Latest Updates on Hurricane Sergio, Michael, Tropical Storm Leslie

Top video shows Hurricane Michael strengthening in Gulf of Mexico

The National Hurricane Center is issuing advisories for Hurricane Sergio and Tropical Storm Leslie. Meanwhile, Hurricane Michael is forecast to hit Florida’s northwestern coast by Oct. 10.

Sergio

Hurricane Sergio is still continuing to churn out in the eastern Pacific Ocean, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC), but the storm is forecast to take a turn toward the northeast and may bring heavy rain to Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas after hitting northwestern Mexico.

In an 8 a.m. advisory, the NHC said that the “giant eye” of Hurricane Sergio is “drifting slowly over the Eastern Pacific” Ocean. It has 90 mph winds and is moving slowly at 2 mph to the north-northwest. “A slow northward or northeastward drift is expected today and tonight, followed by an acceleration toward the northeast beginning tomorrow,” said the NHC.

“Sergio’s structure has remained nearly steady-state for the past 24 hours. A solid ring of deep convection surrounds Sergio’s giant eye, and there is little evidence of any convective bands. Despite upwelling that is presumably [occurring] beneath the slow-moving hurricane, cloud tops have actually cooled over the past few hours,” reads a forecast discussion of the storm.

There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect, according to the agency.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Prediction Center said there is a marginal to slight risk of “excessive rainfall” caused by the remnants of Sergio in Arizona and New Mexico.

The storm should weaken quickly after hitting northern Mexico, and it will “likely dissipate over the high terrain of mainland Mexico,” said the discussion.

“By tonight, a large trough centered over the southwestern United States will cause the hurricane to accelerate northeastward. The track guidance is in good agreement on the track of Sergio, although there is still some uncertainty associated with the timing for when Sergio will reach the west coast of the Baja California peninsula,” it added.

Leslie

Tropical Storm Leslie is slated to strengthen later on Oct. 8, the NHC said. The storm is located in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, and it is moving 14 mph to the east-southeast.

Tropical Storm Leslie's path on Oct. 8, 2018. (NHC)

There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect, but the NHC’s forecast model shows that the storm could hit Western Europe by next week.

Hurricane Michael

Hurricane Michael is now a Category 1 storm system and is tracking toward the northwestern coast of Florida, according to an 11 a.m. update from the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) on Oct. 8.

Hurricane Michael's path to Florida and Alabama as of 11 a.m. on Oct. 8, 2018. (NHC)

The NHC has forecast that Michael is slated to strengthen and will bring heavy rains, damaging winds, and storm surge. There is a likely chance that it will hit the northeastern Gulf Coast by Oct. 10. The path of the storm could take it directly through Florida’s capital, Tallahassee.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott on Oct. 7 declared a state of emergency for several areas in Florida and “also directed the Florida National Guard to activate 500 guardsmen to assist with planning and logistics, and to prepare for response in impacted areas.”