BY BO PETERSEN
Of The Post and Courier Staff
A tropical depression formed Monday and is expected to become a tropical storm today, putting a major storm on either side of the Lowcountry.
Tropical Depression 11 is forecast to become Tropical Storm Jeanne and be approaching hurricane strength as it nears San Salvador on Saturday.
The possible track on the five-day forecast stretches from the southeast tip of Cuba to 200 miles northeast of the Bahamas.
On its current track, Ivan would be near Atlanta by Friday afternoon, moving into the mountains along the western edge of South Carolina.
"That puts you on the east side with heavy rain and the possibility of tornadoes," said Hector Guerrero, National Hurricane Center meteorologist.
For the Charleston area, that would mean 3-4 inches of rain over Thursday and Friday, wind gusts possible at 30-40 mph and "most likely" the threat of tornadoes much like with Hurricane Frances earlier this month, said meteorologist Paul Yura with the National Weather Service in Charleston.
With the ground saturated, "it won't take much wind to bring down more trees," Yura said.
The area, though, is right on the edge with the forecast track.
If the storm comes in west of the Florida Panhandle that threat lessens, farther east along the Panhandle, it worsens.
"These hurricanes and tropical systems can change on a dime," Yura said.
"We should all stay on edge a little bit. Make sure we have our plans in place."
Click here to return to story:
http://www.charleston.net/stories/091404/sta_14newstorm.shtml