Tropical Storm Gaston

Gaston looks impressive on satellite imagery this afternoon. It is headed into a favorable environment for intensification over the next few days, so it could become a hurricane soon. Right now it is much too early to speculate where Gaston could end up, but we're watching it closely!

Update to Hurricane Watches & Warnings

As of mid-day Wednesday, Hurricane Watches were extended northward up the rest of the Eastern Shore all the way to Delaware. In addition, the Watch in eastern North Carolina and for the Outer Banks was replaced with a Warning, meaning tropical storm force (39-73mph winds) and hurricane force (74mph+) winds are possible in the warned region within the next 36 hours.

Virginia's coastal regions remain under a Hurricane Watch at this time:

Earl should continue its northward curve over the next 24 hours as it tracks clockwise around the high pressure in the Atlantic:

Tropical Storm force winds extend out about 200 miles from the center of the storm, so it is extremely likely that this strength of sustained wind will impact all of the Outer Banks beginning Thursday night into Friday morning. Hurricane force winds are also possible, especially in the easternmost points of the Outer Banks. Virginia Beach down to the North Carolina state line may receive tropical storm force winds.

The best rain chances remain in the far eastern peninsulas of Virginia, Hampton Roads, and the Eastern Shore. Most of central Virginia may miss out on any of Earl's rainfall, but we should get some of the wind inland on Friday. Expect a blustery day with winds 15-25 mph.

Atlantic Trio: Tropics Update

We are tracking three systems in the Atlantic now, including newly formed Tropical Depression #9 in the far east Atlantic. TD 9 has maximum sustained winds of 35 mph, but if it strengthens to 39 mph, it will be named Tropical Storm Gaston, a name many Virginians would like to forget. Here is the initial projected path of TD9, which will generally keep a westward motion as its three predecessors (Danielle, Earl, Fiona) did recently in this part of the open Atlantic.

Major Hurricane Earl is still on track to skirt the U.S. East Coast, coming within about 60 miles of the Outer Banks, and potentially within 140 miles of Virginia Beach Friday. From Cape Henry south to the North Carolina state line, waves are expected to be 10ft-12ft late Thursday night into Friday afternoon while the center of Earl passes just to the east. Tropical storm force winds are likely in the Outer Banks up to Virginia Beach after midnight Friday through early Friday afternoon. The speed range for this is 39mph-73mph sustained winds.

As for Richmond and areas along I-95, Friday should just be a windy day at about 15-25 mph. We will have a slight chance for some of the outer rain bands of Earl reaching us, but the best chances for rain will stick to the eastern Peninsulas along the Bay, and into Southeast Virginia near the coast.

Tropical Storm Fiona is stronger at 60 mph now, but Fiona appears that it will take a similar path to Danielle, passing near Bermuda and staying out to sea. However, the long-range track of this could shift and we will closely monitor it.

Hurricane Earl Update Wednesday Morning: Watches For VA Coastline

Early Wednesday morning, the Hurricane Watch was extended to include much of Virginia's Atlantic coastline, all the way up the Eastern Shore to Parramore Island.

The reason why these watches are in effect is because of Earl's expected close proximity to the coast late Thursday and Friday. Tropical storm to hurricane force winds are possible in the Watch area. In addition, coastal flooding and erosion is likely, plus dangerous surf.

High pressure in the Atlantic should cause Earl to begin its northerly curve late tonight into Thursday as the steering winds around the high move clockwise.

The northeast curve Friday will also be influenced by an approaching upper trough from the west, helping to kick Earl parallel to the New England coastline. Still, Earl's track along New England could lead to significant impacts of the likes of a nasty nor'easter from Long Island to Cape Cod.

As of Wednesday Morning, Earl is a major hurricane at Category 3 strength with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph. Hurricane force winds (74mph+) extend out from the center 90 miles, with tropical storm force winds (39mph-73mph) extending out 200 miles from the center.