The system is east-southeast of Kingston Jamaica with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph. “Only slow intensification is forecast over the next day or so, followed by more significant intensification over the weekend and into early next week,” the National Hurricane Center said. Tropical Depression Nine is forecast to head toward the Gulf of Mexico and the Florida peninsula by the middle of next week. Current models show the system strengthening into a Category 1 Hurricane Hermine early Monday. By Wednesday, models show it becoming a Category 2 hurricane over Cuba before moving toward Florida on Wednesday. RELATED: Hurricane Hermine hit Florida in 2016: Will it happen a second time? While it is still too early to know exactly where this system is headed, there is certainly a growing threat of a strong hurricane impacting the US around the middle of next week. The FOX 35 Storm team will be following it every step of the way to keep you updated. Watch Chief Meteorologist Jayme King’s forecast below:
Tropical depression 9 forms in the Atlantic. Florida in the cone of uncertainty
Tropical Depression 9 formed in the Atlantic early Friday morning and forecasters say it could strengthen into our next named storm with possible impacts in Florida. FOX 35 Storm Team Chief Meteorologist Jayme King has the forecast. If the system makes landfall in Florida as a hurricane, it would be the second time a hurricane named Hermine has hit the state. In 2016, Hurricane Hermine made landfall east of St. Marks of Florida. At the time, Hermine was the first hurricane to make landfall in Florida since Wilma on October 24, 2005. Meanwhile, the FOX 35 Storm Team is also tracking several other systems in the Atlantic.
HURRICANE FIONA
Fiona is currently northwest of Bermuda and has weakened a bit with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph. The system brings hurricane conditions to the island. “On the forecast track, the center of Fiona will pass northwest of Bermuda in the next few hours,” the NHC said. “The center of Fiona will then approach Nova Scotia later today, pass through Nova Scotia and the Gulf of St. Lawrence on Saturday, and then cross Labrador over the Labrador Sea on Sunday.” | FOX 35 Orlando Hurricane Center | Some slight weakening is forecast for Friday, however Fiona is forecast to be a large and strong post-tropical cyclone with hurricane-force winds as it approaches and moves over Nova Scotia on Friday and Saturday. Fiona Creates Rough Surf Along US East Coast Surfers and swimmers on Florida beaches should exercise caution.
TROPICAL STORM GASTON
Gaston is expected to turn southeast on Friday with tropical storm conditions affecting the westernmost islands of the Azores. The storm has maximum sustained winds of 60 mph. The NHC says the center of Gaston will move near or over parts of the Azores Friday into early Saturday. A gradual weakening is expected in the coming days.
OTHER SYSTEMS
A broad area of low pressure, located roughly between the Cape Verde Islands on the east and the west coast of Africa, is causing a large area of showers and thunderstorms. Forecasters say a tropical depression is likely to form by this weekend as the system moves north. Growth chances are at 70% in the next five days. Another area of low pressure is several hundred miles west-southwest of the Cape Verde Islands. Some slow development of this system remains possible over the next few days as it drifts northwest or north over the central tropical Atlantic. As of Friday, the chances of growth are at 30%.
