Watch CBS News

Tropical Storm Hermine Continues To Strengthen

Follow CBSMIAMI.COM: Facebook | Twitter

TRACKING TROPICAL DEPRESSION 9

MIAMI (CBSMiami) –  Tropical Storm Hermine continues to strengthen over the Gulf of Mexico.

At 10 p.m. Wednesday, the center of storm was about 315 miles west-southwest of Tampa.

Maximum sustained winds were up to 60 mph with higher gusts.

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for Suwannee River to Mexico Beach.

A Hurricane Watch and Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the Anclote River to Suwannee River and west of Mexico Beach to Destin.

A Tropical Storm Watch has been issued from Marineland Florida to the South Santee River.

Hermine is moving toward the north-northeast near 10 mph and this motion with an increase in forward speed is expected to continue through Thursday.

On the forecast track, the center will be near the coast in the warning area Thursday night.

Additional strengthening is forecast during the next 24 to 36 hours, and Hermine is expected to be a hurricane by the time landfall occurs.

Related: Gov. Scott Declares State Of Emergency Ahead Of Tropical Storm Hermine 

Meanwhile, Tropical Depression Eight is likely to become extratropical by Thursday.

At 11 p.m., the center of the system was about 320 miles east-northeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.

Maximum sustained winds were down to 30 mph with higher gusts.

The depression is moving toward the east-northeast near 18 mph.  The system should accelerate toward the same direction during the next 36 hours.

Some strengthening is forecast during the next day or so. The system should become an extratropical cyclone in about a day.

As for Hurricane Gaston, it's expected to lose hurricane intensity by early Friday.

At 11 p.m., the center of the hurricane was about 935 miles west of Faial Island in the central Zores.

Maximum sustained winds fell to 105 mph with higher gusts.

Gaston is moving toward the northeast near 20 mph.  A turn toward the east-northeast with an increase in forward speed is expected during the next day or so.

On the forecast track, the center of Gaston will move near the western and central Azores on Friday.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.