Hurricane Katia, remnants Tropical Storm Lee impact Myrtle Beach area today - Myrtle Beach Sun News

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• Increased chance of rain, surf as tropical systems approach Myrtle Beach area

  Increased chance of rain, surf as tropical systems approach Myrtle Beach area

  As Hurricane Katia gathers steam in the Atlantic Ocean, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service said Saturday the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee likely will have more of an effect on the Grand Strand this week.

• The week ahead for the Myrtle Beach area

  The week ahead for the Myrtle Beach area

  GOP presidential Palmetto Freedom Forum is hosted by U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint on Monday in Columbia, and will feature the top six GOP presidential contenders. The forum, in Columbia, is invitation only, but it will air on ETV World – for people with digital TV, digital cable or converter boxes – from 3 to 5 p.m. It will be re-aired on ETV's South Carolina channel from 8 to 10 p.m. Monday.

• The nations weather

  The nations weather

  Weather Underground Forecast for Tuesday, September 06, 2011. A strong front will continue moving through the eastern third of the country on Tuesday, producing widespread moderate to heavy rain and thunderstorms along the eastern seaboard. This is potentially bad news for areas of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic that just registered the wettest August on record. Any additional precipitation falling on the already-saturated ground will complicate the flooding situation in New England and farther to the south. Adding to this will be the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee that will continue to dump heavy rain on the Southeast. This rain should gradually diminish as the day progresses and as the front moves off the East Coast.

• Tropical Storm Katia forms in the Atlantic

  Tropical Storm Katia forms in the Atlantic

  Tropical Storm Katia has formed and is moving quickly across the Atlantic.

• Local emergency officials monitor Tropical Storm Katia

  Local emergency officials monitor Tropical Storm Katia

  Emergency officials in Horry and Georgetown counties are monitoring Tropical Storm Katia, which could become a major hurricane by this weekend, according to weather officials.

Damaging wind gusts also are expected throughout the day and a brief tornado can not be ruled out, according to forecasters.

Hurricane Katia will turn north as it approaches the United States and will pass more than 400 miles east of Cape Fear, N.C., on Thursday, forecasters said. Swells from the storm will produce large, rough surf conditions through Friday.

The risk of rip currents will remain high throughout the week from Katia and Tuesday wave heights were forecast to be four to five feet along the Myrtle Beach coast, according to a rip current statement from the weather service. Rip currents are expected to be strongest two hours before and after low tide, which is expected about 9 a.m. Tuesday.

Rip currents are channels of water that flow away from the beach. If you are caught in a rip current, remain calm and swim parallel to the shore to get out of the force of the current. Check with lifeguards before entering the water.