Florida in clear as Tropical Storm Gert makes its way through the Atlantic Ocean
Tropical Storm Gert has formed in the Atlantic Ocean, but the system poses no threat to Florida or the U. S. East Coast, forecasters predict.
“The models are in good agreement that it will turn northward, then northeast and accelerate on a path between the East Coast and Bermuda, safely away from both, ” said Dan Brown, a forecaster at the National Hurricane Center in Miami.
The storm, which has maximum sustained winds of 40 mph, is about 500 miles west-southwest of Bermuda, moving north-northwest at 10 mph.
A turn toward the north is forecast to occur Sunday night, and to the north-northeast on Monday.
Forecasters are also watching a tropical wave that has moved off the west coast of Africa. That system is forecast to move westward over the next couple of days and merge with a broad area of low pressure located southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands.
Environmental conditions are expected to be ripe for gradual strengthening. Storm formation chance through 48 hours are near zero percent, and 20 percent over five days.
