The National Hurricane Center is watching an area of low pressure for the possibility of a tropical storm forming near the U.S. east coast. Right now, they are calling it Potential Tropical Cyclone 16. 

The disturbance is producing 35 MPH winds with higher gusts, and further strengthening is expected during the next day or two. Previously, the system was expected to stay sub-tropical, but the latest forecast has it now becoming a tropical storm before approaching the Mid-Atlantic coast. If the storm does form, it will take the name Ophelia.

A north-northwestward motion is forecast through the weekend, with the system approaching North Carolina’s coast Friday night or early Saturday. A tropical storm warning has been issued from Cape Fear, NC to Fenwick Island, DE. A storm surge watch has been issued from Surf City, NC, to Chincoteague, VA, along with portions of Chesapeake Bay.

Tropical storm conditions are expected to reach the North Carolina coast on Friday and spread northward through Saturday. 

Swells generated by the system will affect much of the East Coast, causing life-threatening surf and rip currents through the weekend. SWFL will receive no direct impacts from the system.

Hurricane Nigel

Hurricane Nigel still maintains hurricane-force winds with 85 MPH sustained winds and higher gusts. It is moving swiftly at 30 MPH to the northeast and is forecast to weaken to a tropical storm by Friday. No land will be affected by Nigel.

Other areas to watch

A tropical wave has moved off the west coast of Africa and near the Cabo Verde Islands. Gradual development is likely as it moves west across the eastern and central tropical Atlantic. It could become a tropical depression late this week or weekend. It is still a ways out, but the latest models are suggesting it will eventually curve toward the northeast before reaching the United States. We will keep an eye out, but as of now, none of these disturbances are expected to be a threat to SWFL.