Tropical Storm Odette could bring threatening surf to U.S. coast. Two disturbances developing
Though Tropical Storm Odette, which formed off the U.S. mid-Atlantic coast Friday afternoon, is only forecast to remain a tropical storm for a short-time, it could bring dangerous surf conditions to parts of the U.S. and Canadian coasts this weekend, according to the National Hurricane Center.
There are also two disturbances being monitored in the Atlantic — and one has a high chance of turning into a tropical depression or storm some time Saturday.
None of the systems are currently a threat to Florida.
As of the 11 a.m. Saturday advisory, Odette was about 235 miles southeast of Nantucket, Massachusetts. It was moving northeast at 17 mph and held its 45 mph maximum sustained winds. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 195 miles from the center.
Currently, there are no coastal watches or warning in effect. But swells generated by Odette that’ll spread northward to portions of the U.S. Northeast and Atlantic Canada coasts during the weekend could bring life-threatening surf and rip current conditions, according to the center’s hurricane specialist Richard Pasch.
Forecasters say Odette will take a faster northeast to east-northeast motion this weekend. On the forecast track, the center of Odette should pass south of Atlantic Canada on Sunday and Monday.
Odette is forecast to become a strong post-tropical low by Saturday night, the center’s hurricane forecaster Robbie Berg said in his report.
Two disturbances in the Atlantic
One of the two disturbances forecasters are closely monitoring was about 650 miles miles east-southeast of the northern Leeward Islands in the 8 a.m. Saturday advisory. Disturbance 1 was producing showers and thunderstorms about midway between the Lesser Antilles and the Cabo Verde Islands.
A tropical depression or tropical storm is likely to form Saturday afternoon or evening while it moves toward the west-northwest at about 15 mph. This system is expected to be near the northern Leeward Islands on Monday and Tuesday.
The disturbance’s formation chances in the next 48 hours and through the next five days are at 90%.
Right behind it is a tropical wave that is producing thunderstorms a few hundred miles south of the Cabo Verde Islands.
The associated showers and thunderstorms have become a little better organized since Friday, the center said, and environmental conditions appear conducive for further development during the weekend.
A tropical depression could form while the system moves northwestward at about 10 mph to the west of the Cabo Verde Islands before it reaches cooler waters and stronger upper-level winds early next week.
This disturbance has grown to a 40% chance of formation in the next 48 hours and through the next five days.
The next storm names on the list are Peter and Rose.
This story was originally published September 16, 2021 at 7:01 AM with the headline "Tropical Storm Odette could bring threatening surf to U.S. coast. Two disturbances developing."
