Hurricane Larry forms in central Atlantic, projected to become a Category 4 storm

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Hurricane Larry has been intensifying steadily and, by Thursday afternoon, had grown slightly larger, according to the National Hurricane Center. Larry is forecast to develop rapidly into a major hurricane with top winds reaching up to 140 mph.

Larry, the fifth hurricane of the season, formed early Thursday and is expected to strengthen into a major hurricane, with winds of at least 111 mph, by late Friday, the hurricane center said. By Sunday night, its maximum sustained winds are forecast to reach 140 mph, putting it at Category 4 strength.

Larry is coalescing in the eastern central Atlantic, an area where storms tend to form during peak season, which runs mid-August through October.

It’s currently on a path west over the central Atlantic, in the general direction of the U.S. However, it is forecast to make a gradual turn to the west-northwest Friday night, before slowing in speed on Saturday, according to the hurricane center’s five-day forecast outlook. Beyond that, it’s too early to tell where it may head.

Forecasters say that conditions support rapid development.

Located roughly 660 miles off the west coast of Africa as of 11 a.m. EDT Thursday, its hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 15 miles from its center and its tropical storm-force winds extend out up to 160 miles.

If Larry develops into a major hurricane as forecast, it would be the third of the season, along with Grace, a Category 3, and Ida, a Category 4.