Tropical Storm Fernand forms in Atlantic while NHC tracks 2nd system

Richard Tribou and Brian Bell, Orlando Sentinel on Aug 23, 2025

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ORLANDO, Fla. — Tropical Storm Fernand formed Saturday afternoon in the central Atlantic but was expected to remain over the open ocean. It was the sixth named storm of the season.

According to NHC’s 5 p.m. advisory Fernand was about 405 miles south-southeast of Bermuda with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph and higher gusts with northward movement at 15 mph. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 105 miles from the center.

“A north-northeastward motion at a gradually increasing forward speed is anticipated during the next couple of days, followed by a turn to the northeast,” forecasters said. “On the forecast track, Fernand should move well east of Bermuda and across the open waters of the subtropical North Atlantic.”

The forecast said some strengthening is expected during the next 48 hours and Fernand could be near hurricane strength Monday. Weakening is expected to begin Tuesday.

The other system tracked by the NHC was a tropical wave with disorganized showers and thunderstorms about 500 miles east of the Caribbean’s Windward Islands, as of the 8 p.m. advisory. The NHC gave it a 40% chance of development in the next two to seven days.

“This system could become a tropical depression during the next day or two while it moves quickly westward at about 20 to 25 mph, passing through the Windward and Leeward Islands late on Sunday,” forecasters said. “Regardless of development, locally heavy rainfall and gusty winds are possible across portions of the Windward and Leeward Islands on Sunday and Monday.”

The system is expected to reach the central Caribbean on Tuesday, where conditions are expected to become less favorable for additional development, according to NHC. An Air Force reconnaissance aircraft is scheduled to investigate the system Sunday, if necessary.

What had been the season’s first hurricane, Hurricane Erin, which had grown into a Category 5 storm with 160 mph winds last week, turned extratropical Friday without making landfall, although it was blamed for nine deaths in the Cape Verde Islands. As of Saturday the NHC no longer showed Erin on its outlook map.

It plowed across the Atlantic and turned to the north while dumping rain on the Leeward Islands, Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, the Turks & Caicos, Bahamas and Outer Banks of North Carolina as it skirted the U.S. East Coast.

Swells from the storm continue to be a threat to the Atlantic coast Saturday.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recently updated its season forecast to call for 13-18 named storms this year, of which five to nine would grow into hurricanes. Two to five of those would develop into major hurricanes of Category 3 or higher.

The height of hurricane season runs from mid-August into October while the entire six-month season runs June 1 to Nov. 30.