5pm TS Laura update
FOK 35’s Glenn Richards has the final track for Tropical Storm Laura.
ORLANDO, Fla. – According to the latest update from the National Hurricane Center, Tropical Storm Laura has moved further west, causing it to move further off the west coast of Florida.
Tropical Depression 13 was upgraded to Laura on Friday morning, moving to South Florida and could become a Category 1 hurricane on its approach to the Gulf of Mexico, forecasters said Friday morning.
Laura currently grabs maximum sustained winds of 45 mph.
The system was originally formed on Wednesday night and is located southeast of the northern Leeward Islands.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) says it is moving west at 17 mph.
Laura would have to relocate late Friday or near the islands.
Then by Saturday the storm is expected through the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.
Tropical depression 14 formed in the Caribbean Sea on Thursday morning, the NHC confirmed.
It is moving west-northwest around 12 mph.
They are expected to move Friday or just north of Honduras and the Bay Islands.
Then it will approach Mexico on Saturday.
The depression could also become a hurricane when it reaches Mexico.
“There could be two hurricanes in the Gulf at the same time,” said FOX 35 meteorologist Jayme King.
FOUNDATION: Get everything you need to know about the Atlantic Hurricane Season 2020 with the FOX 35 Orlando Hurricane Guide
FOX 35 advises Central Florida residents to stay aware of these systems and check the latest forecasts and possible impacts.
Forecasters have predicted that the season will have more activity than normal.
For example, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicted an above-average season, with 13 to 19 named storms.
Six to 10 of them would be hurricanes and three to six of these would be predicted to be major hurricanes (category 3 or higher).
By comparison, the 2019 Atlantic Hurricane season had 18 named storms, corresponding to 1969 for the fourth liveliest season in the past 150 years.
The Atlantic Hurricane Season in 2020 lasts until Nov. 30.
Download the FOX 35 Weather App to track the tropics on your phone, receive severe alerts and get the latest daily forecasts.
See FOX 35 news for the latest updates.
