Last Updated Sep 8, 2018 11:27 AM EDT
MIAMI — Tropical Storm Florence is expected to strengthen to a hurricane on Saturday night, the National Hurricane Center says. “Rapid intensification” is forecast to begin on Sunday, and by Tuesday, the storm is expected to be a major hurricane.
“On the forecast track, the center of Florence will move over the southwestern Atlantic Ocean between Bermuda and the Bahamas Tuesday and Wednesday, and approach the southeastern U.S. coast on Thursday,” the center said Saturday morning in an advisory.
Florence has created swells that are affecting Bermuda, according to the National Hurricane Center. Over the weekend, swells will reach parts of the U.S. East Coast and “are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions,” it said.
NOAA
On Friday, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper declared a state of emergency. “While it’s still too early to know the storm’s path, we know we have to be prepared,” Cooper said in a news release, CBS Raleigh affiliate WNCN reported. “During harvest, time is of the essence. Action today can avoid losses due to Florence.”
Improving atmospheric conditions were expected to allow Florence to regain its former strength. The storm reached major hurricane status Wednesday, peaking with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph.
Gordon remnants to drop heavy rain
A soaking rainstorm, of which Gordon is a part, was expected to raise the risk of flooding in portions of the Ohio and middle Mississippi valleys on Saturday.
Gordon made landfall as a tropical storm on Monday and by the end of the week it was a tropical depression. Flash flood watches were in effect as of Friday night for parts of central Arkansas and Missouri into the Ohio River Valley.
“Gordon and its transition to an extra-tropical low could produce total rain accumulations of 3 to 6 inches over Missouri into the Midwest, with possible isolated maximum amounts of 10 inches through Monday. This rainfall will likely cause local flooding and flash flooding,” the National Hurricane Center said Friday night.
Tropical Storm Helene
Tropical Storm Helene formed off the coast of Africa and the Cabo Verde islands late Friday, the National Hurricane Center said. The storm is expected to bring tropical storm conditions to the Cabo Verde islands by Saturday night.
A tropical storm warning and a hurricane watch was in effect for the Cabo Verde islands of Santiago, Fogo, and Brava.
Other tropical entities in Atlantic
The Atlantic is “really heating up” with multiple tropical entities, the National Weather Service tweeted Friday night. Another low pressure system off the coast of Africa behind Florence had high chances of developing into tropical storms, forecasters said.
“Since we are near the peak of hurricane season, this is a good time for everyone who lives in a hurricane-prone area to ensure they have their hurricane plan in place,” hurricane specialist David Zelinsky wrote in a forecast advisory.
There’s also a low pressure system near Bermuda has a 10 percent chance of becoming a storm.
The Atlantic hurricane season peaks around Sept. 10 or 11.
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