As of 11 a.m. Monday, the tropical depression was about 200 miles southeast of Cape Hatteras’ beaches and moving to the northeast. Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 115 miles per hour (185 kph) with higher gusts. Pat McCrory reminded coastal residents to keep a close eye on the weather. Locally – the effects are already being made with an increased swell and a higher risk of rip currents. A system off the North Carolina coast, now known as Tropical Depression Eight, is in competition with Tropical Depression Nine to become the next tropical storm. He urged residents to discuss their emergency plans and update supply kits.
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Spells of heavy downpours will be possible in Southwest Florida the next several days as Tropical Depression 9 continues moving further into the Gulf of Mexico.
Meanwhile, another tropical depression that formed west of Bermuda is moving toward the coast of North Carolina. Maximum winds were 35 miles per hour, just shy of the 39 miles per hour wind required to be considered a tropical storm.
A tropical storm watch was in effect on Monday from Cape Lookout to Oregon Inlet along the North Carolina coastline.
Forecasters have issued a tropical storm warning for a long stretch of North Carolina’s Outer Banks.
According to AccuWeather meteorologists, Tropical Depression Nine, previously known as 99L, is on path to turn toward the northeastern Gulf Coast later this week.
The next tropical storm names in the Atlantic are Hermine and Ian.
NASA’s Aqua satellite passed over Hurricane Gaston as it was strengthening into a major hurricane, nearly 600 miles away from Bermuda in the Atlantic Ocean. That depression is expected to become a tropical storm overnight and threatens to bring wind and rain to eastern North Carolina.
For the Florida storm, the National Hurricane Center on Monday called for anywhere from 3 to 10 inches of rain in a stretch from Naples to Steinhatchee.
By 5 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, Aug. 30, Gaston is expected to move over decreasing sea surface temperatures and into increasing vertical wind shear.
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Forecasters say Gaston should slow down during the next day or so and turn northward on Monday.
