Hurricane Florence weakened to a tropical storm late Thursday as it encountered wind shear along its path. That wind shear is expected to dissipate as the storm moves into an area more favorable for strengthening this weekend. The National Hurricane Center predicts Florence will become a major hurricane, a category 3 or stronger storm, again by early next week.

  • Florence should regain hurricane strength by the weekend.
  • Storm will bring rip current dangers to the NC coast.
  • All residents along the U.S. East Coast are encouraged to monitor forecast updates this weekend.

Even though Florence is currently just under a 1,000 miles east-southeast of Bermuda, swells from the storm are expected to reach the East Coast including North Carolina as early as this weekend. That will increase the risk for dangerous rip currents along all of the state's beaches starting Saturday. Beach goers are strongly encouraged to stay out of the water this weekend and next week, as these rip currents could pull even experienced swimmers away from shore.

Florence is forecast to take a westerly path through the weekend and into early next week as it strengthens. The latest outlook from the National Hurricane Center brings the storm south of Bermuda Tuesday.

Beyond Tuesday, the forecast track becomes more uncertain.  However, some computer models bring the storm dangerously close to the U.S. East Coast by late next week.  Forecasters with the National Hurricane Center are encouraging all residents along and near the coast to have a hurricane plan and monitor the latest forecasts closely over the next several days.

Computer model forecasts for Florence.
Computer model forecasts for Florence.

Two other tropical systems could join Florence in the Atlantic over the next few days.  Two disturbances that have moved off the coast of Africa this week both have a high likelihood of becoming tropical depressions or storms over the weekend. They would be named Helene and Isaac.

Tropical satellite near the coast of Africa.

For the latest on the tropics, stay tuned to Spectrum News for our tropical updates at :21 after every hour.

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