Tropical Storm Chris caused minor flooding in the Greater Antilles and the Eastern United States in August 1988.

Forming as a tropical depression, it remained weak for several days, crossing the Lesser Antilles, Hispaniola, and The Bahamas during this time.

Six hours later, Chris was absorbed by a cold front while over North Carolina, though the remnants of the system tracked across the Eastern United States and Atlantic Canada before dissipating on August 30.

Flooding was minimal, as rainfall totals amounted to 5 inches (130 mm) or less, though standing water was reported on Interstate 26.

After strengthening minimally, the depression struck Guadeloupe late on August 23 and entered the Caribbean Sea shortly thereafter.

Despite the mountainous terrain of Hispaniola, the depression did not weaken and re-emerged into the Atlantic from the northern coast of Haiti early on August 26.

[1] At 0600 UTC on August 28, a ship located about 93 miles (150 km) from the center of the depression reported tropical storm force winds.

Tracking rapidly north-northeastward, Chris attained its peak intensity about six hours later, with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (80 km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure of 1,005 mbar (29.7 inHg).

After moving inland, Chris quickly weakened and was downgraded to a tropical depression near Columbia, South Carolina on August 29.

Eventually, the remnants briefly re-emerged into the Atlantic from New England, then moved across Nova Scotia before dissipating near Cape Breton Island on August 30.

[1] In preparation of the tropical depression, officials in Puerto Rico closed public schools and sent federal workers home early.

Two hours later, areas from Savannah, Georgia, to Cape Hatteras North Carolina, were placed under a tropical storm warning.

In that state, Chris produced a sustained wind speed of 43 mph (69 km/h) at Savannah Light, though it was at an elevation of 70 feet (21 m).

[10] However, the Preliminary Report on Tropical Storm Chris indicates tides of 0.5 feet (0.15 m) at Charleston and 1 foot (0.30 m) above normal at Myrtle Beach.

Near Columbia, 1.72 inches (44 mm) of rain fell in only an hour, leaving standing water on several roads, including Interstate 26.

[14] In North Carolina, a tornado spawned in Iredell County threw a tractor-trailer into a building at an industrial park.

[16] In Mecklenburg County, Virginia, an F2 tornado spawned near Chase City damaged or destroyed ten buildings, including a mobile home, which was wrapped completely around a tree.

According to New York City Transit officials, trees also fell on tracks, which slowed transportation services during rush hour.

Wind gusts up to 40 mph (64 km/h) in Rhode Island caused scattered power outages and minor property damage, due to falling tree limbs.