Florence, weakened by a tropical storm Thursday night, is expected to turn into a major hurricane as it approaches the east coast next week.

Where and when that could hit remains a mystery.

According to the National Hurricane Center's latest forecast, the storm is about 1,600 miles from the outer shores of North Carolina and is about a week away from a potential landing in the United States.

From 5 pm ET Friday, Florence had 65 mph winds and was moving west at 8 mph. The center of the storm was 905 miles east-southeast of Bermuda.

After weakening and regaining strength, it is expected to become a Category 4 hurricane with winds of 130 km / h near the United States.

"Whatever the trajectory of Florence, big waves will begin to affect Bermuda later today and portions of the US East Coast this weekend, resulting in deadly surf and ripping currents," he said. Friday the center.

More: Follow the path of Florence

It is too early to determine what other effects, if any, Florence could have on the east coast, the hurricane center added.

Two meteorologists from the United States and Europe, however, say a major hurricane hit the Carolinas next week, a weather forecaster said. Ryan Maue.

Dan Kottlowski, a meteorologist at AccuWeather, said "Although it's too early to change plans, all interests in Bermuda and the US east coast should closely follow the Florence movement this weekend. next week".

If the storm hit the United States, it would be an unprecedented event: since 1851, 33 named storms were within 100 miles of Florence's current position, and none of these storms touched down, said a meteorologist from Colorado State University. Phil Klotzbach.

He added that Florence does not seem to follow a trajectory similar to that of historical hurricanes.

Beyond Florence, two other systems are strengthening in the Atlantic Ocean. Both were classified as tropical depressions on Friday afternoon and are expected to become tropical storms and possibly hurricanes in the coming days, the hurricane center said. The next two names on the list are Helene and Isaac.

"With such a concentration on Florence, particular attention should be paid to Helen's potential in the coming days," said the meteorologist of the meteorological network. Erin Wenckstern. She added that a hurricane landing is possible for the Lesser Antilles, an island chain in the Caribbean.

In the Pacific Ocean, while tropical storm Norman is not expected to hit Hawaii, hurricane Olivia could hit the islands next week, likely in the form of a tropical storm, the hurricane center said.

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