We've got a full Hurricane season alert as the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans are really getting very super active. From Gaston to Hermine to Lionrock to Invests to African Tropical Waves. We've got 5 systems predicted to make landfall in the next 5 days. Be aware. God bless everyone, Stay Cool. T @newTHOR on twitter https://www.facebook.com/thornewsgo A hurricane churning in the Atlantic Ocean strengthened Sunday as a separate system threatened to dump rain on Florida, sparking fears about standing water amid a battle against Zika virus. Hurricane Gaston was around 600 miles east of Bermuda and was moving northwest at 5 mph as of 11 a.m. Sunday, the National Hurricane Center said. It had maximum sustained winds of 105 mph. The hurricane had previously weakened to a tropical storm before regaining strength Saturday. Forecasters expect the hurricane to slow down and swing north by Monday, and there are no warnings issued for land. Meanwhile, a storm system in the Caribbean was producing showers and storms in Cuba but could bring rain to Florida through Wednesday — something that could cause standing water to collect and add a challenge to the state's efforts to combat the mosquito-borne Zika virus, officials said. The low pressure system could bring rain to southern Florida and the Florida Keys by Sunday, forecasters said. The National Weather Service posted a hurricane watch for Hawaii island as Madeline strengthened into a major category 3 storm on its approach to Hawaii. Madeline had maximum sustained winds of 115 mph and was centered 600 miles east of Hilo and 800 miles east-southeast of Honolulu moving west-northwest at 10 mph at 2 p.m. Hurricane-force winds extend 30 miles from the center and tropical storm-force winds go out 115 miles from the center. A hurricane watch means hurricane conditions are possible on Hawaii island in the next 48 hours. “Impacts from Madeline are becoming increasingly likely over portions of the state, including the possibility of damaging winds and flooding,” forecasters said. “It is important for those in the State of Hawaii to not focus too closely on the exact forecast track of Madeline. With an average forecast track error of about 85 to 150 miles in the 48 to 72 hour time range, it is still too soon to say with certainty which islands could be directly impacted. It is also important to note that significant impacts can extend well away from the center of a tropical cyclone.” A flash flood watch is also posted for Hawaii island Wednesday and Thursday because of the threat of flooding rainfall. On its current track, Madeline is expected to pass south or over Hawaii island on Wednesday at hurricane strength. Madeline is likely to bring strong waves, winds and rains to Hawaii island and possibly Maui through Thursday. Forecasters expect humidity to increase and an increase in showers starting Tuesday as tropical moisture ahead of Madeline reaches the state. Surf on east shores is also expected to rise and could build to 8 to 12 feet on Tuesday and 15 to 25 feet on Wednesday on Hawaii island. The weather service estimates Hilo has a 7 percent chance of seeing hurricane-force winds and a 37 percent chance of tropical storm-force winds. South Point has a 13 percent chance of hurricane-force winds and Kona has a 4 percent chance. The chance of tropical storm-force winds at South Point is 50 percent and Kailua Kona’s chance of getting tropical storm-force winds is 50 percent. The storm’s impact on other islands is still uncertain. “We’re still going to get an increase in wind speeds. If it takes the northerly track you’ll get an increased chance of wind, surf and an increased chance of rain and flooding for Oahu,” said Chevy Chevalier, a meteorologist with the Honolulu office of the National Weather Service. Effects on Oahu and Kauai will be less if the storm takes a southerly route. Tropical Depression Eight may be a nuisance to your last-minute summer getaway to the Outer Banks of North Carolina the next few days. A tropical storm warning has been issued for portions of the Outer Banks of North Carolina. This means tropical storm-force winds are possible within the warning area in the next 24 hours or less. T.D. Eight is forecast to strengthen into a tropical storm as wind shear slackens some and the atmosphere becomes more moist. As the forecast path from the National Hurricane Center shows, this system will track to near the Outer Banks of North Carolina by Tuesday. Thereafter, a cold front will move across the Northeast and will likely whisk it away from the rest of the East Coast. This system is not expected to become very strong as far as winds go, but could be a tropical storm as it passes near the Outer Banks on Tuesday.

• published: 30 Aug 2016
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