Hurricane Season's First Big Storm Could Hit Georgia

Georgia residents may be in the path of the 2016 hurricane season's first major storm.

At present, the storm in question is kicking around in the Atlantic Ocean. Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center say it’s located between Bermuda and the Bahamas.

It is slowly becoming better defined and has a 50 percent chance of forming into a tropical or subtropical cyclone over the next 48 hours. Those chances rise to 70 percent over the next five days.

On its present track, hurricane center forecasters say the storm could make landfall in coastal Georgia, South Carolina or North Carolina.

An Air Force reconnaissance plane is scheduled to more closely monitor the low-pressure system on Friday.

Residents in those areas are being urged to monitor the progress of the low pressure area over the next few days, forecasters from AccuWeather say.

Should the system strengthen into a tropical storm, it will be named Bonnie.

The first named storm of 2016 formed well outside of hurricane season back on January 13. Hurricane Alex reached that status on January 14. The storm was the first recorded January hurricane in the Atlantic since 1955.

The Atlantic Hurricane Season officially begins June 1 and runs through November 30.

People living in, or visiting, coastal areas are urged to make preparations. They should include creating a plan, understanding local evacuation zones and putting together a kit for emergency situations.

To find out more about hurricane season and storm preparation, read these related Patch stories:

• Hurricane Season 2016: Where To Find Local Information
• 2016 Atlantic Hurricane Season Forecast Released
• Hurricane Season: How to Prepare

Patch's Sheri Lonon contributed to this report.