(This story was updated to add new information.)
Helene may have weakened into a post-tropical cycline by Friday night but then there's Hurricane Isaac and Tropical Storm Joyce to keep the tropics busy, or even busier, through the weekend.
Neither Isaac nor Joyce pose threats to the United States.
The National Hurricane Center is tracking five systems in the Atlantic basin, including one in the Caribbean Sea Gulf Coast residents should monitor closely.
➤Spaghetti models for Hurricane Isaac
➤ Weather alerts via text: Sign up to get updates about current storms and weather events by location
Hurricane Helene made landfallon Florida's Big Bend coastline Thursday at 11:10 p.m. as a Category 4 storm, with 140-mph winds, according tothe National Hurricane Center.
The eye of Helenehit in Taylor Countyjust east of the mouth of the Aucilla River, about 10 miles west-southwest of Perry.
Following a path similar to Helene's is an area of low pressure that could form over the western Caribbean Sea next week. Conditions will become more favorable for development as it moves into the Gulf of Mexico toward the end of next week.
The next named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season is Kirk.
Here's the latest update from the National Hurricane Center as of 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27:
Helene path: Where is it and where's it going?
➤Live updates:See the latest on impacts from Helene
Is there another hurricane out there? Here's what you should know about Hurricane Isaac
- Location: 890 miles west of the Azores
- Maximum sustained winds: 85 mph
- Movement: east at 16 mph
At 11 p.m. Friday, the center of Hurricane Isaac was moving toward the east-northeast near 16 mph. A gradual turn tothe northeast is expected with a slight decrease in forward speedover the next day or so. The northeastward motion should then continue through Monday.
Maximum sustained winds are near 90 mph with higher gusts. Little change in strength is expected through Saturdaymorning, followed by gradual weakening through early next week.
Isaac is expected to be a post-tropical cyclone on Monday.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 30 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 150 miles.
Spaghetti models for Hurricane Isaac
Tropical Storm Joyce: What you should know
- Location: 1,205 miles east of the northern Leeward Islands
- Maximum sustained winds: 50 mph
- Movement: west-northwest at 12 mph
At 11 p.m. Friday, the center of Tropical Storm Joyce was moving toward the west-northwest near 12 mph, andgeneral motion with a decrease in forward speed was expectedthrough early Sunday.A slow turn toward the northwest and northwas forecast later on Sunday and Monday.
➤ Spaghetti models for Tropical Storm Joyce
Satellite-derived wind data indicate that maximum sustained windsremain near 50 mph with higher gusts.Little change instrength is expected through Saturday.Weakening is forecast tobegin by Sunday, and Joyce could degenerate into a remnant low bylate Monday.
Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 105 miles from the center.
Spaghetti models for Tropical Storm Joyce
What else is out there and how likely are they to strengthen?
Western Caribbean: An area of low pressure could form over the western Caribbean Sea by the middle of next week.
Environmental conditions are expected to be conducive for slow development thereafter while the system movesgenerally northwestward, potentially entering the Gulf of Mexico by the end of next week.
- Formation chance through 48 hours: low, near 0 percent.
- Formation chance through 7 days: low, 30 percent.
A broad and elongated area of low pressure, associated with a tropical wave, is producing limited shower activity near and to the west of the Cabo Verde Islands.
Environmental conditions appear conducive for gradual development of this system, and a tropical depression could form next week while moving toward the west and then northwest at about 10 mph across the eastern and central tropical Atlantic.
- Formation chance through 48 hours: low, near 10 percent.
- Formation chance through 7 days: low, 40 percent.
What do the colored areas on the NOAA map mean?
The hatched areas on a tropical outlook map indicate "areas where a tropical cyclone — which could be a tropical depression, tropical storm or hurricane — could develop," said National Hurricane Center Deputy Director Jamie Rhome.
The colors make it visibly clear how likely a system could develop with yellow being low, orange medium and red high.
The National Hurricane Center generally doesn't issue tropical advisories until there is a named storm, but there is an exception.
"If a system is near land and there is potential for development, the National Hurricane Center won't wait before it issues advisories, even if the system hasn't become an actual storm. This gives residents time to prepare," Rhome said.
Who is likely to be impacted?
Helene is bringing plenty of rain to portions of the Central and Southern Appalachians. Helene is expected to produce additional rainfall amounts of 3 to 6 inches leading to total rain accumulations of 6 to 12 inches, with isolated totals around 20 inches
Swells generated by Isaac are affecting portions of the coast of Bermuda and could spread into the Azores by this weekend.
Tropical Storm Joyce is not expected to impact Florida or the U.S.
It's too early at this time to determine if there will be any impact to Florida or the U.S. from the other disturbances out there.
Forecasters urge all residents to continuemonitoring the tropics and to always be prepared. That advice is particularly important for what is expected to be a very active hurricane season.
Weather watches and warnings issued in Florida
Stay informed. Get weather alerts via text
When does hurricane season end?
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30.
The Atlantic basin includes the northern Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico.
When is the peak of hurricane season?
The peak of the season was Sept. 10, with the most activity happening between mid-August and mid-October, according to the Hurricane Center.
National Hurricane Center map: What are forecasters watching now?
Systems currently being monitored by the National Hurricane Center include:
Interactive map: Hurricanes, tropical storms that have passed near your city
Excessive rainfall forecast
What's next?
We will continue to update our tropical weather coverage daily. Download your local site's app to ensure you're always connected to the news. And look for ourspecial subscription offers here.
