Tropical Storm Jerry becomes 10th named system of 2019 Atlantic season

Tropical Storm Jerry formed in the central Atlantic on Wednesday morning, the latest in a series of systems cranked out by the Atlantic.

Jerry is the 10th named storm of the 2019 season, which peaked just days ago on Sept. 10.

Further strengthening into a hurricane is forecast as Jerry moves over the warm water of the basin while approaching the Leeward Islands, according to AccuWeather Hurricane Expert Dan Kottlowski.

"The evolving tropical storm is projected to pass just east and north of the Leeward Islands on Friday," he added.

As of 5 a.m. EDT Wednesday, the National Hurricane Center said the system was about 960 miles east of the Leeward Islands and moving west-northwest at 13 mph with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph.

This satellite view shows newly formed Tropical Storm Jerry early Wednesday morning. (NOAA/GOES-EAST)

NOAA/GOES-EAST

"Early indications suggest this storm will track east of the United States mainland, but it is way too early to say with confidence as to exactly where it will track beyond Friday," Kottlowski said.

Interests over the Leeward Islands should monitor the progress of Jerry for an uptick in showers and thunderstorms late this week.

Even if Jerry were to pass north of the Leewards, a plume of tropical moisture with drenching showers and gusty thunderstorms may extend south of the center and pass through the islands.

As the track is not yet set in stone, interests in the Turks and Caicos, the Bahamas and Bermuda should watch this storm as it evolves.

Elsewhere in the Atlantic, a rapidly strengthening system in the Gulf of Mexico developed into Tropical Storm Imelda on Tuesday just prior to making landfall in eastern Texas. Imelda is expected to unleash flooding rainfall in and around Houston, Texas, into late week. Meanwhile, Hurricane Humberto reached major hurricane strength as it tracked closer to Bermuda on Tuesday night.

Swells propagating southward from this distant hurricane can reach unprotected northern shores of the northern Caribbean islands in the form of large waves and strong rip currents this week.

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