A comprehensive update on the tropical systems forming in the Atlantic and the Gulf has been released.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Hurricane Kirk has intensified into a Category 3 storm with winds reaching 120 mph, and the National Hurricane Center predicts it could be upgraded to a Category 4 within the next 36 hours.
Although Kirk is located approximately 2,452 miles from Jacksonville, its impact will be felt by the weekend, primarily in the form of significant waves along the Atlantic coast, appealing to surfers rather than typical storm conditions.
Swells generated by Kirk are expected to reach the Leeward Islands by Friday, affect Bermuda and the Greater Antilles by Saturday, and reach the East Coast and the Bahamas by Sunday, according to the center.
In addition, Tropical Storm Leslie developed in the eastern Atlantic on Wednesday and is anticipated to strengthen into a hurricane in the coming days, although it currently poses no threat to land.
Another area of interest is the Gulf of Mexico, where conditions appear more conducive to heavy rainfall rather than tropical development. The chance for this system to develop into a named storm has been reduced to 30% as it remains a disorganized low-pressure area with showers and thunderstorms, keeping meteorologists cautious. If development occurs, the next named storm will be titled Milton.
Regardless of its development, this system is expected to bring substantial rainfall to various parts of the Florida peninsula in the coming week.
For Jacksonville, Saturday is forecasted to be rainy with a possibility of thunderstorms and strong winds. Sunday will likely be cooler with mostly cloudy skies, gusty winds, and a 60% chance of heavy rainfall.