Tropical Depression Eight Updates: North Carolina Coast Outer Banks May Be Hit by Tropical Storm Hermine [MAPS, DETAILS]
Tropical Depression Eight remains a threat to the coast of North Carolina; NOAA issues tropical storm watches and notifies residents about possible weather disturbance.
A possible tropical storm is around 400 miles off the shores of North Carolina. Weather experts are on their toes as slight changes could upgrade this tropical depression into a full-blown storm. This can affect the Outer Banks Sunday night. Meanwhile, residents located near the Gulf Coast were also warned for another possible weather disturbance.
Tropical Depression Eight
Experts call the disturbance Tropical Depression Eight. According to an update from the National Hurricane Center, it has maximum sustained winds of 35 mph and is travelling westward with a speed of 9 mph. Around 5 p.m., it was spotted 355 miles southeast of Cape Hatteras.
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There are still no coastal warnings issued for the areas. However, experts suggest that those that live or have an interest in the area along the Outer Banks to watch out for weather forecasts and warnings. Should the depression progress, it will be officially called Tropical Storm Hermine.
On the other hand, Tropical Depression Nine, which has formed over the Florida Straits on Sunday afternoon, is moving towards the Gulf of Mexico. Another tropical system called Invest 99L looked like it would become more organized on Sunday. This system could bring heavy thunderstorms to the Bahamas and to Cuba, and then towards Florida on Monday.
Come Monday, the system will be moving slowly to a more conducive environment over the Gulf of Mexico, where warm water and less wind shear are found. As it strengthens, it will affect the Gulf Coast later this week. Otherwise, better weather conditions are to be expected in the area.
Other weather disturbances to watch out for
Aside from these two tropical depressions, a hurricane named Gaston is building strength as it is moving closer northward from the Atlantic. But no matter how forceful Gaston could be, weather experts say that it does not pose any threat to land.
Residents, though, were warned to be cautious from the time Gaston became a hurricane Saturday. Gaston was reported to have maximum winds of 105 mph located 600 miles east of Bermuda. It was moving at 5 mph northwest.
Gaston has hurricane-force winds of 25 miles from its center and also has tropical-storm-force winds of 140 miles from its center.
Watches and warnings for Tropical Depression Eight
According to the latest bulletin from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for Tropical Depression Eight, a tropical storm watch has been issued for the coast of North Carolina starting from Cape Lookout to the Oregon Inlet. The update was released 11 p.m. EDT, Sunday.
Additional watches may be announced Monday, while tropical storm conditions are possible to develop by Tuesday afternoon. Rain could be from one to three inches, along with isolated maximum amount of rainfall of 5 inches over far eastern North Carolina, especially the area of the Outer Banks.
The next complete advisory will be released at 5 a.m. EDT.
