Tropical storm rumbles off the Carolinas

CHARLESTON, S.C. - Tropical Storm Cristobal, the first tropical storm to menace the Southeast seaboard this hurricane season, sent outer bands of intermittent rain lashing the eastern Carolinas late yesterday as forecasters predicted it could dump several inches in some areas of drought-stricken North Carolina.

At 11 p.m. EDT, the center of the storm was about 45 miles southeast of Cape Fear, N.C., and about 170 miles southwest of Cape Hatteras, N.C. The National Hurricane Center said Cristobal was moving northeast at about 6 m.p.h. with maximum sustained winds of about 45 m.p.h. and some higher gusts.

"Basically the track is running parallel to the coast," said lead center forecaster Martin Nelson. "Slow strengthening is forecast for the next day or two."

Although the center of the storm was forecast to remain off the coast through the weekend, tropical storm warnings were in effect from the South Santee River in South Carolina to the North Carolina-Virginia state line.

Flood advisories were posted for coastal counties, and Wilmington, N.C., received 21/2 inches of rain yesterday.