Beryl expected to regain tropical storm status Beryl expected to regain tropical storm status - Weather Beryl flood threat means shorter school day for some System expected to regain tropical storm status before heading out to sea Tropical Depression Beryl was expected to return to storm status as it heads out to sea -- and after dumping up to six inches of rain Wednesday from eastern North Carolina to southeast Virginia. In North Carolina, many schools along the coast decided to shorten the school day by several hours Wednesday because of the flood threat, NBC affiliate WNCN-TV reported. Beryl sloshed ashore near Jacksonville, Fla., on Memorial Day as a tropical storm but was a tropical depression Wednesday morning with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph. While expected to strengthen later Wednesday, any tropical storm-force winds will be offshore, the National Hurricane Center stated Wednesday. Beryl is the second named tropical system of the 2012 Atlantic Hurricane season that doesn't officially begin until Friday. Beryl dumped 10 inches of rain in Sewanee County, Fla., while nearby areas wound up with 3 to 6 inches. See more weather news on msnbc.com Forecasters had predicted that up to 4 inches could fall on parts of South Carolina on Tuesday, although dry air began to wrap into the system in Georgia and by late in the day, the forecast called for only about 2 inches of new rain. Rain would be welcome along the South Carolina coast after what has been a warm winter and dry spring. Rainfall in the Charleston area is about 4 inches below normal for the year. Reports from the National Weather Service indicated that damage from Beryl seemed confined to downed trees and branches. One person, an 18-year-old who went swimming off Daytona Beach on Monday evening, died in the rough surf.