Tropical Storm Humberto strengthening as Gabrielle nears Azores, Bahamas system likely to develop
Humberto could become a major hurricane this weekend while Invest 94L poses a possible threat to the Caribbean, Bahamas, and U.S.
NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - The Atlantic is active with multiple tropical systems, including Tropical Storm Humberto, which forecasters say is gaining strength and could become a major hurricane this weekend, and Hurricane Gabrielle, which is bringing dangerous conditions to the Azores.
The National Hurricane Center said Thursday that Humberto, located about 465 miles east-northeast of the northern Leeward Islands, is producing maximum sustained winds of 50 mph. It is moving northwest at 8 mph and is expected to intensify steadily.
The storm is forecast to become a hurricane within a day and a major hurricane over the central Atlantic this weekend. Humberto is not currently a threat to land but could bring impacts to Bermuda.
Meanwhile, Gabrielle is moving across the Azores under a hurricane warning. The storm has maximum sustained winds of 75 mph and is producing hurricane-force gusts, a dangerous storm surge, and destructive waves. Up to five inches of rain are possible across the central islands, raising the risk of flash flooding.
Forecasters are also monitoring Invest 94L, a tropical wave producing disorganized showers and storms across the Dominican Republic, Turks and Caicos, and the southeastern Bahamas.
The system is expected to form a low-pressure center by Friday and has a 70 percent chance of developing into a tropical depression within 48 hours. The probability rises to 90 percent over the next week as it tracks through the Bahamas. Heavy rainfall and gusty winds are likely regardless of development.
Meteorologists note that the proximity of Humberto and Invest 94L could trigger the Fujiwhara Effect, a rare interaction where two tropical systems rotate around one another, making track forecasts more complicated. In some cases, one storm weakens the other or the two combine into a stronger system.
The next name on the 2025 Atlantic hurricane list is Imelda.
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