Chantal Update: Here Comes the Rain

UPDATE 5 A.M. THURSDAY: Tropical Storm Chantal did not survive a pass over the Dominican Republic Wednesday, and is now a low-pressure trough facing little chance of regenerating.

That's good news for the Southeast, which was in Chantal's path. But there is still a high chance of soaking rains late this week and into the first of next week, and that has nothing to do with Chantal. 

The original story appears as follows:

Tropical Storm Chantal is steering toward the Dominican Republic today as a greatly compromised storm that may not survive a brush with the island's steep terrain.

In the worst case scenario Chantal survives as a tropical depression or just a tropical wave and then restrengthens some and dumps heavy rain over the Southeast, according to forecasters.

But even in the best case scenario, where Chantal fizzles over the next 24 hours, the Lowcountry is still due plenty of rainfall this weekend and into next week, and it's coming at a fairly rotten time.

"By Saturday morning, Chantal is probably going to be a dissipating system off the coast of Florida," said Jonathan Lamb, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Charleston. "But even without Chantal in the picture, it still looks like we're getting back into a wet pattern."

Forecasters predict rain storms Thursday to Monday. And after several weeks of on again, off again thunderstorms, the Charleston area can hardly stand much more rain.

"So far this year we've gotten 36 inches of rain, which is 14 inches above normal," Lamb said. 

That means river levels are near or at flood stage and the ground is deeply saturated. If Chantal survives and joins the mix, the storms could be more intense, Lamb said.

"The main issue is the standing water in yards and on roadways," Lamb said. "There are some homes along certain rivers that could see flooding, but the main issue will be roads and low-lying areas."