All eyes are on Tropical Storm Kirk as the 2024 hurricane season continues. The National Hurricane Center is tracking multiple storm systems in the Atlantic right now, but Kirk is the one that poses the most threat to the United States. Experts have weighed in about whether Tropical Storm Kirk will become Hurricane Kirk and what direction it’ll head. Fortunately, the news is good.
Will Tropical Storm Kirk become a hurricane?
According to the National Hurricane Center, Tropical Storm Kirk, which formed on Monday morning, will gradually increase in power over the next few days. The NHC predicts Kirk will become a hurricane by Tuesday night or Wednesday morning. The storm will continue to gain momentum after that and become a “very large major hurricane” sometime on Wednesday.
Currently, Tropical Storm Kirk is emitting maximum sustained winds of around 60 miles per hour, which extend outward up to 115 miles. Those speeds will only increase, and Kirk will continue ramping up toward hurricane status.
Will Tropical Storm Kirk hit the United States?
Fortunately, Kirk won’t hit the U.S. or anywhere else. It’s currently moving west at 12 mph and is predicted to turn northwest by Wednesday. It’s far enough away from land that it will almost certainly disappate before it has a chance to cause damage to any populated areas. So, you should be fine if you don’t fly or sail into it.
If everything goes right, the threat from Kirk is minimal. The storm’s expected path keeps it safely away from inhabited regions, reducing concerns for coastal communities. If Kirk follows predictions, it’ll weaken over open waters and dissipate entirely within the next week or so. This news comes as a relief during an active hurricane season, especially after the effect Hurricane Helene had on the country last week.
