ORLANDO, Fla. – Tropical Storm Danielle continues to rapidly intensify in the North Atlantic.
As of 5 a.m. Friday, Danielle was on the brink of hurricane status, with winds of 70 mph. Hurricane-force winds are greater than 74 mph. Danielle is drifting east at 3 mph.
Additional strengthening is likely and Danielle is expected to become the season’s first hurricane.
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Elsewhere, a tropical wave east of the Lesser Antilles continues to slowly move west-northwest through the Atlantic. The environment remains only marginally conducive for development, but any further organization would lead to a tropical depression. Development chances over the next 48 hours are 50% but climb to 70% over the next five days.
This disturbance does not pose a direct threat to Florida or any part of the United States.
Another tropical wave northwest of the Cabo Verde Islands remains poorly organized. The system is moving into a more hostile environment and significant development is not expected. Development chances have decreased to 10%.
The next named storm will be Earl.
The peak of hurricane season is Sep 10.
Hurricane season runs through November.