According to the NHC, some slight strengthening is expected before Chantal reaches the coast and rapid weakening after landfall. Chantal has picked up speed and is moving north at 7 mph. A motion north-northwest is expected to begin this evening and forecasters expect the center of Chantal to move across the coast of South Carolina overnight or early Sunday.

A slow-developing weather system is trying to get its act together over the Southeast U.S. this Fourth of July.