Tracking the tropics: Hurricane Florence and Helene remain, Isaac now a tropical storm
ORLANDO, Fla. (FOX 35 WOFL) - The tropics remain very active, as two hurricanes and one tropical storm are moving through the Atlantic.
HURRICANE FLORENCE
Hurricane and storm surge watches have been issued as Hurricane Florence, a strong Category 4 storm, closes in on the Carolinas.
As of 8 a.m. Tuesday, the storm 's winds were down slightly to 130 mph, but forecasters said it was merely going through an eyewall regeneration cycle -- meaning it would soon regain its lost strength.
Watches were issued Tuesday morning from Edisto Beach, South Carolina -- which is just south of Charleston -- to the North Carolina-Virginia border.
Computer models take Florence straight to the Carolina coastline, but then they differ a little bit on where it will make landfall. However, most models show Florence arriving as a Category 3 or 4 hurricane, which would be a storm surge issue, says FOX 13's meteorologist Dave Osterberg.
For more on Hurricane Florence, visit HERE.
TROPICAL STORM ISAAC
Isaac is now a strong tropical storm over the Central Tropical Atlantic.
Tropical Storm Isaac, located 775 miles east of the Lesser Antilles, is moving towards the west near 16 miles per hour (mph). This general motion is expected to continue for the next few days. Maximum sustained winds for Isaac are near 70 mph. Isaac is expected to move near or over the central Lesser Antilles on Thursday and move into the eastern Carribbean Sea on Thursday night.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) said in their 11 a.m. advisory that not much change in strength is forecasted for Isaac during the next few days, but it is expected to be near hurricane strength again as it moves through the Lesser Antilles, with some weakening forecasted afterward on Friday.
For more on Tropical Storm Isaac, visit HERE.
HURRICANE HELENE
Hurricane Helene is moving northwestward over the eastern Atlantic and is not expected to make landfall.
Helene is located about 670 miles west of the southernmost Cabo Verde Islands and about 1550 miles south-southwest of the Azores. Moving toward the northwest near 12 miles per hour (mph), Hurricane Helene is expected to continue with this motion until tonight, when it will decrease in forward speed. A turn toward the northwest and then north-northwest is forecasted on Wednesday and Thursday. Maximum sustained winds are near 110 miles per hour, making it a Category 2 hurricane.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) said in their 11 a.m. advisory that Helene should start to gradually weaken on Tuesday night, becoming a tropical storm by Thursday.
For more on Hurricane Helene, visit HERE.
On Monday, a tropical wave of disorganized showers and storms was discovered. The wave is moving slowly toward the western Gulf of Mexico and has a 40% chance of developing into at least a Tropical Depression this week.
Be sure to keep up with the latest on the 2018 Hurricane Season HERE. And you can download your Hurricane Guide in English HERE or in Spanish HERE.