NJ Eyes 2 Storms As Hurricane Season Nears Peak

As peak hurricane season approaches, New Jersey could get drenched by the remnants of Tropical Storm Gordon and forecasters are warily watching another storm making its way across the Atlantic.

And they predict another two to three storms could form before the weekend.

Hurricane Florence, though nowhere near land on Wednesday, could be headed towards Bermuda and, from there, possibly towards the Northeast, according to AccuWeather. The hurricane was upgraded to a category 3 storm on Wednesday morning.

"There is concern that Florence may get steered closer to Bermuda around Monday, Sept. 10 — the peak of hurricane season in the Atlantic," AccuWeather meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski said in a release.

"After nearing Bermuda, Florence may attempt to approach the eastern United States later that week," though Pydynowski added it was far too early to accurately predict the storm's path.

While Florence is forecast to fluctuate in strength, most scenarios bring the system close enough to the Atlantic coast of the U.S. and Canada to pester fishing, shipping and coastal interests with rough seas and surf starting this weekend, according to AccuWeather.

Swells from the distant storm will propagate outward thousands of miles. Meanwhile, east to northeast winds will increase seas and surf along the Atlantic coast well in advance of Florence, according to AccuWeather.

There is the scenario that Florence does not turn away before reaching the U.S. Atlantic coast and makes landfall with impacts of a powerful hurricane, according to AccuWeather.

Tropical Storm Gordon, meanwhile, made landfall in Mississippi Tuesday night, battering the area with heavy rain and brutal winds. It's expected to now make it's way north and east.

Though it will be greatly weakened, the remnants of the storm are expected to hit the northeast early next week, with up to four inches of rain expected to fall within a 12 to 24 hour period, AccuWeather said.

According to AccuWeather, South Jersey could be mostly impacted.

Mid-September is considered the height of the Atlantic hurricane season, and AccuWeather is expecting activity to pick up this week.

"At this point of the hurricane season, ocean water temperatures in the tropical Atlantic are at their warmest point, while disturbances, known as tropical waves, roll frequently westward off the coast of Africa," AccuWeather meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said in the release.

"Indications are that two to three new tropical systems may bud and develop in the eastern and central Atlantic this weekend into next week."

Here's the detailed forecast, courtesy of the National Weather Service:

• Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Calm wind becoming south around 6 mph in the afternoon.
• Wednesday night: Patchy fog after 5am. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 71. South wind around 7 mph.
• Thursday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2pm. Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Southwest wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
• Thursday night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
• Friday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 79. Northeast wind around 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
• Friday night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a low around 64. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
• Saturday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 72. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
• Saturday night: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
• Sunday:A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 71. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
• Sunday night: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Lead image via the National Hurricane Center