It looks to be a long weekend for the National Hurricane Center, with a possible growing threat from Florence, two tropical depressions and another area of interest off the East Coast.
Florence remained a tropical storm Friday afternoon, but shows signs of intensifying back into a hurricane, and with the storm entering an area of warm water and weakening shear, there is a fear Florence could once again become a major hurricane (category 3 or higher) off the U.S. East Coast.
The most immediate impact for Bermuda and eastern states are large swells that can produce life-threatening surf and rip currents.
"The risk of other direct impacts associated with Florence along the U.S. East Coast next week has increased. However, there is still very large uncertainty in model forecasts of Florence's track beyond day 5, making it too soon to determine the exact location, magnitude, and timing of these impacts," said the Friday afternoon discussion on Florence from the National Hurricane Center. "Interests near and along the U.S. East Coast should monitor the progress of Florence through the weekend and ensure they have their hurricane plans in place."
Further out in the Atlantic, Tropical Depression Eight has formed off the coast of Africa and is close to becoming Tropical Storm Helene. Tropical storm warnings are in effect for the southern Cabo Verde Islands. The system could be a hurricane by Monday.
Tropical Depression Nine is actually west of Tropical Depression Eight, as the now-former tropical wave took a little longer to come together. Forecasters think this could be Tropical Storm Issac by the end of the weekend.
Forecasters are also watching an area of disorganized showers and storms over the western Atlantic. It has a low chance of development over the next five days.