Officials have issued a severe tropical storm warning for residents in North and South Carolina as a low pressure area bringing heavy winds and rain approaches the coast.

The warning applies to more than two million people in the area.

On Monday morning, the system that could become Tropical Storm Helene was approaching the Carolina coast, packing winds of up to 50 mph (80 kph).

Officials have issued a severe tropical storm warning for residents in North and South Carolina as a low pressure area bringing heavy winds and rain approaches the coast

On Monday morning, the system that could become Tropical Storm Helene was approaching the Carolina coast, packing winds of 50 mph (80 kph).

Officially, the storm is known as Potential Cyclone Eight, but it is not yet recognized as a tropical or subtropical storm.

Early Monday morning, heavy rains already battered the eastern Carolinas, prompting flash flood warnings.

Howling winds battered the coast, causing further turmoil in the ocean.

Heavy rains already battered eastern parts of the Carolinas early Monday morning, prompting flash flood warnings.

Normally, the rain and wind are strongest in the center of a system. But this storm is unusually different from that trend, with the heaviest rain and wind concentrated far away from the center of the system.

According to CNN, this indicates that the storm will likely make landfall in South Carolina — somewhere between Charleston and Myrtle Beach — but that North Carolina will bear the brunt of the weather system.

The National Hurricane Center warned that the system could gain additional strength before making landfall due to warm Atlantic waters and relatively low wind shear.

It was further noted that the storm could potentially produce severe tornadoes in the eastern Carolinas.

While the storm will likely make landfall in South Carolina — somewhere between Charleston and Myrtle Beach — North Carolina will bear the brunt of the severe weather

The National Hurricane Center warned that the system could gain additional strength before making landfall due to warm Atlantic waters and relatively low wind shear.

Locations along the North and South Carolina border are at a level three of four risk for flooding from rainfall on Monday, according to the Weather Prediction Center.

However, meteorologists have noted that the flooding caused by the rain will likely be the most devastating effect of the storm.

According to the Weather Prediction Center, areas along the North and South Carolina border are at risk of flooding from level three or four rainfall on Monday.

A significantly higher risk level of two of four threatens most of North Carolina and parts of northern South Carolina.

The risk of flash flooding is high in any area that experiences multiple rainfall events.

Meteorologists have determined that rain-induced flooding will likely be the most devastating effect of the storm

Experts predict four to eight inches of rain will fall in North and South Carolina through Monday night

Experts predict that North and South Carolina will see between four and eight inches of rain Monday night into Tuesday.

AccuWeather estimates that some locations could see more than 20 inches of snow.

It also warned that coastal flooding, beach erosion and rip currents could affect an area from northeast Florida to Delaware.

From the northern coast of South Carolina to the southern portions of the Outer Banks of North Carolina, the system is expected to produce storm surges well over three feet high.

AccuWeather indicated that some locations could see more than 20 inches of rainfall

Howling winds also battered the coast, further stirring up the turbulent ocean

In its latest advisory, the National Hurricane Center said: “The combination of storm surge and tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be inundated by rising waters moving inland from the coastline.”

It added: ‘The deepest water will occur along the coast, near and east of the hurricane’s landfall, where the surge will be accompanied by large and dangerous waves.’

Although rainfall is forecast to continue and increase in volume, experts expect the storm to taper off by mid-week.

If the system strengthens into a full-fledged tropical storm on Monday, it will be the first named storm to reach South Carolina since Hurricane Ian in 2022.