Hurricane Humberto: Life-threatening conditions to hit Florida – Latest NOAA alert

Tropical Storm Humberto just missed the Bahamas as it heads north towards the US. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has said the already well-established system is expected to become a hurricane on Sunday. Humberto is currently whipping out winds of 65mph as it moves north at 7mph.

For the storm to be categorised a hurricane it needs winds of at least 74mph, according to the Saffir Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.

The system is currently located about 165 miles east-northeast of Cape Canaveral in the US state of Florida.

Although the storm is not forecast to make landfall on the Sunshine State, NOAA has warned Humberto may bring swells during the next few days.

These swells could cause “life-threatening surf and rip current conditions” during the next few days, the agency said.

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Gusty winds are still affecting portions of the northwestern Bahamas and Humberto, only days after Hurricane Dorian hit the Abaco Islands and Grand Bahama.

The death toll currently stands at 50 after Dorian wreaked havoc but search and rescue teams are still searching through destroyed neighbourhoods.

The storm is forecast to continue moving away from the Bahamas and remain well offshore of Florida’s east coast through Wednesday, the hurricane centre said.

There were concerns Humberto could bring dangerous weather conditions to Bahamas, where hundreds are still missing after Hurricane Dorian hit the islands earlier in September.

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CNN meteorologist Allison Chinchar said: “Even if you’re just talking 2 to 4 inches (of rain), you have to remember a lot of these homes, they don’t have roofs on them.

“A lot of the buildings are already structurally compromised, so even a 50- or 60-mph wind can cause even more damage.”

Although the islands did get some rain, the Bahamas escaped the worst of Humberto.

CNN Meteorologist Derek Van Dam added: “They were spared the heaviest rain and the strongest winds, which were centred north and east of the storm.”

Where will Humberto head next?

Humberto is currently located about 180 miles north-northwest of the Great Abaco Island and 165 miles east-northeast of Cape Canaveral, Florida.

The system is currently moving north at 7mph, but a sharp turn to the northeast is forecast to occur on Monday morning or afternoon.

This will be followed by a motion toward the northeast and east-northeast on Tuesday and Wednesday.

source: express.co.uk