Share and Follow
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Hurricane Humberto has strengthened into a Category 5. Meanwhile, Tropical Depression Nine is expected to strengthen into a tropical storm Saturday night or early Sunday. Heavy rains continue over portions of eastern Cuba and the Bahamas.
National Hurricane Center predicts that the storm will begin picking up speed on Monday as it starts turning to the northwest and then to the north later in the day. Hurricane-force winds extend 25 miles from the center, and tropical storm-force winds extend up to 105 miles.
While the hurricane isn’t expected to make landfall, it will likely bring large swells and strong rip currents to parts of the Caribbean and the Southeast U.S.
NHC is also keeping an eye on a tropical depression that’s expected to strengthen into a hurricane on Monday. The storm, currently referred to as Tropical Depression Nine, is around 180 miles northwest of the eastern tip of Cuba and is moving northwest at 6 mph. Eastern Cuba and the Bahamas are expected to get significant rainfall over the next few days, and some areas are already under a tropical storm warning.
A tropical storm watch has been issued for the Atlantic Coast of Florida from Martin County up to Flagler County.
Tropical Depression Nine is expected to continue moving north-northwest through the weekend and approach the Southeast U.S. early next week. While maximum sustained winds are only around 35 mph, NHC said it’s expected to become a hurricane by late Monday. If it does develop into a hurricane, it would be Hurricane Imelda.
The Southeast should prepare for potential heavy rainfall or storm surge early next week that could cause severe flooding in some areas. Chances of formation for this storm are very high, at 90 percent over the next 48 hours and over the next seven days.