Fay's threat to Charleston diminishing

Image by National Weather ServiceImage by 20080819fay.gif The National Weather Service is expecting Fay to make a turn for Florida's panhandle.

Update 9:52 p.m.: We've updated our information on Fay. Go here for the latest.

Original post: Topical Storm Fay is cutting over Florida, but is no longer expected to cut up into South Carolina. The keyword there is "expected." And we should all be on the ready for potentially heavy rains, and the forecast could easily change, especially if the storm makes it back into the Atlantic, which it looks like it will.

The National Weather Service says:
If the center does emerge into the Atlantic as forecast...fay will find itself in a more favorable anticyclonic upper-air pattern in about two days.

Charleston has been given a 17% chance of experiencing sustained 39 mph winds at any point through Saturday. Only a 3% chance was given for winds at 57 mph. (That's down from 28% and 9% this time yesterday).