Tropical storm forming 300 miles off Outer Banks. Here are the latest predictions
Two storms are brewing in the Atlantic, including one forming off North Carolina’s Outer Banks that began producing winds near tropical force levels Monday afternoon, forecasters say.
That storm, which has yet to earn a name, is currently “an elongated area of low pressure centered about 300 miles south-southeast of Cape Hatteras,” the National Hurricane Center said.
It’s gaining strength faster than initially expected, but remains forecast to stay offshore as it moves northeast. Still, the National Hurricane Center is cautioning both Carolinas to “continue to monitor the progress of this system.”
“Recent satellite wind data indicate that the low pressure area... has become better defined since yesterday, and is producing winds to near tropical storm force well southeast of its center,” according to a Monday afternoon update from the National Hurricane Center.
“The associated thunderstorm activity is also showing signs of organization. Conditions appear conducive for additional development, and a tropical or subtropical cyclone is likely to form later today (Monday) while the system moves slowly northeastward well offshore of the United States east coast.
Locally heavy rains are possible across Southeastern coast as the storm passes, says the National Weather Service.
The Weather Channel says the system could also “generate swells that could lead to rip currents and high surf along parts of the Eastern Seaboard early this week.”
There’s an 90 percent chance the system will take on the form of a tropical storm in the next 48 hours, the National Weather Service said.
The second storm, Tropical Storm Dorian, is still southwest of Cuba and moving west with sustained winds in the 60 mph range, according to the hurricane center.
Monday afternoon, the center’s mapping forecast the storm would likely reach the Miami area late Friday, with the potential of going north along the East Coast.
“Most models drop Dorian below (tropical storm) strength quickly by Friday, but differ greatly on where the remnants go for the weekend,” reported the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.
Current advisories for Dorian predict 3 to 8 inches of rain on nearby Caribbean islands “with isolated totals as high as 10 inches,” the National Hurricane Center said.
“The risk of direct impacts from wind and rainfall has increased for Puerto Rico and Hispaniola,” said a Monday afternoon update. “Any potential impacts from Dorian in the Bahamas and Florida later this week are highly uncertain, given the potential for the system to interact with high terrain of Hispaniola.”
This story was originally published August 26, 2019 at 7:18 AM.