Tropical Depression Nine has strengthened into Tropical Storm Hermine.
As of the 2 p.m. update from the National Hurricane Center, Hermine had sustained winds at 40 mph with higher gusts. The storm is moving very slowly to the north at 2 mph.
A north-northeastward motion is expected later today, and a turn toward the northeast with increasing forward speed is expected on Thursday. On the forecast track, the center of Hermine will approach the northwest Florida coast by Thursday afternoon.
Additional strengthening is forecast during the next day or two. In fact, Hermine could be near hurricane strength by the time landfall occurs.
Once the storm makes landfall, it is expected to move up the southeast coast and possibly bring rain and wind to parts of Hampton Roads and Northeastern North Carolina for the start of the Labor Day weekend.
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