Tropical Storm Humberto forms near the Bahamas

ORLANDO, Fla. — On the same day it was upgraded to Tropical Depression Nine, the nearby Atlantic disturbance has since gained enough strength to become Tropical Storm Humberto.

The National Hurricane Center made the announcement with the release of their 11p.m. advisory report, Friday the 13th.

At the time of this report, Tropical Storm Humberto is located about 130 miles East-Southeast of Great Abaco Island, and about 225 miles East-Southeast from Freeport, Bahamas.

Maximum sustained wind speeds are 40mph with wind gusts of 50mph, just barely surpassing the threshold for a tropical storm.

It is the eighth storm to be given a name during the 2019 Atlantic Hurricane Season.

Forecast cone as of 9/13/2019, courtesy of the National Hurricane Center (above)

Current models show the slow-moving tropical storm making it’s way up through the Bahamas on Saturday, a brush with Florida’s East coast is still expected on Sunday.

The NHC has issued two advisory points at the time of this report:

1. Humberto will likely bring tropical-storm-force winds and heavy rainfall to portions of the Northwestern Bahamas on Saturday. Significant storm surge is not expected in the Northwest Bahamas from this system. Residents there should follow any advice given by local officials.

2. Heavy rainfall and scattered flash flooding is possible this weekend in coastal sections of Eastern Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. The chance of heavy rainfall affecting coastal North Carolina early next week continues to diminish.

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