Hurricane Center eyes low off Carolina Coast

The National Hurricane Center has increased the odds to a 40 percent chance that an area of low pressure near Little River Inlet, North Carolina, could become a tropical storm later today.

“While upper-level winds are at best marginally conducive, there is some potential for a tropical cyclone to form this afternoon or tonight as the low moves northeastward along the coast of North Carolina,” according to a 2 p.m. statement from NHC.

After tonight, the low is expected to move into the open Atlantic and merge with a frontal system.

Whether or not development occurs, gusty winds and locally heavy rains will continue along the coastal areas of North Carolina tonight, with a moderate possibility of dangerous rip currents south of Cape Hatteras.

The Hurricane Center said that thunderstorm activity associated with the low pressure had not become more organized this afternoon, but an Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft was investigating the system.

For more weather information, go to http://www.weather.gov/mhx/.