MIDWAY, Fla. (WTXL) -- Hurricane Florence weakened below major hurricane force Thursday as it encountered a zone of stronger upper-level winds southeast of Bermuda. The weakening effect may last for a couple of days before upper winds decrease, and the sufficiently warm ocean waters can allow Florence to regain some strength by early next week. The future path forecast is consistent in maintain a west or west-northwest track, but the long-range outlook is complex. High pressure north of Florence may direct the storm on a westerly course. The more west it goes through next week, the closer it may approach the United States east coast.
Elsewhere in the tropical Atlantic basin:
- A vigorous wave southwest of the Cape Verde Islands has a high chance for further intensification. It is possible that the disturbance will be given the Potential Tropical Cyclone classification, meaning there is a high likelihood it will grow into a depression or storm in the near future. It is thousands of miles from the United States as it is forecast to travel on a west-northwest course through the weekend. Longer-range projections are also unclear, but a general expectation for continued west-northwest movement is in effect.
- A second wave of tropical moisture is emerging from western Africa, just east of the Cape Verde disturbance. This also has increasing chances for strengthening over the course of the next five days.
