Two areas to watch in the Atlantic Basin

There is a high chance for a tropical depression to form today or Sunday with Invest 90L just shy of reaching that status. Hurricane Hunters are set to fly into the area Saturday afternoon to get the latest data on this disturbance.

This broad low pressure system is 500 miles south-southeast of Bermuda and strong steering is still in place to guide the storm away from the U.S. with a north to northeast track.

Bermuda is just west of where models take Invest 90L in the next few days. Watches could be required for the island as the storm looks like it could make a close pass before curving more northeast.

Invest 90L could become Fernand as things are favorable for additional development in the coming days. 39+ mph winds are needed for it to become Tropical Storm Fernand.

The other disturbance, Invest 99L, is about 800 miles east of the Windward Islands. It only has a 20% chance to form as it moves west.

Locally heavy rain and gusty winds are possible for the islands Sunday into Monday as the disorganized area of storms moves through.

Hurricane Erin passing off Florida’s East Coast

Category 2 Hurricane Erin is bringing rough beach conditions as the storm’s center is passing about 500 miles off Jacksonville Beach.

High Surf Advisory includes almost all of Florida’s East Coast through Thursday night with breaking waves between 5 and 10 feet, and up to 8′ waves further south to Saint Lucie/West Palm.

Dangerous rip currents will be possible into this weekend as well – High Rip Current risk through Friday night.

Hurricane Erin is moving north-northwest at a faster clip than yesterday. It remains a healthy Category 2 storm with a slight drop in sustained winds, still maintaining 100 mph winds down from 105 mph.

Erin pulls away from Florida Thursday, passing off the Outer Banks of North Carolina, before curving NE out to sea. It will brush by the coasts of NC and Virginia where new advisories are up today.

Here’s a look at advisories in effect from Hurricane Erin:

Storm Surge Warning:

  • Cape Lookout to Duck, North Carolina

Tropical Storm Warning:

  • Beaufort Inlet, NC to the North Carolina/Virginia border, including Pamlico and Albemarle sounds

Tropical Storm Watch:

  • North of the North Carolina/Virginia border to Chincoteague, Virginia
  • Bermuda

With a storm this large, it will take some time for the ocean to settle down and there will still be choppy conditions this weekend as Erin moves north and northeast.