Larry Expected to Be a Hurricane by Thursday, But Not Threaten USVI

A weather system that developed into Tropical Storm Larry on Wednesday is now expected to become a hurricane by Wednesday night or early Thursday morning but is not likely to threaten the U.S. Virgin Islands. According to the National Hurricane Center’s 5 p.m. Wednesday update, Larry was about 370 miles west-southwest of the southernmost of the Cabo Verde Islands, moving west at 22 miles per hour.

Afternoon satellite imagery indicated that Larry was continuing to become better organized, with visible imagery hinting at eye formation. Intensity estimates based on satellite data indicate the winds in the storm have increased by 30 knots in a day, from 30 knots Tuesday afternoon to 60 knots Wednesday.

Larry is expected to move around the south and southwest sides of a subtropical ridge during the next five days, with a westward motion for the next 24 to 36 hours, followed by a turn toward the west-northwest and, by the weekend to have turned toward the northwest, swinging away from the Antilles.