Hurricane Kirk is intensifying in the Atlantic Ocean and is expected to generate significant swells along the east coast of the United States by Sunday, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC).
In an advisory released Thursday morning, the NHC reported that Kirk was situated approximately 1,130 miles east of the Northern Leeward Islands and is projected to continue moving northwest until early Friday. A shift toward the north and north-northeast is anticipated over the weekend, with an increase in forward speed.
As of Thursday, Kirk was classified as a Category 3 hurricane, boasting maximum sustained winds of around 125 mph. The storm is expected to strengthen further in the coming days.
While Kirk is predicted to veer north and remain over the open Atlantic, it poses a risk of “life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.” These impacts may be felt in parts of the Leeward Islands on Friday, Bermuda and the Greater Antilles on Saturday, and along the east coast of the United States and the Bahamas on Sunday.
The NHC is also monitoring Tropical Storm Leslie, which is gaining strength.
In addition, the NHC is observing a “broad area of low pressure” that may develop over the Gulf of Mexico by late this weekend or early next week. Current weather patterns in the Gulf are producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms. However, further tropical or subtropical development could be hampered by its potential interaction with a frontal system.
The NHC noted that regardless of any development, heavy rainfall is possible over parts of Mexico in the coming days and could extend to portions of the Florida Peninsula next week.