(This story was updated to add new information.)
Humberto is now a hurricane, but all eyes are on Invest 94L, which increasingly appears likely to impact the North Carolina coast.
As of 5 a.m. Friday, Sept. 26, Hurricane Humberto was located about 465 miles northeast of the Northern Leeward Islands, according to the National Hurricane Center. Humberto was moving around 3 mph in a northwest direction.
A west-northwest to northwest motion is expected over the next few days, with a slower forward movement speed.
Humberto’s maximum sustained winds were around 75 mph with higher gusts. The hurricane center is forecasting significant strengthening in the coming days. Humberto is expected to become a hurricane this weekend.
No coastal watches or warnings are in effect for the North Carolina coast.
STORM TRACKER: Monitor the latest tropical developments here.
Humberto is now a hurricane, but all eyes are on Invest 94L, which has increasing chances of impacting the NC coast.
Meanwhile, Invest 94L is located near Hispaniola and the Turks and Caicos Islands. The area of low pressure is expected to form along the wave Friday when it moves near the southeast Bahamas.
Heavy rains and gusty winds are ongoing in the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and the Turks and Caicos Islands and likely to spread across the Bahamas an eastern Cuba during the next couple of days.
“While there is significant uncertainty in the long-range track and intensity of the system, the chances ofwind, rainfall, and storm surge impacts for a portion of the southeast U.S. coast during the next several days are increasing,” the hurricane center said.
Tracking models show Invest 94L could potentially make landfall as a tropical storm or hurricane somewhere along the South Carolina or North Carolina coast. Once it pushes inland, heavy rainfall is possible for those areas.
What to expect in Wilmington
While it’s too early to predict what direct impacts Invest 94L could have on Wilmington, a cold front is expected to bring rain and storms this weekend, according to the National Weather Service in Wilmington.
Possible impacts from Invest 94L could lead to heavy rainfall and strong winds starting as early as Monday. There is also an enhanced risk for rip currents and/or strong longshore currents starting Monday, the weather service said.
Here’s a look at the forecast for the next few days:
Friday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Southwest wind 5 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30% during the day and 50% overnight.
Saturday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Patchy fog before 7 a.m. High near 83. Calm wind becoming south 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 80% during the day and 60% overnight.
Sunday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 80. East wind 3 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70% throughout the day and night.
Monday: Showers likely, with thunderstorms also possible after 2 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 79. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
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North Carolina weather radar
Are you prepared?
With the track and intensity of Invest 94L uncertain, officials are urging residents to be prepared. Now is the time to check your hurricane supplies and make sure your home is secured against tropical weather.
GET READY: Here’s what to know about hurricane preparedness if you live in the Wilmington area.
Spaghetti models for Invest 94L
What are rip currents?
According to the U.S. Lifesaving Association, rip currents are channelized currents of water flowing away from shore at surf beaches. Often these currents move swimmers far from shore before they realize it, taking them into deeper water. This can cause fear and distress as the swimmers attempt to make it back to shore.
How to identify a rip current
Rip currents can be difficult to spot, but beachgoers should look for water that is darker in color, choppy and leaves a break in the incoming wave pattern. They form at low spots or breaks in sandbars, piling up water between the breaking waves and the beach. The water returns to sea through the rip current. Another clue may be a line of foam, seaweed or debris moving seaward.
What to do in a rip current
If you find yourself caught in a rip current, do not swim against the current.
While it may be difficult to do, the U.S. Lifesaving Association says swimmers should “relax,” noting the rip current will not pull them under. Swimmers should try swimming out of the current in a direction following the shoreline, or toward breaking waves, then at an angle toward the beach.
The U.S. Lifesaving Association notes if the current circulates back toward the shore, floating or treading water may be a good way to get out of the current.
Finally, if you feel you are unable to reach shore, draw attention to yourself by yelling for help and waving to those on the shore.
Charlie Kingree is a reporting intern for the StarNews. He can be reached at ckingree@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Tropical weather update for Wilmington, NC coast. See spaghetti models