Tropical storms Philippe and Rina are lined up. What’s next? See the forecast track
Tropical storms Philippe and Rina continued to make their way through the Atlantic, but forecasters don’t anticipate Florida to be affected, according to Friday’s 5 p.m. advisory from the National Hurricane Center in Miami.
The positioning of the two storms has forecasters pondering the possibility of the two storms merging.
KNOW MORE: Two Atlantic storms may soon collide. Rare ‘Fujiwhara effect’ shapes what happens next
Here’s what the National Hurricane Center has to say about Philippe and Rina.
Tropical Storm Philippe forecast
Tropical Storm Philippe is moving a little faster Saturday afternoon, but still relatively slow, as it begins its drift around the east of the Northern Leeward Islands, the hurricane center said in its 5 p.m. Friday advisory.
Where is it: Philippe was about 475 miles east of the Northern Leeward Islands.
Wind speed: Maximum sustained winds held at 50 mph with higher gusts.
Movement: Philippe was moving west-southwest at 5 mph and should continue doing so through Saturday night.
Strength forecast:. A gradual turn toward the west and northwest is forecast through Sunday. Philippe may see gradual strengthening during the next few days.
Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 140 miles from the center.
Hazards: Swells generated by Philippe will bring dangerous surf and rip currents and affect portions of the Atlantic coasts of the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico through the weekend.
Will Florida be affected: Florida and the continental United States’ coast is currently not on the forecast track.
Next advisory: 11 p.m. Friday.
Tropical Storm Rina forecast
Tropical Storm Rina is picking up speed.
Where is it: As of the 5 p.m. Friday advisory, Rina was 1,005 miles east of the Northern Leeward Islands
Wind speed: Maximum sustained winds were 45 mph with higher gusts.
Movement: Rina was moving northwest at 9 mph. A slight increase in forward speed is expected through the weekend.
Strength forecast: Rina shouldn’t see much change in strength during the next day or so. It should start gradually weakening through early next week.
Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 140 miles from the center.
Will Florida be affected: Florida and the United States coast is currently not on the forecast track.
Next advisory: 11 p.m. Friday.