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See projected path, spaghetti models of the storm

See projected path, spaghetti models of the storm

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Hurricane Kirk remains a “large and powerful” major hurricane in the Atlantic Ocean, but is expected to turn north this weekend, according to the National Hurricane Center.

The hurricane center said Friday morning that Kirk was about 1,010 miles east-northeast of the Northern Leeward Islands and that waves caused by Kirk could spread westward and reach the East Coast of the United States, Atlantic Canada and the Bahamas by Sunday. The waves were “likely to result in life-threatening surf and rip current conditions,” the NHC said Friday.

With sustained winds of about 145 mph, Kirk is currently a Category 4 hurricane. The NHC said minor fluctuations in intensity were possible Friday and weakening is expected to begin Saturday and continue into early next week.

Hurricane forecast for October: Prepare for the “return of major hurricanes.”

Hurricane Kirk Path Tracker

Hurricane Kirk Spaghetti Models

The figures cover a range of forecasting tools and models, and not all are created equal. The hurricane center only uses the four or five best-performing models in its forecasts.

If Path Tracker and Spaghetti Models don't appear on your screen, you can view them here.

Tropical Storm Leslie is getting stronger

The hurricane center also said Friday that it continues to track Tropical Storm Leslie, which was located about 1,040 miles west-southwest of the southernmost Cape Verde Islands as of Friday morning.

The storm was moving westward, but is expected to turn toward the west-northwest during Friday, followed by a turn toward the northwest and an increase in forward speed early Sunday into Monday, the NHC said.

Leslie currently has maximum sustained winds of about 60 mph, but further strengthening is forecast, with Leslie expected to become a hurricane by Saturday, according to the hurricane center.

Tropical Storm Leslie path tracker

Tropical Storm Leslie Spaghetti Models

The figures cover a range of forecasting tools and models, and not all are created equal. The hurricane center only uses the four or five best-performing models in its forecasts.

If the path tracker and spaghetti model do not appear on your screen, you can view them here.

NHC is monitoring a third system in the Gulf of Mexico

In addition to Kirk and Leslie, the NHC is also monitoring a “low pressure trough” producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms in the western Gulf of Mexico.

The NHC said Friday morning that a “large low pressure area” is expected to form over the southwest of the south-central Gulf of Mexico this weekend and that some “gradual development” is possible after that as the system slowly moves east or northeast .

“A tropical or subtropical depression or storm could form early to mid-next week if the low remains separated from a frontal boundary that is expected to extend across the Gulf of Mexico next week,” NHC forecasters said Friday. “Regardless of tropical or subtropical developments, locally heavy rainfall could occur over parts of Mexico over the next few days and over parts of the Florida Peninsula late this weekend into next week.”

According to the NHC, there is a 40 percent chance of the system forming in the next seven days.

Atlantic Storm Tracker

Gabe Hauari is a nationally featured news reporter at USA TODAY. You can follow him on X @GabeHauari or email him at [email protected].

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