Tropical Storm Gonzalo forms off Africa as Fay spins in Atlantic and Pacific stays active
Tampa weather | Friday morning forecast
FOX 13 Meteorologist Dave Osterberg says Friday will be warm, breezy and much drier with a high temperature of 87 degrees.
TAMPA, Fla. - Multiple tropical storms and hurricanes are active across the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, bringing severe threats to Hawaii, Mexico, and the Cape Verde Islands while missing the continental United States.
Tropical storms in Atlantic
What we know:
Tropical Storm Fay remains active in the open Atlantic, spinning harmlessly away from land.
Meanwhile, newly formed Tropical Storm Gonzalo is located barely off the African coast and will affect the Cape Verde Islands this weekend under active Tropical Storm Warnings.
Pacific storms intensify
What we know:
Hurricane Polo has regained Category 5 strength and is projected to turn toward Baja California, where it will make landfall early next week as a Category 1 or 2 storm before dropping torrential rains over Mexico's mountains.
Farther west, Hurricane Nolo is forecast to reach major hurricane strength over the weekend.
What we don't know:
It remains unclear exactly how much damage the high-altitude rainfall will cause in Mexico's mountainous regions or if Nolo's projected hard left turn will fully spare the Hawaiian Islands from severe coastal surge.
Life-threatening Hawaii flooding
Why you should care:
As Hurricane Nolo nears the Big Island of Hawaii, the storm is expected to make a hard left turn. Despite that turn, the island is forecast to receive 15 to 30 inches of rain, with isolated maximums reaching 35 inches. The severe downpours will cause life-threatening flooding and mudslides, particularly across higher terrain.
The Source: The information in this story was gathered from National Hurricane Center and Central Pacific Hurricane Center advisory statements.