Tropical Storm Julia Update: South Carolina, Georgia Threatened With Flooding, High Winds

Tropical Storm Julia formed offshore late Tuesday night and threatens to bring flooding to areas of Georgia and South Carolina as it makes landfall. The storm formed over Florida and the "main concern" will likely be heavy rains that "could result in flooding," according to the Weather Channel.

The Weather Channel noted that flooding concerns are the starkest along "immediate Southeast coast." A tropical storm warning had been issued from Fernandina Beach, Florida, to Altamaha Sound, Georgia. It was lifted in an advisory from the National Hurricane Center early Wednesday morning, which noted that the storm was likely to weaken into a depression throughout the day. But that doesn't mean the storm won't bring issues. In fact, the effects could last nearly through the weekend.

"Julia is expected to produce 3 to 6 inches of rain near the Georgia and South Carolina coastlines through Friday afternoon. Isolated totals of 10 inches are possible," wrote the National Hurricane Center. "This rainfall could lead to flash flooding. Flooding may be further compounded with persistent strong onshore flow reducing river and stream discharges."

There is also the threat of an isolated tornado across coastal Georgia and southern South Carolina, according to the National Hurricane Center. The Weather Channel described the possibility as "low" and that it would be "a brief tornado or two." Sustained winds are expected to rise to a maximum of 40 mph, with higher gusts.

The storm has already caused damages in Florida, soaking the state's northeast coast, leaving some 6 million people under a flash flood watch, according to NBC News. In the early hours Wednesday it was some 50 miles outside of Jacksonville with 40 mph winds. The storm also made a bit of odd meteorological history. It was named overnight while over land in Florida, the first storm to earns it moniker over the state, according to meteorologist Jen Carfagno.