Larry: the next major hurricane in the Atlantic
While Ida was generating its 1,500 mile long path of destruction, Tropical Storm Julian and Tropical Storm Kate formed and dissipated in the last week. But now Hurricane Larry is now churning in the central Atlantic.
On Friday afternoon, Larry intensified to a Category 2 hurricane with maximum winds of 100 mph, according to the 5 p.m. update from the National Hurricane Center.
Larry is expected to reach Category 4 strength with maximum winds of 140 over the weekend.
The storm is located in the eastern Atlantic Ocean 1,300 miles east of the Leeward Islands and moving to the west-northwest at 16 mph.
Larry will gradually turn to the northwest after Labor Day, and the storm could approach Bermuda by the middle of next week.
After Labor Day, Larry will produce increased swells along the East Coast of the US and Bermuda.
“All of the models are in general agreement that Larry will become a major hurricane in a day or so with continued strengthening through [Monday],” said the National Hurricane Center.
“Eyewall replacement cycles are possible, which could cause intensity fluctuations that are challenging to predict,” the NHC said.
Larry will be nowhere near land with its ferocious winds, though the NHC does warn that “swells generated by Larry are expected to reach the Lesser Antilles on Sunday.” They center adds that swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.
“Even though Larry is not forecast to directly hit the US, because it will be a major hurricane, the East Coast of the US may still have impacts in the form of life-threatening surf and rip currents next week,” said CNN meteorologist Allison Chinchar.
By early next week, Larry is expected to slow down and turn northwestward and, with a less favorable environment, begin to weaken slightly.
Long range forecast models show Larry continuing toward Bermuda and passing east of the island sometime mid to late next week. There is increasing disagreement in the models on how close the storm will get to Bermuda.
“It is too soon to determine what impacts Larry may pose to the Island of Bermuda, but interests there should monitor updates in the forecast,” the NHC said.
