In the latest forecast update from the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami, Florida, the U.S. East Coast from Florida to New Jersey is now within the “cone of uncertainty.” The forecast cone, sketched by the NHC, contains the probable path of the storm center but does not show the size of the storm. The NHC cautions that hazardous conditions can occur outside of the cone.
No tropical storm or hurricane watches are up currently for the U.S. mainland, but that could change in the coming days. For now, the National Hurricane Center and local government officials have issued many advisories for portions of the Caribbean and the Bahamas.
Right now, a Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for all of Puerto Rico, Vieques, Culebra, the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, the entire southern and northern coastlines of the Dominican Republic, the north coast of Haiti from Le Mole St. Nicholas eastward to the northern border with the Dominican Republic, the Turks and Caicos Islands, the southeastern Bahamas including the Acklins, Crooked Island, Long Cay, the Inaguas, Mayaguana, and the Ragged Islands, and the Central Bahamas, including Cat Island, the Exumas, Long Island, Rum Cay, and San Salvador. A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for the Northwestern Bahamas including Andros Island, New Providence, Eleuthera, Abacos Islands, Berry Islands, Grand Bahamas Island, and Bimini. A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours while a Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area, generally within 48 hours.