No threat yet to Florida from 3 storm systems
The United States’ mainland East Coast has little to worry about from the hurricane, the tropical storm or, for now, the third system that’s in the Atlantic Ocean, according to the National Hurricane Center.
But the NHC’s Sunday updates said residents and tourists in U.S. territories Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands could have a wet and windy Monday.
HURRICANE DANIELLE
Hurricane Danielle was gradually strengthening and turning northward, according to a 5 p.m. NHC advisory on Sunday.
Danielle’s caused no hurricane watches or warnings, and the NHC’s public advisory listed no threats to land. Maximum sustained winds were at 85 mph. Hurricane-force winds extended 25 miles from the center with tropical storm force winds as far as 105 miles from the center.
The Category 1 hurricane was sitting 980 miles west of the Azores, moving north at 2 mph.
“A slightly faster northeastward motion is forecast to begin [Sunday night] and continue during the next couple of days,” the advisory said.
Over the next few days, Danielle is projected to head northeast.
TROPICAL STORM EARL
The NHC advised folks in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the northern Leeward Islands and Bermuda to check on where Tropical Storm Earl is headed because Earl was expected to drop 3 to 5 inches of rain across those lands — and 8 inches in some places — on Sunday.
“Limited flash, urban, and small stream flooding impacts are possible,” the NHC said. “Rapid rises on rivers and mudslides in areas of steep terrain are also possible, especially across the central interior region of Puerto Rico.”
National Weather Service San Juan had warned Puerto Ricans about heavy rains, mudslides and lifethreatening flash flooding of streams, highways and streets.
The NWS was urging the public to avoid traveling on flooded roads.
Earl was about 110 miles north of St. Thomas, moving slowly northwest at 5 mph at 50 mph with higher gusts, according to a 5 p.m NHC advisory on Sunday. Tropical storm force winds extended 105 miles from Earl’s center.
“Slow strengthening is forecast over the next several days, and Earl could become a hurricane later this week,” the advisory said.
Earl was expected to turn north-northwest Monday and north-northeastward later this week.
DISTURBANCE NO. 1
A tropical wave just came off the west coast of Africa. It has a 20% chance of formation over the next five days and is expected to move in a west-northwest direction.