US News

Tropical Depression Beryl headed back to Atlantic

CHARLESTON, SC — Tropical Depression Beryl was heading back toward the ocean early Wednesday as it brought rains to South Carolina.

The depression’s maximum sustained winds had increased to near 35 mph. Additional strengthening was expected and the USNational Hurricane Center said Beryl could regain tropical storm strength later in the day.

Beryl was expected to dump up to 6 inches of rain, with isolated amounts of 8 inches, in northeastern South Carolina and eastern North Carolina.

By 5 a.m. Wednesday, the depression was centered about 25 miles north-northeast of Charleston, SC, and was moving east-northeast near 14 mph. On that track, forecasters said the depression was expected to skim along the South Carolina coast before moving back over the Atlantic.

The forecast from the National Hurricane Center said Beryl could regain tropical storm strength off the coast of the Carolinas on Wednesday. But even so, tropical storm force winds were expected to stay offshore so no coastal warnings had been posted.

Beryl sloshed ashore near Jacksonville, Fla., on Memorial Day as a tropical storm. It is the second named tropical system of the 2012 Atlantic Hurricane season that doesn’t officially begin until Friday.