Tropical storm forming in Atlantic cuts path toward South Carolina

Surfers look at the Atlantic Ocean as Tropical Storm Bonnie made landfall in Miami Beach, Florida, July 23, 2010. REUTERS/Joe Skipper

(Reuters) - Tropical Storm Bonnie, the first of the year to threaten the United States, stalled in the Atlantic before strengthening slightly late on Saturday, its centre expected to cross the South Carolina coast on Sunday night and Monday, the National Hurricane Center said.

Bonnie, coming four days before the official start of the Atlantic hurricane season, triggered a tropical storm warning from South Carolina's Savannah River, near Hilton Head Island, and the Little River Inlet.