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Fred expected to strengthen back to tropical storm, cyclone forms in Atlantic
Tropical Depression Fred is expected to strengthen before impacting Florida and possibly North Carolina early next week.
A Friday morning advisory from the National Hurricane Center included the southwestern tip of N.C. in the cone of uncertainty, but it’s too early to know the exact timing or impacts for the state.
Before it reaches the United States, Fred is expected to regain tropical storm strength as soon as Friday once it moves north of Cuba. It will bring heavy rain to Florida this weekend and early next week, according to WRAL meteorologist Elizabeth Gardner. A Tropical Storm Warning was issued for the Florida Keys on Saturday.
The risk for tropical storm conditions will spread north along the Florida west coast and to the panhandle on Sunday and Monday.
The 5 a.m. update from the National Hurricane Center showed the storm had top winds of 35 miles per hour. The system is moving west-northwest at 10 miles per hour. Fred’s track has moved slightly west, which could mean less rain for us in North Carolina. The more westward the system shifts, the less rain we can expect.
The WRAL Severe Weather Team does expect some rain from the remnants of Fred on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Models are predicting that the tropical storm will hit Florida and move into Georgia and Alabama, bringing heavy rain. Parts of Florida, Alabama and Georgia are included in the latest forecast track.
Fred is the sixth named storm of the 2021 Atlantic Hurricane Season.
In addition to Fred, Potential Tropical Cyclone Seven has formed in the Atlantic and is moving west. Watches and warnings will likely be issued for the Lesser Antilles. We’ll keep an eye on the cyclone, which would become Grace should it reach the status of a named storm.
NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center has predicted another above-normal Atlantic hurricane season. Forecasters predict a 60% chance of an above-normal season, a 30% chance of a near-normal season, and a 10% chance of a below-normal season.
According to the NOAA 2021 Hurricane Forecast, we can expect 13-20 named storms, 6-10 hurricanes and 3-5 major hurricanes.
