A new hurricane has formed, the third of the current hurricane season, and its projected path includes the East Coast of the United States.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Hurricane Center issued an alert early on Wednesday, Sept. 5 announcing Hurricane Florence and stating that it was moving over the “open Atlantic.”
Weather experts at the center forecast a gradual weakening trend through Friday but a restrengthening through the weekend.
The current projected path will take the hurricane close to Bermuda by Monday and on a collision course with the East Coast.
‘Very Concerning’
Meteorologist Ryan Maue called the latest change in the Florence model a “very concerning shift.”
“Must now seriously consider this storm a U.S. landfall threat. Still considerable uncertainty about a possible/hopeful turn away from the coast out to sea,” he added on Twitter.
Michael Ventrice, another meteorologist, said that Florence “is looking impressive this morning on satellite imagery.”
“The storm is clocked in a Category 2 hurricane, with good odds to become a major hurricane over the course of its life. This storm should be closely monitored for U.S. impacts,” he said.
“Too soon to know if #Florence will affect the East Coast of the U.S., but seeing trends in models that tell us we need to keep an eye on it,” added Joanne Feldman, another meteorologist. “Not guaranteed to curve away from east coast.”
Very concerning shift in the EPS ensemble guidance with Hurricane #Florence … must now seriously consider this storm a U.S. landfall threat.
Still considerable uncertainty about a possible / hopeful turn away from the coast out to sea.
Continue to monitor thru the weekend. pic.twitter.com/m692qfL48s
— Ryan Maue | weathermodels.com (@RyanMaue) September 5, 2018
Hurricane #Florence is looking impressive this morning on satellite imagery. The storm is clocked in a Category 2 Hurricane, with good odds to become a Major Hurricane over the course of its life. This storm should be closely monitored for U.S. impacts. pic.twitter.com/Yp6bnEEEHA
— Michael Ventrice (@MJVentrice) September 5, 2018
Too soon to know if #Florence will affect the east coast of the U.S., but seeing trends in models that tell us we need to keep an eye on it. Not guaranteed to curve away from east coast. Over central Atlantic now…plenty of time to watch @GoodDayAtlanta pic.twitter.com/SCNn73GHGt
— Joanne Feldman FOX 5 (@JoanneFOX5) September 5, 2018
According to AccuWeather, one scenario for Florence would take it primarily north, possibly missing the United States entirely as it would curve away from the coast and toward Iceland.
A second scenario would have it on its current projected path, slamming into Bermuda before continuing on to the East Coast.
“With the path of Florence still wide open and signs of more tropical development over the eastern Atlantic in the days leading up to the peak of hurricane season, all residents in hurricane-prone areas should take the time now to review hurricane preparedness tips,” the weather website stated.
Gordon Update
Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Gordon has been weakening as it moves further inland, according to the National Hurricane Center. Gordon has already left at least one person dead.
However, it is still causing heavy rains and flooding in some areas.
It was about 20 miles northwest of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, early Wednesday.
The maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 40 miles per hour, although some winds of up to 60 miles per hour have still been recorded.
“Gordon is expected to produce total rain accumulations of four to eight inches over the western Florida Panhandle, southwest Alabama, southern and central Mississippi, northeastern Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, southern Iowa and Illinois, with isolated maximum amounts of 12 inches through early Saturday,” the center stated.
“This rainfall will cause flash flooding across portions of these areas,” it added.
