PTC Sixteen Designated…Likely to Hit North Carolina as a Tropical Storm Saturday

Potential Tropical Cyclone Sixteen has been designed by the National Hurricane Center this morning.

This allows watches and warnings to be issued for coastal regions that will be affected.

Low pressure has formed about 275 miles east of Daytona Beach, Florida this morning. It is expected to gradually acquire tropical characteristics as it moves northward.

It is expected to become a tropical storm tonight as it moves northward. Tropical storm force winds could reach the coastline of North Carolina by tomorrow morning from Wilmington up through the Outer Banks. As the system intensifies, it will likely reach strong tropical storm force tomorrow afternoon and its wind field will expand, with tropical storm force winds affecting the entire coast of North Carolina as well as much of eastern portions of the Tar Heel State. Tropical storm force winds will expand northward through southeastern Virginia and into the Delmarva through the late afternoon and evening. Tropical storm force winds will reach New Jersey late tomorrow night into early Saturday.

The center will approach the North Carolina coast near Cape Lookout and the Beaufort Vicinity Saturday morning around 5-6 a.m. CDT. The storm is expected to weaken as it moves northward through the Chesapeake Region Sunday.

It should turn sharply northeast and pass near southeastern Massachusetts Sunday afternoon and evening. The Cape and Nantucket could see wind gusts to tropical storm force.

A Tropical Storm Warning has been issued from Cape Fear, North Carolina, northward to Fenwick Island, Delaware, including
Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds, and the Chesapeake Bay south of Smith Point.

A Storm Surge Watch has been issued from Surf City, North Carolina to Chincoteague, Virginia, and the for the Chesapeake Bay south of
Smith Point, including Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds.

Surge could reach the following heights…

Surf City NC to Chincoteague VA…2-4 ft
Chesapeake Bay south of Smith Point…2-4 ft
Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds…2-4 ft
South Santee River SC to Surf City NC 1-3 ft
Chincoteague VA to Fenwick Island DE…1-3 ft

The next name on the list is Ophelia.

Ophelia will bring no impacts to Alabama.

Category: Alabama's Weather, ALL POSTS, Tropical