By Jeff Goldman | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

UPDATE: Hurricane Jose expected to create 'dangerous' rip currents at Jersey Shore

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It's time for New Jersey to start paying a bit more attention to the track of Tropical Storm Jose, which could soon strengthen back to a hurricane as it heads north.

The latest forecast map issued at 5 a.m. by the National Hurricane Center puts New Jersey in the distant fringe of the so-called cone of uncertainty for the first time. The projected path shifted west overnight.

While the system is still days from when its center is expected to pass hundreds of miles off the coast of the Garden State, forecasters say it is increasingly likely New Jersey will be affected by the storm.

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Though the effects on New Jersey are dependent on the path of Jose over the next several days, the highest risk of coastal flooding is with high tides on Monday evening and Tuesday evening, according the National Weather Service's office in New Jersey.

The outer bands of Jose could bring rain to coastal areas of the state as soon as Monday evening. Very windy conditions are possible along the Jersey Shore on Tuesday and rain could last until early Wednesday, forecasters say.

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In addition, swells from from Jose are likely to create dangerous surf and rip current conditions through at least the middle of next week.

As of 5 a.m. Friday, Jose is 360 miles northeast of the Southeast Bahamas and moving slowly west-northwest at 8 mph, the National Hurricane Center said. It's 500 miles south-southwest of Bermuda.

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Jose could become the third hurricane to affect the United States in less than a month.

Two weeks ago, Hurricane Harvey pounded the Texas coast. To date, at least 86 people have been killed and there's are still nearly 4,000 homes and businesses without power, according to the Washington Post. In addition, 77 boil-water notices remain in effect, 19 water systems are down and 31 wastewater systems remain offline.

Then last week, Irma lashed Florida, causing billions in damage and killing at least 26 people in the state. In all, Irma has claimed 69 lives, most in the Caribbean. Earlier in the year, tropical storms Cindy and Emily made landfall in Lakes Charles, La. and Anna Maria Island, Fla, respectively.

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(NASA GOES image)

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Those in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic - especially near the coasts - keep an eye on #Jose as we head into next week. pic.twitter.com/kpKI8rLv8n — WeatherWorks (@WeatherWorks) September 15, 2017

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Swells from Jose are already affecting Bermuda, the Bahamas, the northern coasts of Hispaniola and Puerto Rico, and the southeast coast of the United States.

If it continues on its current path, Jose could affect a large area of the eastern United States - between North Carolina and New England.

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Jose is expected to turn toward the north later Friday and strengthen to a category 1 storm later in the day. A tropical storm's maximum winds must reach 74 mph to reach hurricane status.

Once it becomes a hurricane, Jose is expected to maintain its intensity for about 72 hours before it begins to weaken again.

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Meanwhile, forecasters are beginning to monitor what's for the moment known as tropical depression 14, which has developed in the eastern Atlantic. It has maximum winds of 35 mph and is heading west at 15 mph.

As of 5 a.m., the system was 435 miles south-southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands. It's expected to become a tropical storm later Friday or on Saturday.

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Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.