WEATHER

Tropical weather inching up East Coast gathering strength

The News Journal

The tropical disturbance inching its way up the East Coast — whether or not it consolidates into a named storm — is unlikely to cause major inland disturbance in Delaware, forecasters said Monday.

The National Hurricane Center still is calling it Potential Tropical Cyclone X but is prepared with the name Tropical Storm Irma if the weather hovering around the Georgia coastline grows more powerful.

Tropical weather moving slowly up the east coast is predicted to have a minimal impact on inland Delaware, though some rain may enter the area by Monday night.

Current projections for the storm have minimal rains reaching Delaware by late Monday night. Most local impacts will be coastal, including gale force winds, heavy surf and some beach erosion, according to Ray Kruzdlo with the National Weather Service.

"We don't consider it a big deal or something abnormal," Kruzdlo said. "Bigger storms or their remnants often come this way this time of the year."

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Still known as Potential Tropical Cyclone X, the storm could consolidate enough to be called Tropical Storm Irma before it dissipates over the Atlantic Ocean.

The system was mostly stationary overnight, according to the Hurricane Center. It now is moving north-northeast around 9 mph, and is expected to increase gradually over the coming days.

Slow and erratic motion is expected through the afternoon, followed by a faster northeastward track through the night and into Tuesday, when its expected to move along the North Carolina Coast.

Maximum sustained winds are around around 35 mph with some gusts exceeding that, the Hurricane Center reported. The system is expected to be a tropical storm by Tuesday morning, but should lose that level of strength by Tuesday night.

Total rain accumulation along the upper South Carolina, North Carolina and southeast Virginia coasts is expected to be 3-6 inches with isolated areas receiving as much as 9 inches, according to the Hurricane Center.

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Hurricane Harvey is washing out the Houston area, and there are expectations some 30,000 people may be forced into shelters. More than 2,000 people had been rescued by Monday morning.

The Red Cross is mobilizing disaster relief workers, including 37 volunteers from the Greater Chesapeake Region, which included Delaware.

Donations to the Red Cross can be made by visiting recross.org, calling 1- 800-RED CROSS or texting the word HARVEY to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

Contact Adam Duvernay at aduvernay@delawareonline.com or (302) 324-2785.