RICHMOND, Va. -- An area of disturbed weather near the Bahamas strengthened into Tropical Depression Two late Friday afternoon. It is expected to strengthen into Tropical Storm Bonnie by late Saturday afternoon when wind speeds hit or surpass 39 mph. Bonnie is located southeast of Charleston, South Carolina, and is tracking northwesterly. The storm will move over the warmer waters of the Gulf Stream, which should allow further development to occur.
The center of the storm is expected to make landfall Saturday night into Sunday morning near Charleston. Heavier rain along with increased wave heights will affect the state and parts of North Carolina.
In Virginia, moisture from Bonnie will be fed northward and cause occasional showers and thunderstorms Sunday into parts of Monday. At the beach, wave heights and rip current risk will be slightly higher.
Bonnie will weaken on Sunday and will just be an area of low pressure early in the week. The low will move very slowly along the Outer Banks. While rain will continue there, the main batch of moisture will get pushed east of Virginia by late Monday, decreasing our chances for rain.