ORLANDO, Fla. – A tropical depression on a path toward Puerto Rico has intensified becoming Tropical Storm Josephine as of Thursday night, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Josephine now holds the record for the earliest named storm with the letter beating out Jose in 2005.
There is a little bit of room for minor strengthening before encountering shear and possibly falling apart. As of now, Josephine should not be a concern to Central Florida as its likely to make a turn if there is even anything left.
As of 11 p.m. Thursday, the tropical storm was 760 miles east-southeast of the Northern Leeward Islands, moving west-northwest at 17 mph. The system has sustained winds of 45 mph and gusts up to 60 mph.
Computer models show the system trekking north of Puerto Rico early Monday as a tropical storm before weakening.
Orlando-area forecast
Sea breeze storms will strike Central Florida, with “feels like” temperatures reaching 105 degrees.
Orlando will reach a high in the mid-90s Thursday. The average high on this date is 92. The record high is 99, set in 1943.
“Most of the rain chances come in after 2 p.m., with a 60% coverage,” News 6 meteorologist Troy Bridges said.
Rain chances remain the same through Saturday before increasing to 70% Sunday.
Orlando has a rain deficit of just over 2 inches in 2020.