Hurricane Humberto brings big waves, high seas and surfers to South Florida – Palm Beach Post

Humberto strengthens to a hurricane overnight, what it means for South Florida and whats on the tropical horizon.

Humberto is mustering to a major Category 3 hurricane far from the U.S. coastline, but ripples from the burgeoning storm are pounding Florida beaches with dangerous swells.

From Palm Beach County through the Space Coast, high waves and sloshing seas radiating from the slowpoke cyclone triggered small craft advisories, rip current warnings and high surf alerts that could continue through the week.

As of the 11 p.m. Monday advisory from the National Hurricane Center, the 90-mph hurricane was 625 miles west of Bermuda and expected to build to a 115-mph cyclone by mid-week. It was moving east-northeast at 8 mph with a reach that drew surfers from hundreds of miles away to southeast Florida.

Im always keeping an eye on what its doing, said Chris Ulman, who drove from Sarasota on Monday to surf the south side of the Juno Beach Pier. Today, its fairly challenging.

Red flags flapped in an offshore breeze at Juno Beach, which is just north enough to catch swell sneaking around the Bahamas. Head-high waves were common, but Ulman said by midday they started closing out, meaning the wave crashed all at once, instead of forming a long barreling line.

The National Weather Service has a high risk of dangerous rip currents in effect for Palm Beach County to north of Vero Beach. A high surf advisory is in effect for the Volusia and Brevard county coasts.

Palm Beach Countys offshore waters could have seas building to 9 to 12 feet by the end of the week. If that holds true, a high surf advisory may be issued.

Humbertos tropical storm-force winds extend about 105 miles from its center. Its hurricane-force winds extend about 30 miles.

Whenever you have large, long period swells coming in, its going to enhance the rip current threat because they allow a lot of water to pile up on the beach and it has to run out somewhere, said Matt Bragaw, a meteorologist with the NWS in Melbourne. If portions of a sandbar break, and the water finds a preferred channel, it can overpower even the strongest of swimmers.

Why hasn't Palm Beach County been hit by a massive storm lately? Well, it ain't science. @BMcNoldymade a map that was so shocking we had to write a story https://t.co/IEhk4VdaaW pic.twitter.com/acTQskumjH

Humberto is also opening a window for north- northwester winds to drag down some drier air from higher latitudes, reducing rain chances to just 20 percent Tuesday and Wednesday.

South Florida will get northwest winds turning north as Humberto continues to pull away and an area of high pressure moves in. High temperatures are forecast to reach near 90 degrees with heat index temperatures in the triple digits.

RELATED: Why a warming planet may mean more Dorian-like storms

Theres always a chance the dry air doesnt materialize in South Florida, said Harry Weinman, a meteorologist with National Weather Service in Miami. But Im looking forward to seeing some of it.

Weinman said the high waves could stick around into the weekend.

Humberto may be one of the more memorable hurricane swells in the past two seasons with 2018s Florence promising bigger waves, then flaking out.

Mesmerizing view of the cloud structure & motions in intensifying #Hurricane #Humberto pic.twitter.com/SrwBnGrzPY

John Higgins, a Sunny Isles Beach resident who drove north for waves Monday, said Humbertos waves were chunky and messy, and quickly fizzled.

It wasnt very good, he said about Dorian after surfing at the Juno Beach Pier Monday. It was too rough, and then much smaller.

Humberto may not be the last chance for hurricane swell this season.

The National Hurricane Center is giving a system about 1,200 miles east of the Lesser Antilles a 90 percent chance of development over five days, but said a tropical depression could form by Wednesday.

Also being watched is a disorganized cluster of showers and thunderstorms in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico. While it has just a 20 percent chance of development, it could still mean heavy rain along portions of Texas coast.

The next name on the 2019 storm list is Imelda, followed by Jerry.

kmiller@pbpost.com

@Kmillerweather

See original here:

Hurricane Humberto brings big waves, high seas and surfers to South Florida - Palm Beach Post