Tropical Storm Gordon weakening, NHC says system expected to develop off southeastern U.S coast

Elainie Barraza, Orlando Sentinel
Updated ·2 min read

The National Hurricane Center continues to track former Tropical Storm Gordon as it weakens and a potential tropical cyclone of the southeastern U.S. coast on Sunday.

As of the NHC’s 5 p.m. update, the center of Gordon is about 1,115 miles from the Leeward Islands with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph with higher gusts as is moves west at 8 mph.

“A west to west-southwest motion is expected during the next few days, with Gordon forecast to slow down considerably through the middle of the week,” forecasters said.

NHC said Gordon weakened into a depression Sunday afternoon.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 80 miles to the north of the center. The system is not a threat to land.

On Sunday afternoon the NHC began issuing potential tropical cyclone eight advisories for a system 125 miles east-southeast of Charleston, South Carolina with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph and is moving northwest at 7 mph.

The system is expected to bring heavy rains and coastal flooding and it’s tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 175 miles, NHC said.

A tropical storm warning has been issued from Edisto Beach, South Carolina northward to Ocracoke Inlet, North Carolina.

“On the forecast track, the center of the system should reach the coast within the warning area on Monday,” Forecasters said. “Some strengthening is possible before the system makes landfall.”

NHC said regardless of development, the low is likely to bring gusty winds, heavy rains with potential of flash flooding, coastal flooding, and dangerous beach conditions to portions of the U.S. Southeast and Mid-Atlantic Coast over the next few days.

The potential tropical cyclone has a 70% chance to form within the next two days and 70% chance to form within the next seven, NHC said.

If the system forms, it could become Tropical Storm Helene adding to the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season that has produced seven systems so far including four hurricanes and three tropical storms.

The season runs from June 1-Nov. 30.