Humberto Likely To Become Major Hurricane

MIAMI, FL — Humberto is expected to become a major hurricane in the next day or so as the storm heads toward Bermuda. The category 1 storm remained well off the U.S. coast, but weather officials said the storm is expected to cause swells along parts of Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina.

"Humberto is moving toward the east-northeast near 8 mph ... This general motion with a gradual increase in forward speed is expected through early Thursday," the National Hurricane Center said at 2 a.m. Tuesday. "On the forecast track, the center of Humberto is expected to approach Bermuda Wednesday night."

The National Hurricane Center said swells generated by Hurricane Humberto will affect the southeastern coast of the United States from east-central Florida to North Carolina during the next couple of days.

"These swells could cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions," the National Hurricane Center warned, adding that the northwestern Bahamas will also experience the swells.

Large swells will also increase along the coast of Bermuda by Tuesday night.

"Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 30 miles ... from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 150 miles," according to the National Hurricane Center.

A tropical storm watch was initially issued for Florida's Jupiter Inlet to the Flagler-Volusia County Line late last week but the storm watch was subsequently discontinued. See also Dorian May Be Gone But 2019 Hurricane Season Just Reaches Peak and Florida Sending 10 Truckloads Of Stockpiled Water To Bahamas

Hurricane Humberto was located 595 miles west of Bermuda as of 2 a.m. Tuesday. The system is expected to produce additional rainfall of 1 to 2 inches in the central Bahamas with isolated storm total amounts of 6 inches.

"Humberto may bring periods of heavy rain to Bermuda beginning late Tuesday," the National Hurricane Center said.

Weather officials also continue to monitor two systems, including a large area of disorganized showers over the northwestern Gulf of Mexico.

"Some slow development of this system is possible before it moves inland along the northwestern Gulf Coast Tuesday night," the National Hurricane Center said. The system is expected to produce locally heavy rainfall and flash flooding along portions of central and upper Texas coastal areas later this week.

The system had a 20 percent change of formation over the next 48 hours and a 20 percent chance of formation over the next five days.

Weather officials were also monitoring a small low pressure system that is producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms about 1200 miles east of the Lesser Antilles. The system has a 70 percent chance of development over the next 48 hours and an 90 percent chance over the next five days.