ORLANDO, Fla. – Cristobal strengthened back into a tropical storm Friday and will help bring rain, churned-up seas and rip currents to Central Florida into early next week as it treks on a projected path toward Lousiana.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center said Cristobal had maximum sustained winds of 45 mph Friday and was moving north at 14 mph.
Cristobal is forecast to be out in the central Gulf on Saturday and could be nearing the U.S. Gulf Coast by Sunday.
The storm has already caused one death in Mexico and five in El Salvador.
Tropical Depression #Cristobal Advisory 15: Cristobal Continues to Bring Heavy Rains and Flooding to Mexico And Central America. https://t.co/VqHn0u1vgc
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) June 5, 2020
Cristobal formed Tuesday from the remnants of the Pacific Tropical Storm Amanda that had caused deadly flooding and landslides in Central America. At least 22 deaths in El Salvador and Guatemala were blamed on Amanda.
Cristobal was the earliest third named storm of an Atlantic hurricane season on record. In 2016, Tropical Storm Colin formed in the Gulf on June 5.
Orlando will reach a high near 85 Friday, with a 60% coverage of rain. The average high on this date is 90. The record high is 98, set in 1927.
Rain chances jump to 80% Saturday and Sunday as tropical moisture remains in place. Highs will be in the low 80s.