NHC Tracking 3 Storms

Forecasters at Miami’s National Hurricane Center are having a busy week. They’re currently tracking one hurricane, Florence; one tropical storm, Gordon and one tropical depression, No. 8.

Florence passed close to Bermuda on Monday (See IJ Website, Sept. 11). High winds caused numerous power failures and some property damage, mainly to roofs, windows and some other structural damages. No loss of life or serious injuries have been reported

Florence is beginning what the NHC calls an “extratropical transition,” as the storm moves towards Canada’s Maritime Provinces. As of 11:00 a.m. AST its center was located near latitude 38.2 north/longitude 61.2 west or about 715 miles/1155 kms southwest of Cape Race Newfoundland. “Florence is moving toward the northeast near 23 mph/37 km/hr and some increase in forward speed is expected during the next 24 hours,” said the NHC. “On this track the center is expected to pass just southeast of Newfoundland during the next day or so.”

Maximum sustained winds are near 75 mph/120 km/hr – making Florence a category 1 hurricane. Little change in strength is forecast during the next 24 hours “as Florence transitions into a large extratropical cyclone,” the bulletin continued. Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 70 miles/110 kms from the center and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 415 miles/665 kms.

Tropical Storm Gordon is in the middle of the Atlantic, moving north northwestward, and currently poses “no threat to land” said the NHC. It’s located near latitude 23.4 north/longitude 58.3 west or about 490 miles/790 kms north-northeast of the Leeward Islands. Maximum sustained winds are near 60 mph/95 km/hr with higher gusts. The NHC said, “some strengthening is forecast during the next 24 hours. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 85 miles/140 kms from the center.

Tropical depression 8 has just formed over the eastern Atlantic. The center was located near latitude 12.5 north/longitude 23.0 west or about 185 miles/295 kms south-southeast of the southernmost Cape Verde Islands. It’s moving toward the west near 18 mph and the NHC said, “this general motion is expected to continue for the next 24 hours. Maximum sustained winds are near 30 mph/45 km/hr with higher gusts. Some strengthening is forecast during the next 24 hours, and the depression could become a tropical storm within the next day or so.”