Tropical storm Chantal hits South Carolina, moves inland with flooding threat, NHC says

July 6 (Reuters) - The U.S. National Hurricane Center said on Sunday that tropical storm Chantal has made landfall, and is now moving inland into the eastern state of South Carolina.

The tropical storm, packing maximum sustained winds of 50 mph, according to the NHC, is located about 70 miles west-southwest of Charleston, the most populous city in South Carolina.

Chantal is expected to turn northward and then northeastward over the next 24 hours, according to the forecaster.

Rapid weakening is expected though flash flooding remains a threat, NHC said.