On the day that President Joe Biden is set to tour the devastation wreaked by Hurricane Ida, leveling buildings and pushing much of New Orleans into the dark, an announcement came: Another hurricane is brewing.
The National Hurricane Center says a storm identified as Larry could become a major hurricane by Friday night and reach Category 4 strength -- the same as Ida -- by Sunday.
As of 5 a.m. Friday, Hurricane Larry was 970 miles west of the Cabo Verde Islands, with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph and traveling west-northwest at 20 mph.
"Significant to possibly rapid intensification is forecast during the next couple of days, and Larry is expected to become a major hurricane tomorrow night. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 25 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 160 miles," the NHC said.
There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect yet, however the 5 a.m. advisory from the National Hurricane Center shows Larry as forecast to become a major Cat. 3 hurricane by 2 a.m. on Saturday and at Cat. 4 strength by Sunday, according to WRAL meteorologist Zach Maloch.
Larry could strike Bermuda by mid-week next week before it's expected to veer to the northeast, Maloch said.
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And this could be just the beginning for residents along the coasts: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasters say conditions are favorable for "above-normal hurricane activity" this season because El Niño has ended.
NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center previously put the chances for an above-normal season at 30%. Their latest outlook sets the chances at 45%.