FIRST ALERT: Earl forecast to become a category 4, Danielle winding down and still watching two other areas

MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WMBF) – Hurricane Earl will soon become the first major hurricane of the season as it sideswipes Bermuda. Danielle will start to wind down soon.

HURRICANE EARL

At 8:00 PM Wednesday, the center of Hurricane Earl was located near latitude 26.8 North, longitude 65.5 West. Earl is moving toward the north near 8 mph. A turn toward the north-northeast is expected overnight followed by a turn to the northeast during the day on Thursday with a gradual increase in forward speed.

Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 90 mph with higher gusts. Significant strengthening is forecast during the next couple of days, and Earl is expected to become a major hurricane tomorrow. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 45 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 150 miles.

Tropical storm conditions are expected on Bermuda beginning Thursday afternoon. Hurricane conditions are possible on Bermuda beginning Thursday evening.

Swells generated by Earl are expected to reach Bermuda by tonight and the U.S. east coast shortly thereafter. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions through the weekend.

While Earl is expected to pass 900+ miles to our east, it will bring an elevated rip current risk for Wednesday-Friday with a high rip current risk and dangerous surf.

HURRICANE DANIELLE

At 9:00 PM Wednesday, the center of Hurricane Danielle was located near latitude 44.9 North, longitude 34.9 West. Danielle is moving toward the northeast near 16 mph, and this motion is expected to continue through tonight followed by a motion toward the southeast over the weekend.

Maximum sustained winds remain near 80 mph with higher gusts. Danielle should begin to weaken tonight and transition to a post-tropical storm on Thursday, with further weakening anticipated through the weekend. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 70 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 230 miles.

EASTERN TROPICAL ATLANTIC

An area of low pressure located several hundred miles west of the Cabo Verde Islands continues to produce disorganized showers and thunderstorms. Environmental conditions appear conducive for additional development of this system and a tropical depression is likely to form in the next couple of days while it moves westward to west-northwestward at 15 to 20 mph over the central tropical Atlantic. After that time, upper-level winds are forecast to become less conducive for development. The chance of development has increased to 70%.

AFRICAN COAST

A tropical wave currently located near the west coast of Africa is forecast to emerge into the eastern Atlantic tomorrow. Environmental conditions appear conducive for some gradual development thereafter as the system moves west-northwestward over the eastern tropical Atlantic. The chance of development remains at 30%.

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