said.

"This will be a damaging storm for some along the Atlantic coast," AccuWeather Chief On-Air Meteorologist Bernie Rayno said.

Forecasters say the storm will first take shape near the Georgia coast late this week before making its way northward by early next week, strengthening by the day.

Coastal residents are warned of high seas and winds, rainfall, erosion and flooding with the system - which AccuWeather said will equal a hurricane.

"There is a high risk this storm will be designated a subtropical (hybrid) storm, which is why we have designated this system as a tropical wind and rainstorm, and have issued an eye path map to raise early awareness ahead of potential National Hurricane Center (NHC) classification," AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Expert Alex DaSilva said.

RELATED: Potential Hurricane Developing In Atlantic Could Impact GA: Forecast

About a dozen streets were already flooded in Charleston, South Carolina, and the city offered free parking in some garages. A high tide of 8.5 feet (2.6 meters) was forecast Friday morning, which would be the 13th highest in more than a century of recorded data in Charleston Harbor.

The unnamed coastal storm and unusually high king tides, when the moon is closer than usual to the Earth, threatened to bring days of heavy winds that could cause coastal flooding, especially along the vulnerable Outer Banks of North Carolina and around Charleston.

Subtropical storms are energized by the ocean and a jet stream or stalled front, rather than solely by the ocean as does tropical storms, AccuWeather said. The next name on the 2025 Atlantic list is Lorenzo.

The storm is expected to nail the Carolinas and the mid-Atlantic with winds as high as 60 mph and inundation that could down power lines; but in Georgia, the risk of tropical rain and winds is currently low for Friday and Saturday near the Savannah area.

The National Weather Service forecasts up to a foot of saltwater inundation above ground level Friday morning in the Savannah area. Coastal Bryan, Chatham, McIntosh and Liberty counties will be impacted.

This has prompted a coastal flood advisory that will remain in effect from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in these counties. There will also be a risk of dangerous rip currents through Friday evening.

A high surf advisory is in effect until 8 a.m. Sunday due to 5-6 feet high breaking waves at local beaches.

"Saltwater inundation will impact some roads. Dangerous swimming and surfing conditions and localized beach erosion. Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water," the NWS said.

The National Hurricane Center on Friday was monitoring Subtropical Storm Karen in the north Atlantic and Tropical Storm Jerry north of the northern Leeward Islands.

About seven weeks remain in the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, and meteorologists warned the Pacific Ocean cooling pattern called La Nina, which can warp weather worldwide and turbocharge hurricanes, has returned.

While the coast may be drenched with rain, metro Atlanta and surrounding areas will be starving for downpour as a persistent drought may intensify. The NWS said drought conditions are worse in October than in September in the areas of Atlanta, Athens, Macon and Columbus.

Metro Atlanta was -3.66 inches away from normal rainfall departure, while Macon was slightly closer at -3.27 inches away from its normal departure.

The drought, aggravated by dry weather and warming temperatures, in metro Atlanta could last through next week, the NWS alerted in its hazardous weather outlook.

Here is the National Weather Service's Friday morning forecast for metro Atlanta:

Today: Sunny, with a high near 72. Northeast wind 10-15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 56. Northeast wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 77. Northeast wind 5-10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 55. Northeast wind around 5 mph.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 78. North wind 5-10 mph.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 55.

Columbus Day: Sunny, with a high near 80.

Monday Night: Clear, with a low around 58.

Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 82.

Tuesday Night: Clear, with a low around 60.

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 82.

Wednesday Night: Clear, with a low around 61.

Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 79.

The Associated Press contributed reporting.