Potential Hurricane Developing In Atlantic Could Impact FL: Forecast

A powerful storm developing this week in the Atlantic Ocean could turn into a hurricane and bring high surf, flooding and 45 mph wind gusts to Florida, forecasters warned Thursday.

The system is expected to churn up the East Coast, possibly directly impacting the Carolinas and the mid-Atlantic states, but not before potentially affecting marine conditions in the Sunshine State, according to an Accuweather forecast.

The front is currently considered a tropical storm, but officials warned that it could develop enough strength to become classified as a hurricane. If it becomes a named storm, it would be dubbed Karen.

As the storm moves from the warmer waters in the south to the colder northeastern coast, it could broaden and cool and become a nor'easter, a storm classification usually reserved for the winter.

"The storm will form just off the Georgia coast late this week and move northward this weekend to next week," AccuWeather Chief On-Air Meteorologist Bernie Rayno said. "As the storm drifts to the north, it will grow stronger each day."

In a worst-case scenario, the storm could evolve to hurricane strength and turn inland over the mid-Atlantic with a zone where a significant storm surge, high winds and heavy rain occur just to the north of the center, Accuweather reported.

The storm is likely to affect coastal conditions in Florida from Friday to Monday, forecasters said.

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For the Jacksonville area, that likely means beach erosion, rip currents, rough surf and prolonged coastal flooding.

The National Weather Service forecasts moderate tidal flooding along the Atlantic, St. Johns River Basin and Intercoastal Waterway Friday and Saturday, impacting: coastal Duval, Flagler and coastal St. Johns counties.

This has prompted a coastal flood watch from Friday morning to late Saturday night for these counties. There is also a coastal flood advisory in effect until 10 a.m. Friday and a risk of high rip currents through Saturday night.

A high surf advisory will start at 2 p.m. Thursday and end at 6 a.m. Sunday due to 6-9 feet high breaking waves at local beaches.

"Numerous roads may be closed. Low lying property including homes, businesses and some critical infrastructure may be inundated. Some shoreline erosion may occur. Dangerous swimming and surfing conditions and localized beach erosion. Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water," the NWS said.

Additionally, the NWS reported anticipated northeast winds of 20-35 mph and frequent wind gusts of 40-45 mph has triggered an advisory that is set to take effect at 2 p.m. Thursday until 5 a.m. Sunday in Florida's northeast coastal counties.

This includes Flagler, Nassau, Duval, St. Johns, coastal Glynn and coastal Camden counties.

Meanwhile, showers may arrive before 7 p.m. Thursday and from 2-8 p.m. Friday in Tampa Bay, but the remainder of the week is expected to be sunny with high temperatures in the 80s.

The NWS has issued a small watercraft advisory for Thursday night in areas north of Englewood. Seawaters could reach 5-7 feet offshore, leading to rugged waters further inland.

Northern winds as high as 25 mph and southern winds as fast as 20 mph are expected along Florida's west coast.

Here is the National Weather Service's Thursday morning forecast for Tampa Bay:

Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Heat index values as high as 98. Northeast wind 10-14 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Tonight: A 10 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 7 p.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. North northeast wind 9-13 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.

Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 86. Northeast wind 9-13 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph.

Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. North northeast wind 8-11 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 84. North northeast wind around 10 mph.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 68. North northeast wind 6-9 mph.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 85. North northeast wind 6-8 mph.

Sunday Night: Clear, with a low around 66. North wind 5-7 mph becoming east northeast after midnight.

Columbus Day: Sunny, with a high near 87. North wind 5-8 mph.

Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 68.

Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 88.

Tuesday Night: Clear, with a low around 67.

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 88.