Possible tropical system could bring nasty weather to coast

A blob of clouds off Florida will turn into either the first tropical depression of the season, maybe a sub-tropical depression or simply a meandering low pressure system off the South Carolina coast.

Regardless, it has the potential to ruin beach trips for anyone other than experienced surfers.

The National Hurricane Center gives the system a 60 percent chance of formation into a tropical depression or sub-tropical depression Thursday or Friday. For the general public, the difference between those two means little. They both have the potential to bring lots of wind, rain and high surf along the coast.

The conditions and timing would have to be just right for any intensification of the system. The water temperature at the ocean surface remain too cool, except right around the Gulf Stream current, according to forecasters.

Some computer models have the system coming ashore in South Carolina or North Carolina Firday or Saturday. Others have it staying offshore.

The National Weather Service office in Charleston forecasts a chance of rain and thunderstorms, winds in the 10-20 mph range and 4-foot surf capable of creating dangerous rip tides on Thursday and Friday.

This story was originally published May 6, 2015 at 2:10 PM with the headline "Possible tropical system could bring nasty weather to coast."