Tropical Storm Humberto, Invest 94L could impact the NC coast. Here's the latest.

Two storms are brewing in the Atlantic that could impact the North Carolina coast later this week.

Tropical Storm Humberto has formed, while another disturbance, Invest 94L, could form into a tropical storm in the coming days.

As of 5 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 25, Tropical Storm Humberto was located 480 miles east-northeast of the Northern Leeward Islands, according to the National Hurricane Center. Humberto was moving around 10 mph in a west-northwest direction.

A west-northwest to northwest motion is expected over the next few days, with a slower forward movement speed.

Humberto’s maximum sustained winds were around 45 mph with higher gusts, though Humberto is expected to increase in strength over the coming days.

No coastal watches or warnings are in effect for the North Carolina coast.

Nearby, Invest 94L is swirling in the Caribbean. The disturbance has a high chance of developing into a tropical storm over the next few days.

Meanwhile, Hurricane Gabrielle continues to move away from the East Coast.

With the tropical activity, there’s a moderate risk of rip currents along New Hanover County beaches through Thursday evening, with enhanced risk for rip currents and longshore currents starting Monday, Sept. 29.

STORM TRACKER: Monitor the latest tropical developments here.

Where is Invest 94L headed? Tropical disturbance may near North Carolina coast

What to expect in Wilmington

While it’s too early to predict what direct impacts the two tropical disturbances might have on the Wilmington area, the National Weather Service in Wilmington is forecasting rain through the weekend.

• Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 88. South wind 6 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 17 mph.

• Friday: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. South wind 5 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. Rain chances continue through Friday night.

• Saturday: Showers likely, with thunderstorms also possible after 2 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 83. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

• Sunday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 82. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

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North Carolina weather radar

More on Invest 94L

As of 8 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 25, Invest 94L was located over the central Caribbean Sea and southwestern Atlantic, according to the National Hurricane Center.

The low pressure has an 70% chance of tropical cyclone formation in the next 48 hours and a 90% of formation over the next seven days.

The tropical wave is bringing showers, thunderstorms and heavy winds to the Dominican Republic and Turks and Caicos Island, the hurricane center said.

“The low is expected to become a tropical depression when it is in the vicinity of the central and northwest Bahamas in a couple of days,” the hurricane center said.

What are rip currents?

According to the U.S. Lifesaving Association, rip currents are channelized currents of water flowing away from shore at surf beaches. Often these currents move swimmers far from shore before they realize it, taking them into deeper water. This can cause fear and distress as the swimmers attempt to make it back to shore.

How to identify a rip current

Rip currents can be difficult to spot, but beachgoers should look for water that is darker in color, choppy and leaves a break in the incoming wave pattern. They form at low spots or breaks in sandbars, piling up water between the breaking waves and the beach. The water returns to sea through the rip current. Another clue may be a line of foam, seaweed or debris moving seaward.

GET READY: Here’s what to know about hurricane preparedness if you live in the Wilmington area.

What to do

If you find yourself caught in a rip current, do not swim against the current.

While it may be difficult to do, the U.S. Lifesaving Association says swimmers should “relax,” noting the rip current will not pull them under. Swimmers should try swimming out of the current in a direction following the shoreline, or toward breaking waves, then at an angle toward the beach.

The U.S. Lifesaving Association notes if the current circulates back toward the shore, floating or treading water may be a good way to get out of the current.

Finally, if you feel you are unable to reach shore, draw attention to yourself by yelling for help and waving to those on the shore.

Charlie Kingree is a reporting intern for the StarNews. He can be reached at ckingree@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Tropical Storm Humberto, Invest 94L could impact Wilmington, NC, coast