Hurricane Humberto is a powerful Category 4 hurricane and could become a Category 5 storm in the SW Atlantic. It will not impact land in the near term, but could bring some impacts to Bermuda next week.
Though Humberto will stay far away from the United States, its proximity to what is expected to be Imelda will be very important.
Potential Tropical Cyclone 9 (likely to be named Imelda Saturday or Sunday) is slowly organizing over the southeast Bahamas.
PTC9 will lift northward and gradually strengthen as it parallels the Florida peninsula. The core of any storm is forecast to remain well offshore the Florida peninsula, but it will be close enough to produce large, dangerous waves at all beaches, a very high risk of rip currents, gusty winds at the beaches (likely 25-40 mph), and a few quick-moving showers late Sunday through Tuesday. Wind and rain potential will drop dramatically the more inland you go.
The endgame of future Imelda is very much in question. Scenarios still exist where the storm stalls offshore the southeast and Humberto drags it sharply east and away, or the storm is able to make a landfall (likely in SC) if Humberto can’t catch it in time, or a mix of the two, which would still bring some form of impact to the SC coast. The hope is for that to become clearer on Saturday once a well-defined center forms and additional hurricane hunter data is ingested into the models.
Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine (formerly Invest 94L) has become better organized and is expected to become a tropical storm, according to the National Hurricane Center.
The storm’s track continues to fluctuate, but impacts to the Wilmington area are likely. Local officials are urging residents to prepare now for tropical weather conditions as early as Monday, Sept. 29.
As of 5 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, the storm was located about 155 miles northwest of the eastern tip of Cuba and about 115 miles south of the central Bahamas. Maximum sustained winds had reached 35 mph, and the storm was moving at 7 mph.
A north-northwestward motion is expected to begin later Saturday and continue through Monday. On the forecast track, the center of the system is expected to move across the central and northwestern Bahamas this weekend and approach the Southeast United States coast early next week, the hurricane center said.
The track of Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine remains uncertain as of Saturday morning.
Meanwhile, Humberto remains a major hurricane, but it doesn’t pose any direct threats to the United States.
No coastal watches or warnings were in effect for the North Carolina coast as of Saturday morning.
While it’s too early to predict what direct impacts Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine could have on Wilmington, the Wilmington-area is in the cone of uncertainty.
A cold front is expected to bring rain and storms this weekend, according to the National Weather Service in Wilmington.
Here’s a look at the possible impacts from Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine, according to the National Weather Service in Wilmington. Impacts are expected Monday into Tuesday with more effects possible later next week as well.
Wind
Tropical storm force winds could cause some downed trees and power outages across portions of Northeast South Carolina and Southeast North Carolina, especially along the coast.
Rain
Rainfall amounts from PTC #9 are expected to range from 4 to 6 inches on average. Amounts up to 8 to 10 inches are possible, however, especially if the storm stalls off the coast.
North Carolina weather radar
Storm Surge
Storm surge could lead to flooding in low-lying areas along the oceanfront, near inlets, waterways, and tidal creek areas. Significant erosion is possible at some beaches.
Flooding
Flash flooding could make roads impassable or create washouts in Northeast South Carolina and Southeast North Carolina.
Tornados
Isolated tornadoes could cause downed trees and structural damage.
Marine and surf hazards
Hazardous winds and seas, rough surf and life-threatening rip currents are possible in the Atlantic waters out 20 nautical miles and all area beaches.
With the track and intensity of Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine uncertain, officials are urging residents to be prepared. Now is the time to check your hurricane supplies and make sure your home is secured against tropical weather.
Spaghetti models for Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine
What are rip currents?
According to the U.S. Lifesaving Association, rip currents are channelized currents of water flowing away from shore at surf beaches. Often these currents move swimmers far from shore before they realize it, taking them into deeper water. This can cause fear and distress as the swimmers attempt to make it back to shore.
How to identify a rip current
Rip currents can be difficult to spot, but beachgoers should look for water that is darker in color, choppy and leaves a break in the incoming wave pattern. They form at low spots or breaks in sandbars, piling up water between the breaking waves and the beach. The water returns to sea through the rip current. Another clue may be a line of foam, seaweed or debris moving seaward.
What to do in a rip current
If you find yourself caught in a rip current, do not swim against the current.
While it may be difficult to do, the U.S. Lifesaving Association says swimmers should “relax,” noting the rip current will not pull them under. Swimmers should try swimming out of the current in a direction following the shoreline, or toward breaking waves, then at an angle toward the beach.
The U.S. Lifesaving Association notes if the current circulates back toward the shore, floating or treading water may be a good way to get out of the current.
Finally, if you feel you are unable to reach shore, draw attention to yourself by yelling for help and waving to those on the shore.
Sherry Jones is the StarNews executive editor. You can reach her at sjones1@gannett.com.
SC governor declares state of emergency as tropical system takes aim at coast
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster declared a state of emergency Friday, ahead of a tropical system that will impact the Carolinas.
The storm, which is now called Potential Tropical Cyclone 9, was off the coast of Cuba Friday. It is expected to gain strength and turn into a tropical depression called Imelda early this weekend.
>> Watch the forecast video at the top of this webpage for the latest track on the storm.
The “cone”, issued by the National Hurricane Center, shows the storm turning into a hurricane and making landfall anywhere between Florida and the North Carolina coast.
It will impact the Carolinas either way.
It looks like it will be a rainmaker for the Charlotte area starting Monday night or Tuesday morning. The storm could bring strong winds and possible severe weather.
There is still uncertainty but as the storm moves closer to shore, our meteorologists will have a better idea of what to expect.
The governor’s order activates the South Carolina Emergency Operations Plan and directs the South Carolina Emergency Management Division to prepare and coordinate procedures with all relevant local, state, and federal agencies in advance of the landfall of a potential tropical storm or hurricane. The order also allows state and local emergency management agencies to be eligible for Federal Emergency Management Agency reimbursement for storm-related expenses.
“As this storm approaches our coast, I am issuing a State of Emergency to ensure Team South Carolina is able to access and deploy the resources and personnel needed to prepare for and respond to this storm,” said McMaster Friday in a news release. “While the storm’s arrival, speed, and intensity remain hard to predict, we do know that it will bring significant wind, heavy rainfall, and flooding across the ENTIRE state of South Carolina. We have seen this before. Now is the time to start paying attention to forecasts, updates, and alerts from official sources and begin making preparations.”
VIDEO: ‘Changed a lot’: Fishing guide says Helene recovery is impacting ecosystems
Video above: Latest on Tropical Depression 18With less than a month of hurricane season left, the National Hurricane Center is monitoring multiple areas with tropical potential. Here’s the latest on Tropical Depression 18 and more. Tropical Depression 18Tropical Depression, which was upgraded from Potential Tropical Cyclone 18 on Monday morning, is currently strengthening in the western Caribbean Sea. The NHC expects this system to become a tropical storm Monday, named Rafael.Click here for the latest.Tropical Storm Patty Currently located over the northeastern Atlantic Ocean, the NHC says Tropical Storm Patty is quickly losing its tropical characteristics.Patty is expected to become a post-tropical cyclone late Monday. There are currently no impacts to land in the United States as the system continues to quickly move east north-east.Area of interest in the southwestern AtlanticWhile nothing has formed so far, the NHC says an area of low pressure could form near the northern Leeward Islands in the next few days.After that, the system could develop slowly as it moves generally westward over the southwestern Atlantic. It’s too early to know exactly where this system may head or how strong it will become, but the NHC says formation chances are low for now. Models will become more accurate when or if the low actually forms. Formation chance in the next 48 hours: near 0%Formation chance in the next seven days: 20%> Related: November hurricanes are pretty rare in Florida. See a map of all past landfalls> Related: WESH 2 Hurricane Survival Guide 2024First Warning WeatherStay with WESH 2 online and on air for the most accurate Central Florida weather forecast.RadarSevere Weather AlertsDownload the WESH 2 News app to get the most up-to-date weather alerts.The First Warning Weather team includes First Warning Chief Meteorologist Tony Mainolfi, Eric Burris, Kellianne Klass, Marquise Meda and Cam Tran.
ORLANDO, Fla. —
Video above: Latest on Tropical Depression 18
With less than a month of hurricane season left, the National Hurricane Center is monitoring multiple areas with tropical potential.
Here’s the latest on Tropical Depression 18 and more.
Tropical Depression 18
Tropical Depression, which was upgraded from Potential Tropical Cyclone 18 on Monday morning, is currently strengthening in the western Caribbean Sea. The NHC expects this system to become a tropical storm Monday, named Rafael.
Currently located over the northeastern Atlantic Ocean, the NHC says Tropical Storm Patty is quickly losing its tropical characteristics.
Patty is expected to become a post-tropical cyclone late Monday. There are currently no impacts to land in the United States as the system continues to quickly move east north-east.
Area of interest in the southwestern Atlantic
While nothing has formed so far, the NHC says an area of low pressure could form near the northern Leeward Islands in the next few days.
After that, the system could develop slowly as it moves generally westward over the southwestern Atlantic. It’s too early to know exactly where this system may head or how strong it will become, but the NHC says formation chances are low for now.
Models will become more accurate when or if the low actually forms.
With less than a month of hurricane season left, the National Hurricane Center is monitoring multiple areas with tropical potential. Here’s the latest on Potential Tropical Cyclone 18 and more. Potential Tropical Cyclone 18PTC 18 is currently strengthening in the western Caribbean Sea. The NHC expects this system to become a tropical storm Monday, named Rafael.Click here for the latest.Tropical Storm Patty Currently located over the northeastern Atlantic Ocean, the NHC says Tropical Storm Patty is quickly losing its tropical characteristics.Patty is expected to become a post-tropical cyclone late Monday. There are currently no impacts to land in the United States as the system continues to quickly move east north-east.Area of interest in the southwestern AtlanticWhile nothing has formed so far, the NHC says an area of low pressure could form near the northern Leeward Islands in the next few days.After that, the system could develop slowly as it moves generally westward over the southwestern Atlantic. It’s too early to know exactly where this system may head or how strong it will become, but the NHC says formation chances are low for now. Models will become more accurate when or if the low actually forms. Formation chance in the next 48 hours: near 0%Formation chance in the next seven days: 20%> Related: November hurricanes are pretty rare in Florida. See a map of all past landfalls> Related: WESH 2 Hurricane Survival Guide 2024First Warning WeatherStay with WESH 2 online and on air for the most accurate Central Florida weather forecast.RadarSevere Weather AlertsDownload the WESH 2 News app to get the most up-to-date weather alerts.The First Warning Weather team includes First Warning Chief Meteorologist Tony Mainolfi, Eric Burris, Kellianne Klass, Marquise Meda and Cam Tran.
ORLANDO, Fla. —
With less than a month of hurricane season left, the National Hurricane Center is monitoring multiple areas with tropical potential.
Here’s the latest on Potential Tropical Cyclone 18 and more.
Potential Tropical Cyclone 18
PTC 18 is currently strengthening in the western Caribbean Sea. The NHC expects this system to become a tropical storm Monday, named Rafael.
Currently located over the northeastern Atlantic Ocean, the NHC says Tropical Storm Patty is quickly losing its tropical characteristics.
Patty is expected to become a post-tropical cyclone late Monday. There are currently no impacts to land in the United States as the system continues to quickly move east north-east.
Area of interest in the southwestern Atlantic
While nothing has formed so far, the NHC says an area of low pressure could form near the northern Leeward Islands in the next few days.
After that, the system could develop slowly as it moves generally westward over the southwestern Atlantic. It’s too early to know exactly where this system may head or how strong it will become, but the NHC says formation chances are low for now.
Models will become more accurate when or if the low actually forms.
