Subtropical Storm Josephine formed off the mid-Atlantic coast on Wednesday and is forecast to strengthen but move northeastward away from the United States, the National Hurricane Center said, and a second Atlantic disturbance is brewing.
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As of the NHC’s 5 p.m. tropical outlook, Josephine was located 265 miles south of Nantucket, Massachusetts, and 585 miles southwest of Halifax, Nova Scotia, moving north at 6 mph with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph.
“The storm should turn northeastward by tomorrow with a large increase in forward speed. On the forecast track, Josephine should move away from the United States and remain south of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland,” forecasters said. “Some strengthening is expected, though Josephine is anticipated to remain a subtropical storm through early Thursday.”
Winds of 40 mph extend out up to 415 miles from the center.
The NHC expects further strengthening by late Thursday as Josephine becomes a post-tropical cyclone with hurricane-force winds.
Although there are no coastal watches or warnings in effect, the storm’s proximity means high winds, dangerous surf and coastal flooding are possible over the next few days along portions of the U.S. East Coast.
Forecasters also are tracking a second system, a trough of low pressure located several hundred miles east-southeast of Bermuda in the subtropical central Atlantic producing a large area of disorganized showers and thunderstorms.
“Some development of this system is possible during the next day or two while it moves slowly north-northeastward,” forecasters said. “Upper-level winds are forecast to become too strong for further development by the weekend.”
The NHC gave it a 10% chance to develop in the next two to seven days.
So far, the 2026 hurricane season has produced nine named storms: Arthur, Bertha, Cristobal, Dolly, Edouard, Fay, Gonzalo, Hanna, Isaias and Josephine.
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The next name on the list is Kyle.
After landfall yesterday evening as a hurricane, Isaias has weakened to a post-tropical cyclone as it moves inland.
The storm continues to bring heavy rain and strong winds across the Southern Appalachians and Southeast today. pic.twitter.com/sxGBcefvVJ
— CIRA (@CIRA_CSU) October 10, 2026
Only Isaias has reached hurricane strength during what has been a very slow Atlantic season amid effects from a strong global El Niño weather pattern. Isaias made landfall on Oct. 9 near Destin on Florida’s Panhandle as a Category 2 hurricane.
Hurricane season began June 1 and runs through Nov. 30, but the height of hurricane season runs from mid-August through mid-October.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in August had updated its seasonal forecast to expect between seven and 13 named storms this year. Of those, two to six would become hurricanes.
An average year would see 14 named storms and seven hurricanes, with three of those growing to Category 3 strength or higher.
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