COLUMBIA (WACH) -- Dangerous heat is still the top story in South Carolina, but forecasters are closely watching another situation that`s quickly becoming a big story.  Tropical Storm Emily, which is dumping heavy rain on Hispaniola will pose a potential threat to the U.S. this weekend and into the start of next week.

The 11:00 a.m. update from the National Hurricane Center shows Tropical Storm Emily continuing a northwest path over the western side of Haiti and eastern side of Cuba before shifting to a northerly track torwards Florida.  From there Emily should run along the Atlantic coast of Florida before upper level winds push it to the northeast.  This path would push Emily away from the coast and away from South Carolina.

With all of that said, rip currents will be an issue likely from Sunday afternoon through Tuesday morning as Emily runs parallel to the South Carolina coast.

On a side note, a hurricane has not made landfall in the United States sinec Hurricane Ike hit Texas in September of 2009

Stay tuned to the SkyWACH Weather Team for updates on Emily and any tropical activity.