Hurricane Nigel to rapidly intensify as forecasters watch area off Southeast coast for possible development

We’ve officially passed the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season, and the tropics are remaining extremely active with the development of Hurricane Nigel and two other areas being monitored for possible development – one off the coast of Africa and the other that could form off the southeastern U.S. coast.

Hurricane Nigel to rapidly intensify 

The FOX Forecast Center has been monitoring the disturbance since it left the coast of Africa, but unlike its predecessor, Hurricane Lee, Nigel has gained enough latitude to likely stay clear of North America.

Bermuda will want to keep an eye on the cyclone to monitor for any unexpected turns.

Nigel is the fourteenth named storm and sixth hurricane of the season.

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) says Hurricane Nigel is about 810 miles east-southeast of Bermuda and was moving off to the northwest at 12 mph.

That general motion is expected to continue over the next few days before it begins a turn to the north on Tuesday and quickly moves off to the northeast through the rest of the week.

As of the latest advisory from the NHC, Nigel had maximum sustained winds of 80 mph with some higher gusts, and forecasters expect Nigel to rapidly intensify into a major hurricane (Category 3 or greater) by Tuesday but gradually weaken on Wednesday. 

Area off Southeast coast monitored for possible development

The National Hurricane Center has outlined an area off the Southeast coast for possible tropical development.

“A non-tropical area of low pressure is forecast to form near the southeastern coast of the United States late this week,” the NHC said. “This system could acquire some subtropical characteristics this weekend if it remains offshore while it moves slowly northward or northwestward.”

Whether or not the area forms, the low-pressure system will bring relentless rain to Florida and the Southeast coast through the majority of the week.

New tropical disturbance to move off Africa

The NHC says a tropical disturbance is expected to move off the African coast by Wednesday.

Environmental conditions are forecast to be favorable for development, and a tropical depression is likely to form later this week or over the weekend while the system moves off to the west across the eastern and central Atlantic Ocean.

The NHC is giving the system a 70% chance of developing over the next week.