Tropical storm warnings have been issued for portions of the mid-Atlantic from North Carolina through Virginia for the weekend, the National Hurricane Center announced Thursday, as the latest threat in this year’s Atlantic storm season—-potentially the 16th named storm—could bring heavy rain, strong winds and “life-threatening” rip currents.
The National Hurricane Center warned of the potential for a “life-threatening” storm surge from ... [+]
An area of low pressure currently off of the Southeastern U.S. coast is expected to develop into a tropical storm by Friday, the National Hurricane Center said, with the potential of a “life-threatening storm surge” from Surf City, North Carolina, to Chincoteague, Virginia.
The National Hurricane Center estimated there is a 60% chance of the low-pressure area becoming a tropical storm in the next 48 hours and a 60% chance over the next seven days.
Tropical storm conditions—including winds upward of 40 miles per hour and heavy rain—are expected for portions of the mid-Atlantic coasts beginning on Friday and continuing through Saturday, the center said.
Heavy rainfall could cause flooding in urban areas across the mid-Atlantic between North Carolina and New Jersey starting Friday through Sunday.
The National Weather Service in Morehead City, North Carolina, warned of “life-threatening” rip currents off of North Carolina’s coast, from North Topsail Beach to Duck, North Carolina.
The National Hurricane Center is tracking two other tropical storms, including Hurricane Nigel and a tropical wave off the western coast of Africa. Nigel—a Category 1 storm—is several hundred miles east of Maine and is not expected to make landfall, while the tropical wave is moving west with a more than 60% chance of becoming a tropical storm, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Depending on when the storm develops into a tropical or subtropical storm, it will be called either Ophelia or Phillippe.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecast 14 to 21 named storms for this year amid “record-warm” surface temperatures in the Atlantic. There have already been 14 other named storms this year, including six hurricanes and three major hurricanes. An average Atlantic hurricane season—between June 1 and November 30—is 14 named storms, according to the National Hurricane Center. Hurricane Nigel is the latest named storm, after Hurricane Lee brought heavy rain and coastal flooding to parts of eastern Canada and Maine.
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