The Fourth of July will bring mostly sunny skies over the Piedmont Triad of North Carolina, but afternoon storm chances may rise for beachgoers in the Carolinas by Friday afternoon. The WXII 12 First Warning Weather team has been monitoring the Atlantic for tropical development from a broad area of disturbed weather that extends from Florida northward over the Gulf Stream.

Tropical Depression Three formed on Friday afternoon off the coast of Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas. As of Friday evening, the depression had winds of 35 mph, moving slowly north at 2 mph. The storm was weak and relatively disorganized but is expected to strengthen slightly into a tropical storm this weekend.