Tropical Depression 3 Forms, Will Move Toward Carolinas

Tropical Depression 3, July 4, 2025. (Credit: CIMSS/Tropical)

The National Hurricane Center said Friday it would begin issuing advisories on Tropical Depression 3, which has formed off the northeast coast of Florida and is predicted to move north.

The storm is moving away from Florida, however a Tropical Storm Watch has been issued from Edisto Beach, S.C. to Little River Inlet, S.C. As of 5 p.m., the depression was moving toward the north near 2 m.p.h. A slow motion toward the north-northwest was expected through Saturday, followed by a motion toward the north Saturday night and Sunday. On the forecast track, the center of the depression is expected to move near or over the coast of South Carolina Sunday morning.

Data received by a U.S. Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft indicate that maximum sustained winds are near 35 m.p.h. (55 km/h) with higher gusts. Gradual strengthening is expected, and the system is forecast to become a tropical storm on Saturday, the NHC said in a public advisory statement.

Locally in South Florida, forecasters were predicting a 50 percent chance of additional rain and thunderstorms Friday night into Saturday, with otherwise mostly cloudy skies. Showers and thunderstorms were likely Saturday, mainly after 3 p.m., with cloudiness increasing over the course of the day.

The rip current risk along local beached remained low, the National Weather Service said, with ocean water temperatures hovering near 83 degrees.