Tropical Storm Philippe on track for New England
Tropical Storm Philippe was bringing wind and rain to Bermuda on Friday as it continued on a path northward that will take it to New England this weekend.
A tropical storm warning remained in effect for Bermuda, and the National Hurricane Center warned those in New England and Atlantic Canada to keep an eye on the storm over the weekend.
The hurricane center is forecasting Philippe to become a non-tropical storm by the time it reaches New England, but the effects will be the same — gusty winds, heavy rain and rough seas. Philippe was already starting its transition to an extratropical storm on Friday morning, forecasters said.
As of 7 a.m. CDT Friday, the center of Tropical Storm Philippe was located about 165 miles south of Bermuda and was tracking to the north-northeast at 18 mph.
Philippe had 50 mph winds on Friday, according to the hurricane center. Forecasters said some strengthening is possible over the next day or so, but Philippe is expected to become a non-tropical system on Saturday.
Philippe is expected to continue on a path northward and pick up speed. On the hurricane center’s forecast track, the center of Philippe will pass near Bermuda later today, and then reach the coast of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, or eastern Maine Saturday night into Sunday.
Philippe could bring 1 to 3 inches of rain to Bermuda today. One to 3 inches of rain will also be possible for parts of New York and New England over the weekend. Parts of Canada could also get 1-3 inches, the hurricane center said.
Large waves from the storm will continue to be an issue on Bermuda for the next few days, and those waves could reach the Southeast U.S. and spread northward along the East Coast over the weekend. Those rough seas could also cause deadly rip currents, according to the hurricane center.
ELSEWHERE IN THE TROPICS
The next tropical system to watch will move off the west coast of Africa today.
The hurricane center was also tracking a tropical wave expected to move off the coast of Africa today. It already has a 50 percent chance of becoming the next tropical depression in a few days as it tracks to the northwest.