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A potential tropical storm, so far unnamed, was predicted to make landfill in North Carolina Saturday, then push across eastern Virginia and Maryland by Sunday.

The storm was off the coast of South Carolina and North Carolina with top sustained winds of 50 mph (85 kph). A storm surge watch was in effect, with surges between 3 and 5 feet (0.9 to 1.5 meters) forecast for parts of North Carolina, the National Hurricane Center reported.

Forecasters in Bermuda warned of dangerous swells and rip currents as another storm, Hurricane Nigel, spun through open waters in the northern Atlantic. Thursday, the Category 1 Nigel was located about 495 miles (800 kilometers) southeast of Cape Race Newfoundland. It had maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 kph) and was moving north at 30 mph (48 kph). Weakening is forecast during the next couple of days, and Nigel is forecast to become a post-tropical cyclone by Friday.

Bermuda, home to a number of reinsurance companies, has felt the brunt of three storms in the past month, although none have been a direct hit.

“This has been a very long and relentless hurricane season,” said National Security Minister Michael Weeks.

Forecasters also were tracking other systems that have the potential to hit the eastern U.S.

Map: Potential Cyclone 16’s predicted path. (National Weather Service)

Topics Windstorm North Carolina Virginia