Tropical Storm Idalia moving away from eastern North Carolina
MIAMI - After lashing eastern North Carolina with heavy rain Tropical Storm Idalia is moving away from the coast.
Late Thursday morning, Idalia was about 85 southeast of Cape Lookout North Carolina. It was moving to the east at 20 mph with sustained winds of 60 mph.
On the forecast track, Idalia will continue to move away from the coast of North Carolina on Thursday and approach Bermuda over the weekend.
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for:
* Cape Fear, North Carolina to the North Carolina/Virginia border
* Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds
A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for:
* Beaufort Inlet to Ocracoke Inlet, North Carolina
* Neuse and Pamlico Rivers, North Carolina
Little change in strength is expected on Thursday but some slight weakening is forecast for Thursday night and Friday.
Idalia is forecast to become a post-tropical cyclone later today, but it is expected to make a transition back to a tropical storm over the weekend.
Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Jose continues it trek across the eastern Atlantic.
Thursday morning, the storm was about 770 miles east of Bermuda. It was moving to the north at 7 mph with sustained winds of 40 mph.
Jose is expected to continue its northern trek for the next day or so before it is absorbed by Hurricane Franklin.
Speaking of Franklin, it was about 265 miles northeast of Bermuda. It was moving east-northeast at 14 mph with 100 mph winds.
On the forecast track, the center of Franklin should continue moving away from Bermuda. Gradual weakening is forecast over the next few days.
There are no watches or warnings for Franklin or Jose.