See path, Category 4 spaghetti storm models.

Hurricane Christie strengthens into Category 5 Thursday evening before re-intensifying into a Category 4 storm, with rapid weakening expected throughout the day Friday. According to the National Hurricane Center.

As of Friday morning, the storm was located about 1,055 miles west-southwest of the southern tip of Baja, California, and had maximum winds of about 150 mph with higher gusts.

Christie is expected to turn northwest later Friday and is expected to move northwest to north-northwest at slower speeds over the weekend, according to the NHC.

“Some fluctuations in intensity are expected this morning, with rapid weakening expected to begin by the evening,” NHC forecasters said in a Friday morning update.

Forecasters also said waves generated by Christie would affect parts of the western coast of the Baja California peninsula on Friday and Saturday, with waves “likely to produce life-threatening surf and strong currents.”

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Is there a storm brewing in the Atlantic?

AccuWeather forecasters say there is. chance of a tropical depression or storm developing next week. The next named storms of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season will be Patty and Raphael.

“We suspect there will be another attempt at a tropical depression or tropical storm in the western Caribbean mid- to late next week,” said Bernie Raynaud, chief meteorologist for AccuWeather.

The record warm waters that have fueled tropical developments throughout the season continue, especially in the Caribbean. Add to this the low likelihood of wind shear, and you have conditions conducive to tropical cyclone development.

“A strong storm or gyre could form again near the western Caribbean, which, given warm waters and weak wind shear, could encourage new but slow development,” AccuWeather said.

There is some good news if the storm develops and moves toward the U.S.: “Long-range models maintain very hostile wind shear in Florida and along the inland waters of the U.S. through the first week of November, which will provide protection from any damage that may occur.” the next few weeks,” WPLG-TV meteorologist Michael Lowery told USA TODAY earlier this week.

But it is too early to talk about the path of a possible storm.

“The track of any new tropical feature in the Caribbean will depend on where exactly it forms, as well as the overall strength and movement of non-tropical features further north over the United States and the western Atlantic,” AccuWeather said.

Hurricane Christie Tracker

This forecast track shows the most likely path of the storm’s center. It does not illustrate the full width of the storm or its impact, and the center of the storm is likely to extend beyond the cone 33% of the time.

Hurricane Christie Spaghetti Models

The illustrations include a variety of forecasting tools and models, and not all of them are created equal. The hurricane center only uses the four or five best-performing models to make its forecasts.

Gabe Howary is a national news reporter for USA TODAY. You can follow him on X @GabeHauari or email him at [email protected].