Hurricane Hunter Aircraft Finds Depression Still Weak

While Tropical Depression Nine became Tropical Storm Hermine in the Southeastern Gulf of Mexico, the other tropical depression in the Atlantic, TD #8, is still struggling to gain tropical storm strength as it moves away from the Outer Banks of North Carolina on Wednesday afternoon.

As of the 11:00 AM EDT Advisory from the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida, the center of Tropical Depression Eight was located some 135 miles east of Cape Hatteras on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The system is moving briskly to the Northeast at 15 miles per hour. Maximum sustained winds remain at 35 miles per hour with gusts up to 45 miles per hour.

The minimum central pressure with TD #8 continues to be high at 1010 millibars, or 29.83 inches of Hg. The pressure has only dropped one millibar in the last 24 hours or so. All the tropical watches and warnings that were in effect on Tuesday, are no longer in effect since the depression has begun to pull away from the North Carolina coast and Outer Banks.

Looking at the forecast track, Tropical Depression Eight is expected to continue the general motion to the Northeast with an increase in forward speed over the next 24 hours. The intensity forecast indicates that the system could still strengthen to a tropical storm within the next 12 to 24 hours, and reach a peak of 50 miles per hour before becoming post-tropical in three days.