However, due to hostile environmental conditions, Bonnie weakened to a depression hours before making landfall just east of Charleston, South Carolina, on May 29.

The next day, despite increasing wind shear and cooling sea surface temperatures, Bonnie reintensified into a tropical storm and reached its peak intensity.

On May 24, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) began monitoring an area of disturbed weather resulting from the interaction of a weakening cold front and an upper-level trough.

[5] Strong vertical wind shear and dry air in the region hindered strengthening, however, the depression was located over the warm waters of the Gulf Stream.

[5] In the afternoon of May 28, a burst of deep convection developed near the northwestern part of the exposed low-level circulation center (LLCC), and the NHC upgraded the depression to Tropical Storm Bonnie.

[9] Bonnie weakened back to tropical depression strength about half an hour prior to its landfall just east of Charleston, South Carolina.

[3][10][11] Caught in weak steering currents,[12] the depression meandered over South Carolina for over a day before degenerating to a remnant low over the northeastern portion of the state at 12:00 UTC on May 30.

[14][15] Amidst light wind shear and high sea surface temperatures (SSTs), organization improved as convection persisted near the center, and Bonnie regenerated into a tropical depression at 00:00 UTC on June 2.

[3] The next day, despite worsening conditions, a burst of convection around the center led to Bonnie restrengthening into a tropical storm, simultaneously attaining a new minimum pressure of 1,006 mbar (1,006 hPa; 29.7 inHg).

[3][16] Increasing northwesterly shear and cooling SSTs soon became evident as the LLCC became exposed to the west, however Bonnie continued to maintain tropical storm strength.

[21] The heavy rains led to significant flooding, prompting the South Carolina Highway Patrol to close at least seven roads in Jasper County, including the southbound lanes of Interstate 95.

[27][28] Tropical Storm Colin would later combine with Bonnie to produce at least 10 in (250 mm) of standing water in farmlands in Hyde and Beaufort counties, damaging newly planted crops.