Today, September 10, is the normal peak of hurricane season, and the tropics have not disappointed. Tropical storm Humberto is located very close to the Cape Verde islands off the west coast of northern Africa, prompting tropical storm warnings there. As of the 8:00 am advisory, Humberto had winds of 60 mph and is forecast to continue strengthening quickly. By tomorrow night, the National Hurricane Center has predicted that Humberto become our first hurricane of the season, with winds around 90 to 100 mph. After it passes the Cape Verde islands, Humberto will not be a threat to any land. The forecast track takes it northwestward into the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, where it should dissipate within a week.
Nearer to the United States, the remnants of Tropical Storm Gabrielle have re-formed and strengthened once again into a tropical storm. Winds were at 40 mph as of the 8:00 am advisory. Gabrielle is expected to remain a tropical storm for the next few days as it turns northward into the northern Atlantic Ocean. It is no threat to the United States, and should dissipate within the week.
Another area of interest is currently entering the Gulf of Mexico. Thunderstorm activity has become better organized in this disturbance, and though it does not have a good chance of development within the next 48 hours, the National Hurricane Center has given it a 60% chance of developing into a tropical storm or tropical depression in the next 5 days. Regardless of development, it is expected to slowly drift toward the Bay of Campeche and bring heavy rains and gusty winds to eastern Mexico. It does not appear that it will pose any threat to the United States
