Humberto Reaches Hurricane Status As New Round Of Storms In GA Forecast

Humberto is now a hurricane after gaining strength early Friday, and forecasters indicate it may spare the Southeast.

AccuWeather forecasters say Humberto could become a major storm this weekend, traveling west of Bermuda. Humberto comes amid storms that are expected to hit multiple Georgia counties in coming days.

"Humberto may rapidly intensify as it slowly turns to the northwest this weekend," AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Expert Alex DaSilva said in a news release. "This hurricane is forecast to pass between Bermuda and the U.S. East Coast next week. Humberto may bring gusty winds and several inches of rain to Bermuda."

A National Hurricane Center graphic does not appear to show a direct U.S. hit from Humberto.

With the uncertainties surrounding Humberto and its potential U.S. impact, forecasters say they are also eyeing a tropical development in the Atlantic basin that may don the next storm name, Imelda.

The possible tropical storm would be the product of showers and thunderstorms near Hispaniola, AccuWeather reported.

"From there, quick strengthening is possible with at least one scenario for the storm to make landfall in the Carolinas as a potent hurricane with torrential rain and strong winds," AccuWeather reported, later adding, "Beyond the Bahamas, interaction with Humberto may be significant and could pull the storm away from the U.S. or steal some of its moisture. In this scenario, rain impacts from the budding Imelda could be limited in the southeastern U.S."

AccuWeather said a storm without tropical features may bring showers, storms and localized flooding this weekend in the Southeast.

In metro Atlanta, storms were expected to start after 2 p.m. and before 11 p.m. Friday, according to a National Weather Service forecast.

NWS meteorologist Ty Vaughn told Patch the storms will be generic, nothing severe.

The rain could skip Saturday night through Sunday night, but may return after a mostly sunny Monday.

The Savannah area will not be so dry as storms are anticipated daily through at least Thursday.

Here is the National Weather Service's Friday morning forecast for metro Atlanta:

Today: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 81. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Tonight: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 11 p.m., then a slight chance of showers between 11 p.m. and midnight. Patchy fog after 3 a.m. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Patchy fog before 9 a.m. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 82. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 65. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 84. East wind around 5 mph.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 66.

Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers after 2 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 82.

Monday Night: A 10 percent chance of showers before 8 p.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 66.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 79.

Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 65.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 78.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 62.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 72.