Hurricane Florence Becomes Major Hurricane: Any U.S. Impact?

With the peak of hurricane season approaching, the Atlantic tropics are now heating up. Tropical Storm Gordon just hit the Gulf States and now Hurricane Florence is out there.

Hurricane Florence is a major category 4 hurricane and is expected to stay mainly out to sea, however, some of the most recent runs of forecast models have trended west with the storms path. This would make it come closer to the eastern seaboard of the United States. If this trend continues, we will have to monitor Florence even closer than we already are. There a number of factors that we’re watching that could push Florence toward or away from the U.S. These include an approaching trough moving in from Canada that could push the storm out to sea, or a strengthening ridge of high pressure that could keep Florence south and west away from that trough, keeping the storm closer to the U.S.

For now, we are still about 6-8 days away from any possible direct impacts to the U.S., and forecast models are not handling the storm or atmospheric conditions well. Stay tuned to 47 ABC for the latest.