Hurricane Nigel strengthens, and disturbances — one near Florida — on the tracking map
.png "The National Hurricane Center was monitoring Hurricane Nigel in the Atlantic Ocean and two other disturbances on Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023.")
A disturbance near Florida is forecast to impact parts of the state while another with a high chance of formation will soon move off Africa’s west coast. Meanwhile, Hurricane Nigel roams freely in open Atlantic Ocean waters.
Where are they headed? Which parts of Florida are expected to be affected and when?
Here’s what the National Hurricane Center said in its latest advisories.
What’s up with the system near Florida?
A non-tropical area of low pressure is forecast to form east of the Florida Peninsula late this week, the hurricane center said in its 8 p.m. Tuesday advisory.
“This system could acquire some subtropical characteristics this weekend while it moves generally northward,” the hurricane center said. “Regardless of development, this low is likely to bring gusty winds, heavy rain, and high surf to portions of the Southeast and mid-Atlantic United States late this week and into this weekend.”
Beginning Thursday, this disturbance could cause hazardous marine conditions, rough surf, rip currents, beach erosion, gusty winds and heavy rain to portions of east central Florida, particularly along the coast near and north of Cape Canaveral, according to the National Weather Service in Melbourne.
▪ Formation chance through 48 hours: near zero.
▪ Formation chance through 7 days: 30%.
What about the disturbance in Africa?
A tropical wave is expected to move off the west coast of Africa by Wednesday, the hurricane center said in its 8 p.m. Tuesday advisory.
“Environmental conditions are forecast to be conducive for gradual development of the wave thereafter, and a tropical depression is likely to form late this week or this weekend while the system moves generally westward at 10 to 15 mph across the eastern and central tropical Atlantic,” the hurricane center said.
▪ Formation chance through 48 hours: near zero.
▪ Formation chance through 7 days: 70%.
Hurricane Nigel to strengthen
Nigel’s wind continues to strengthen as the storm slowed down after becoming a hurricane Monday. It’s maximum sustained winds are now near 100 mph, according to the hurricane center’s 5 p.m. advisory.
The hurricane was about 590 miles east of Bermuda, moving north-northwest at 14 mph.
“A turn toward the north is expected tonight, followed by an acceleration toward the northeast through the rest of the week,” the hurricane center said.
The hurricane center says Nigel could get stronger through early Wednesday, but it will likely start to weaken Thursday and Friday.
No watches or warnings have been issued.
This story was originally published September 18, 2023 at 8:49 PM.
