Will Tropical Storm Dexter become Atlantic season's first hurricane? See NOAA's forecast
Tropical Storm Dexter was strengthening today, Aug. 6, as it continues moving farther away from the United States, according to the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center.
The storm is expected to continue strengthening and could get near hurricane strength in 48 hours, with sustained winds expected to reach 70 mph. Maximum sustained winds have to reach 74 mph for a storm to be classified as a hurricane.
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Dexter formed earlier than the historical average for the fourth storm of the season, on Aug. 3. On average, the fourth storm in the Atlantic forms Aug. 15. The first hurricane forms Aug. 11.
There have been no hurricanes in the Atlantic basin — which consists of the northern Atlantic, Gulf and Caribbean — so far this season.
Elsewhere in the tropics, activity is picking up, with a medium chance of two tropical depressions forming in the Atlantic later this week or over the weekend.
Where is Tropical Storm Dexter?
Special note on the NHC cone: The forecast track shows the most likely path of the center of the storm. It does not illustrate the full width of the storm or its impacts, and the center of the storm is likely to travel outside the cone up to 33% of the time.
Location: 405 miles south-southeast of Halifax, Nova Scotia
Maximum sustained winds: 45 mph
Movement: east-northeast at 13 mph
Pressure: 1,003 mb
Next advisory: 11 a.m.
Tropical Storm Dexter: Where is it and what's it doing?
At 5 a.m., the center of Tropical Storm Dexter was located near latitude 39.4 North, longitude 59.9 West.
Dexter is moving toward the east-northeast near 13 mph, and this motion is expected to continue with some increase in forward speed over the next few days.
Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 45 mph, with higher gusts. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 90 miles from the center.
Strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours while the system becomes an extratropical cyclone.
Spaghetti models for Tropical Storm Dexter
Special note about spaghetti models: Illustrations include an array of forecast tools and models, and not all are created equal. The hurricane center uses only the top four or five highest performing models to help make its forecasts.
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What impacts will Tropical Storm Dexter have on Florida, US?
While far from Florida, Dexter is expected to bring higher surf conditions of 2 to 4 feet, along with a moderate risk for rip currents, according to the National Weather Service Melbourne.
"Dexter, along with developing easterly breezes around high pressure near the Northeast states, will create locally rough surf and periodic strong rip currents along the Atlantic coast beaches this week from Florida to Massachusetts," AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Expert Alex DaSilva said.
"It is possible that Dexter may approach the northern part of the British Isles or Iceland this weekend as a tropical rainstorm with locally gusty winds and rough seas," according to AccuWeather.
See map of watches, warnings issued for Florida, US
Where is Tropical Storm Dexter going?
Key messages from the National Hurricane Center: What you need to know about Tropical Storm Dexter
Dexter is expected to strengthen but remain a tropical storm over the next day or two.
The storm is running into strong wind shear, which is forecast to increase over the next 24 to 48 hours.
Some models show Dexter reaching hurricane strength before dissipating.
Current forecast: How strong could Tropical Storm Dexter get?
As of 5 a.m.: 45 mph
12 hours: 50 mph
24 hours: 60 mph
36 hours: 65 mph (post tropical, extra tropical)
48 hours: 70 mph (post tropical, extra tropical)
60 hours: 60 mph (post tropical, extra tropical)
72 hours: 50 mph (post tropical, extra tropical)
96 hours: 40 mph (post tropical, extra tropical)
120 hours: dissipated
Hurricane names for 2025 season
Here are the names for the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, along with how to pronounce them:
Andrea (June 20)
Barry (June 29)
Chantal (July 5)
Dexter: DEHK-ster (Aug. 3)
Erin: AIR-rin
Fernand: fair-NAHN
Gabrielle: ga-bree-ELL
Humberto: oom-BAIR-toh
Imelda: ee-MEHL-dah
Jerry: JEHR-ee
Karen: KAIR-ren
Lorenzo: loh-REN-zoh
Melissa: meh-LIH-suh
Nestor: NES-tor
Olga: OAL-guh
Pablo: PAHB-lo
Rebekah: reh-BEH-kuh
Sebastien: se-BAS-tee-en
Tanya: TAHN-yuh
Van: van
Wendy: WEN-dee
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This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Tropical Storm Dexter: See projected path, spaghetti models. Hurricane
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