It appears that the last holiday of the summer will start off with wind and a good chance of rain.

As of Wednesday afternoon, Tropical Depression #9 in the Gulf of Mexico gained just enough strength to be renamed Tropical Storm Hermine. It was packing winds of 40 mph.

According to the National Weather Service, Hermine is expected to take a northeastern turn and make landfall on the west coast of Florida. From there it’s expected to exit off the east coast of Florida and then trek northward along the southeastern coast towards North Carolina.

If Hermine follows its predicted path, the center of the storm is predicted to be just off Cape Hatteras by 7 a.m. Saturday.

NWS officials are not expecting Hermine to strengthen into a hurricane, but its broad area of wind and rain could possibly be felt in the Roanoke-Chowan area on Saturday.

Coastal areas from Morehead City / Atlantic Beach northward to the Outer Banks could see winds of 30 to 50 mph some higher gusts. Inland areas would likely see winds of 20 to 30 mph and pockets of moderate to heavy rain.

However, Hermine isn’t the only “weather maker” in the R-C area forecast as a cold front will move from north to south across the local area today (Thursday). No severe weather is expected, but NWS data does indicated some moderate to heavy downpours are possible across southern zones given some daytime heating.

That front is expected to settle across North Carolina on Thursday night and then stall, thus keeping enough residual moisture to keep the atmosphere unstable, which produces the chance of lingering rain showers.

Friday is a transition day as high pressure builds in before the projected arrival of Hermine on Saturday.

NWS officials advise all residents to keep abreast of the track of Hermine, to include any possible intensification of the tropical system.

After Hermine passes to the north of the R-C area, expect weather conditions to improve on Sunday and on Labor Day. High temps, under sunny skies, both days are expected in the lower 80’s.