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Tropical Storm Joyce Tracker: Projected Path, Spaghetti Models

Tropical Storm Joyce Tracker: Projected Path, Spaghetti Models
Posted on | Posted on angela

Editor's note: This story was published Friday afternoon. Follow the latest developments on Tropical Storm Joyce, Hurricane Isaac and other disturbances here.

Helene made landfall in the Florida Big Bend late Thursday evening, bringing life-threatening flooding and damaging winds to much of the southeastern United States before weakening to a tropical storm early Friday morning.

However, Helene isn't the only storm forecaster keeping an eye on the Atlantic as it remains active.

According to the National Hurricane Center, Tropical Storm Joyce formed in the central tropical Atlantic on Friday morning. The storm was located about 1,325 miles east of the Northern Leeward Islands with maximum sustained winds of about 40 miles per hour.

Saturday updates: Helene's death toll rises; Millions of dollars in power outages

Gradual strengthening is expected through Saturday, followed by gradual weakening through early next week, according to NHC forecasters. Tropical storm force winds currently extend up to 70 miles from the center.

Tracking the path of Tropical Storm Joyce

Tropical Storm Joyce Spaghetti Models

The figures cover a range of forecasting tools and models, and not all are created equal. The hurricane center only uses the four or five best-performing models in its forecasts.

NHC is also tracking two other tropical waves in the Atlantic

A low pressure area could form over the western Caribbean Sea by the middle of next week, the NHC said. Environmental conditions thereafter are expected to be “conducive to slow development” as this system moves northwest, possibly moving into the Gulf of Mexico by the end of next week, the NHC said Friday.

Another low pressure area could form over the eastern tropical Atlantic early to mid-next week, the NHC said, and the system could develop slowly as it moves northwest at 10 to 15 miles per hour.

What about Hurricane Isaac?

On Friday morning, Hurricane Isaac was moving westward across the north-central Atlantic, the NHC said. It was located about 1,080 miles west of the Azores and is moving east-northeast at about 18 miles per hour, with maximum sustained wind speeds of about 120 miles per hour.

The NHC said Friday that further strengthening is expected over the next day or so, followed by gradual weakening by the end of this weekend.

Tropical Storm John continues to devastate Mexico

In the Pacific Ocean, Tropical Storm John continues to cause flash flooding and mudslides in parts of southern and southwestern Mexico, the NHC said Friday.

The center of John is expected to move along the coast or just inland into southwestern Mexico Friday afternoon and evening, the NHC said in a statement.

“Maximum sustained winds have decreased to nearly 60 mph with increased gusts,” the NHC said Friday. Gradual weakening is expected Friday, with more rapid weakening forecast through Friday evening as the center begins to interact with higher terrain in southwestern Mexico.

Gabe Hauari is a nationally featured news reporter at USA TODAY. You can follow him on X @GabeHauari or email him at [email protected].This story has been updated to add video.

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