Tropical Storm Bonnie was downgraded to a tropical depression early Sunday morning. The storm was packing 35 mile per hour winds and heavy rains but no coastal watches or warnings remain in effect, said CNN meteorologist Jennifer Gray.
The National Hurricane Center earlier issued a tropical storm warning for the state’s coastline. Maximum sustained winds stood at about 40 miles per hour.
“A little strengthening is possible tonight, with gradual weakening forecast on Sunday,” the center said.
Bonnie is close to Charleston and is expected to keep heading north.
The system comes as tourists hit the beaches for Memorial Day weekend.
It’s unclear exactly when Bonnie would make landfall, but Sunday looked likely, said CNN meteorologist Jennifer Varian.
The primary impact will be 1 to 3 inches of rain, with higher amounts from eastern South Carolina through southeastern North Carolina. The tropical storm warning extended from the Savannah River to Little River Inlet.
CNN’s Ralph Ellis and Phil Gast contributed to this report.