Dangerous surf to impact southeastern US coast through the weekend

By Renee Duff, AccuWeather.com Meteorologist

September 17,2016; 10:07PM,EDT

 

Tropical Depression Julia will stir rough seas and strong rip currents from Georgia to North Carolina through the weekend.
"The slow, meandering nature of Julia will extend the rough surf, rip currents and minor coastal flooding risk through this weekend," according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski.
Caution should be exercised by those who head to the beach or venture out on the water.

"People spending time at the beach or pleasure boating should heed all advisories as they are issued," Sosnowski warned.
The persistent waves could lead to minor beach erosion.
Despite remaining well offshore, Julia will stay close enough to the coast to kick up breezes from Corolla and Wilmington, North Carolina, to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Beach-goers will want to ensure that beach umbrellas are firmly secured in the sand.
The combination of gusty breezes and the full moon could cause minor coastal flooding during times of high tide, Sosnowski explained.
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Only very spotty showers and thunderstorms are expected along the Carolina coast as the bulk of Julia's moisture will remain well offshore.
How long the waves batter the coast will depend on when or if Julia gets swept out to sea.
Julia may connect with a system moving across the Northeast, which would draw the storm out to sea early next week, according to AccuWeather Hurricane Expert Dan Kottlowski.
Should Julia miss the connection, the storm would continue to spin off the Southeast coast, Kottlowski added.
The second scenario would prolong the threat for rough surf and rip currents along area beaches.
This is a live loop of Julia. (Satellite/NOAA)
Away from the Southeast coast, a weak system along the western Gulf Coast will need to be monitored for boating and beach hazards.
Bathers and boaters from Point Penascal to Galveston, Texas, should be aware of the threat for unusually rough surf and stronger, more frequent rip currents into Sunday.
Elsewhere in the Atlantic, Tropical Storm Karl may strengthen into the next hurricane of the season.
The Atlantic Hurricane season officially runs through Nov. 30.