Here’s the latest Tropical Update for Thursday, August 31, 2023

by: John Lynn

Posted: Aug 31, 2023 / 08:32 AM EDT

Updated: Aug 31, 2023 / 08:32 AM EDT

The center of Tropical Storm Idalia islocated near latitude 33.7 North, longitude 77.0 West. Idalia ismoving toward the east-northeast near 20 mph (31 km/h), and thisgeneral motion is expected to continue this morning. An eastward toeast-southeastward motion is forecast to begin later today andcontinue through Saturday. On the forecast track, the center ofIdalia will move just offshore of the coast of North Carolina today.Idalia will then move eastward over the western Atlantic into theweekend.Maximum sustained winds are near 60 mph (95 km/h) with highergusts. Little change in strength is expected today, but some gradualweakening could occur Friday and Saturday.Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 185 miles (295 km)from the center. An elevated station in Pamlico Sound (43 feetabove the water) recently measured a sustained wind of 56 mph (91km/h) and a gust to 67 mph (107 km/h).The estimated minimum central pressure is 990 mb (29.23 inches).

The center of Hurricane Franklin islocated near latitude 34.9 North, longitude 63.2 West. Franklin ismoving toward the east-northeast near 15 mph (24 km/h) and ageneral east-northeastward to northeastward motion should continueover the next several days. On the forecast track, the center ofFranklin should continue moving away from Bermuda.Maximum sustained winds are near 100 mph (155 km/h) with highergusts. Gradual weakening is forecast over the next few days.Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 60 miles (95 km) from thecenter and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 175 miles(280 km). The estimated minimum central pressure is 965 mb (28.50 inches).

The center of Tropical Storm Jose islocated near latitude 28.8 North, longitude 52.2 West. Jose ismoving toward the north near 5 mph (7 km/h) and this general motionwith an increase in forward speed is expected to continue for thenext day or so before the system is absorbed by Franklin.Maximum sustained winds are near 40 mph (65 km/h) with higher gusts.Little change in strength is forecast over the next day or so, withthe small system forecast to be absorbed by Franklin by the weekend.Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 45 miles (75 km)from the center.The estimated minimum central pressure is 1011 mb (29.86 inches).

Eastern Tropical Atlantic (AL94):Showers and thunderstorms are gradually becoming better organized inassociation with an area of low pressure located just west of theCabo Verde Islands. Environmental conditions appear conducive forfurther development of this system, and a tropical depression islikely to form during the next couple of days while the system moveswest-northwestward to northwestward across the eastern tropicalAtlantic. Interests in the Cabo Verde Islands should monitor theprogress of this system.

Central Subtropical Atlantic (Remnants of Gert):A weak but well-defined area of low pressure located several hundredmiles north-northeast of the northern Leeward Islands is producinglimited shower and thunderstorm activity. This system has a shortwindow for further development during the next day or so while itdrifts northeastward or eastward before upper-level winds becomeincreasingly unfavorable by the weekend.

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