ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Tropical Storm Kirk is expected to become a hurricane by Tuesday before becoming a major storm sometime Wednesday.
Kirk is currently moving west at about 12 mph and a gradual turn to the northwest is expected by Wednesday, according to the National Hurricane Center's latest advisory. The storm is expected to strengthen into a Category 3 hurricane but models have it remaining far from the continental United States.
Maximum winds have increased to 60 mph with higher gusts, forecasters say. Tropical-storm-force winds currently extend outward of up to 115 miles.
As we start rebuilding as a community from Hurricane Helene, we are watching the tropics as it remains busy. The wave in the western Caribbean Sea is one area to watch, but the models are showing more wind shear and less development next weekend. It's still too early to call but keep checking back.
Historically, by late September to October, the formation zones of tropical systems favor the western Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico.
Outside of this disturbance, Hurricane Isaac and Tropical Storm Joyce remain in the middle of the Atlantic posing no threat to us.
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