Tropical Storm Jerry, recently formed over the central Atlantic, is strengthening and is expected to become a hurricane within the next day, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC). As of Tuesday evening, the storm, located about 900 miles east of the Windward Islands, was producing sustained winds near 50 mph and moving west at 20 mph. The NHC expects it to turn west-northwest by midweek, bringing it near or just north of the northern Leeward Islands by late Thursday or Friday.
Environmental conditions remain favorable for Jerry's intensification, with warm ocean waters and low wind shear supporting its strengthening. The NHC forecasts Jerry will become a hurricane by Wednesday, potentially reaching maximum sustained winds of 100 mph by the weekend. Tropical storm watches have been issued for parts of the northern Leeward Islands, where heavy rainfall could lead to flash flooding, particularly in higher elevations.
Though the storm’s core is expected to stay just north of the islands, slight changes in its speed or direction could bring it closer to land. The NHC also mentioned that both NOAA and the U.S. Air Force Hurricane Hunters are set to investigate the storm on Wednesday to gather more precise data. Jerry is forecast to turn northward by the weekend as a large weather system over the western Atlantic weakens the steering ridge.
Jerry is the latest named storm of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, which has already produced four hurricanes, including two that reached Category 5 strength.
Environmental conditions remain favorable for Jerry's intensification, with warm ocean waters and low wind shear supporting its strengthening. The NHC forecasts Jerry will become a hurricane by Wednesday, potentially reaching maximum sustained winds of 100 mph by the weekend. Tropical storm watches have been issued for parts of the northern Leeward Islands, where heavy rainfall could lead to flash flooding, particularly in higher elevations.
Though the storm’s core is expected to stay just north of the islands, slight changes in its speed or direction could bring it closer to land. The NHC also mentioned that both NOAA and the U.S. Air Force Hurricane Hunters are set to investigate the storm on Wednesday to gather more precise data. Jerry is forecast to turn northward by the weekend as a large weather system over the western Atlantic weakens the steering ridge.
Jerry is the latest named storm of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, which has already produced four hurricanes, including two that reached Category 5 strength.
