Storm Watch No. 6.2, 2006:Bermuda In Florence's Strike Zone

Tropical Storm Florence isn't strengthening, but it could become a hurricane by this weekend. Current tracking doesn't show her headed toward the States, but she's coming right down on top of Bermuda -- at hurricane force.

Florence had sustained wind near 50 mph Wednesday, over the 39 mph threshold for a tropical storm. National Hurricane Center forecasters said it could strengthen into a hurricane, with winds of at least 74 mph, as early as Thursday.

At 5 p.m. ET, the storm was centered about 770 miles east of the Northern Leeward Islands, or about 1,900 miles southeast of Miami, and was moving west-northwest about 9 mph.

"The concern would be Bermuda at this point, how close the destructive force winds will move toward it," said Dave Roberts, a forecaster at the hurricane center. Florence's center was about 1,240 miles southeast of Bermuda on Wednesday.

The NHC will update Florence's status again tomorrow at 5 a.m.

Storm Watch No. 6.1, 2006: Florence Is Born

A new tropical storm, Florence, is now in the Atlantic and should reach hurricane strength in a couple of days.

Florence had top sustained wind near 40 mph, 1 mph over the 39 mph threshold for a tropical storm, and it was expected to slowly intensify to hurricane strength, according to the National Hurricane Center

"Our forecast does have it becoming a hurricane by Friday morning -- minimal hurricane, Category 1," said Mark Willis, a meteorologist at the hurricane center.

Hurricanes have sustained wind of at least 74 mph; Category 1 storms have top sustained wind of up to 95 mph.

It was still too early to tell if it would hit the United States, Willis said.

The five-day track is hard to read. Florence could keep breaking to the right, which means she would stir up out in the Atlantic until reaching cooler waters. But if she goes against the current prediction and stays straight, she could end up coming ashore in the general area where Ernesto arrived: the Carolina coastal region.

Storm Watch No. 5.4, 2006:Ernesto Brings The Rain

Ernesto came ashore just below hurricane strength. But he is packing a wet punch inland.

Ernesto weakened to a tropical depression Friday, but the storm still packed enough punch to dump more than half a foot of rain, knock out power to more than 300,000 customers and force hundreds of people from their homes.

And it was far from finished. On the eve of the Labor Day weekend, the storm prompted flash flood watches for wide sections of Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and central New York.

"Nobody is relaxing until long after the storm has passed," Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine said.

You have to love the "half a foot of rain" description. That sounds so much better than "six inches." And then there's this note, as we are now into September with only one hurricane (Ernesto reached Category 1 strength days ago, but not for long.):

Also Friday, a team of hurricane forecasters in Colorado lowered their expectations for the 2006 Atlantic season, predicting only five hurricanes instead of the seven previously forecast.

Well, sure ... c'mon you can't change your prediction with two months gone. It's like waiting until the third quarter and the Cowboys are leading the Eagles 31-10 and saying, "I know I said the Eagles might win, but I'm going with the Cowboys now."

UPDATE: We stick to Atlantic hurricanes here, but if you're in the western and southwestern United States, you might be interested in two Pacific storms: Hurricane John and Tropical Storm Kristy.