BALTIMORE, MD—Parts of the East Coast could get battered by a low pressure system heading into this weekend.

The National Weather Service says an area of low pressure is forecast to develop off the southeastern U.S. coast on Thursday evening and will bring tropical-storm-force winds, storm surge, heavy rain, and high surf to large portions of the southeast and mid-Atlantic coast beginning Friday and continuing into the weekend.

Forecasters say there is the potential for life-threatening storm surge inundation from Surf City, North Carolina to Chincoteague, Virginia, the Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds, and the lower Chesapeake Bay. Residents in these areas should follow advice given by local officials.

Tropical storm conditions are expected within portions of the southeast and mid-Atlantic coasts within the Tropical Storm Warning area beginning on Friday and continuing into Saturday.

Heavy rainfall from this system could produce localized urban and small stream flooding impacts across the eastern mid-Atlantic states from North Carolina to New Jersey from Friday through Sunday.

Additional information is available online at https://www.hurricanes.gov.