GREENVILLE, N.C. (WITN) – Hurricane Nigel’s 5 a.m. Tuesday advisory had winds holding at 85 mph, with gusts approaching 105 mph. A unique change related to Hurricane Nigel is the barometric pressure. In fact, Nigel’s air pressure of 979 mb is now equivalent to a Category 2 hurricane. This is because the storm is expanding in size, and moving in a northwesterly direction. Over the next day or so as Nigel pressure decreases, the storm may intensify briefly into a Category 2 hurricane before weakening later in the week while turning more to the northeast and headed into the northern Atlantic Ocean.
Given the increasing size of the storm. Swells from distant Hurricane Nigel will reach Eastern NC later this week and into the weekend, bringing increasing surf and an elevated rip current risk.
In addition to Nigel, the National Hurricane Center is watching two other areas of possible development by late in the week.
Closer to home, the National Hurricane Center is keeping an eye on the southeast coast of the US for possible development over the next several days. Forecast guidance indicate that a large and disorganized area of low pressure may form as a result of a stalled frontal boundary offshore. If the area of low pressure develops, it may organize over the Gulf Stream. While this is the case, there are few limiting factors.
1. The area of concern is close to the coast. So even if a system develops, it will have limited time over water to organize.
2. The atmospheric pattern is still a bit uncertain. A few forecast models bring a system along the coast, other models keep a system offshore. In other words, confidence is low into knowing exactly where the system is going.
3. It is too early to dive into the specifics, as the area of low pressure has yet to form and that we are several days out from any impacts.
Interests from Florida to the Carolinas should keep a close on this area of possible development.
Stay with WITN and WITN.COM as we track the remaining storms this hurricane season.