Forecasters kept an eye out for another storm moving across the Atlantic, which could cause even more destruction just days after Hurricane Ida devastated a number of states.
Accuweather meteorologists stated that Larry, now a major category 3 hurricane, could become a Category 4 storm by Sunday. A Category 4 hurricane is one with sustained winds between 130 and 156 mph. Accuweather stated that Larry's sustained winds would exceed 150 mph and it would be the strongest storm in Atlantic this year, even stronger than Ida.
Accuweather stated that the storm would continue to move across the Atlantic open waters for several days more, but could eventually reach Bermuda in the middle of next week to make contact with North America. Accuweather stated that Larry would most likely miss the United States at this point and remain a few hundred yards from the Northeast coast.
However, Larry's impact could still be felt by large parts of the east coast U.S. Coast by midweek. Major swells caused by the storm "likely to cause major swells and rip current conditions," according to the hurricane center.
Larry was approximately 880 miles east from the Northern Leeward Islands Sunday. He was moving northwest at 13 mph. The National Hurricane Center stated that maximum sustained winds were 125 miles per hour with gusts up to 115 mph. Although there is little chance of strength changes in the coming days, fluctuations in intensity are possible. The center stated that Larry will remain a major hurricane until the middle of the week.
According to the center, the storm is a major hurricane. Hurricane-force winds can extend up to 45 miles from its center. Tropical-storm-force winds can extend outwards up to 175 miles.
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Randy Adkins, AccuWeather senior meteorologist, stated that there was a possibility Larry could track west enough to pass over Bermuda. As it stands now, however, it seems more likely that Larry will still be far enough east to spare Bermuda from the worst of the storm.
According to Hurricane Larry's forecast, the storm could be approaching Bermuda by next week.
Last week, Larry was named the fifth hurricane and the third major hurricane in an already difficult Atlantic hurricane season. There were 12 named storms. The season runs from June 1-Nov. 30, with the peak on Friday.
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Accuweather stated that Larry could live to the second week in September, making him the longest-lived named system this season.
Forecasters in the Ida-battered Southeast were monitoring a brewing system that was forecast to move northeastward or northward over the western Gulf of Mexico on Sunday. The hurricane center stated that although upper-level winds are not expected to be "marginally conducive," for the formation of tropical cyclones, some slow development is possible. Even if tropical development does not occur, heavy rains could be expected midweek.
Contributing: Dinah Pulver
This article was originally published on USA TODAY. Hurricane Larry could be stronger than Ida and will miss the US
