In the middle of August, a frontal system moving toward the U.S. southeast coast began to stir up thunderstorm activity over the Carolinas and northeastern Florida. Near its southern end, a trough developed, and on August 17 a low pressure center. It moved steadily northeastward along the Carolina coastline and then out over the open ocean. Conditions were not very favorable but nevertheless a small area of thunderstorm activity persisted near the center. On August 19, the disturbance turned due east, traveling out to sea at a fast clip. The next day, the circulation became well-defined enough for the system to unexpectedly develop into Tropical Storm Chantal.
As the tropical storm moved slightly south of east, sea temperatures actually warmed modestly and wind shear decreased. However, these favorable factors were balanced by a major inhibitor: the atmosphere was very dry over the open northern Atlantic. As a result, Chantal struggled to maintain its convection and gradually weakened, becoming a tropical depression by August 22. The gradual spin-down continued the next day and the cyclone degenerated into a remnant low late on August 23. By this time, the low had turned southeast and slowed down. It dissipated soon after.
The above image shows Chantal moving eastward away from the North American coastline.
Chantal was a short-lived and weak tropical storm which did not affect land during its time as a tropical cyclone.
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