National Hurricane Center monitoring 2 tropical disturbances
Tropical downpours and rain chances increase
FOX 13 Meteorologist Jim Weber is watching a broad area of low pressure that is expected to develop across the Northeastern Gulf. The National Hurricane Center gives is a 20% chance of developing over the next seven days. Weber says it will likely move across the upper part of the state and enter the North Carolina coastline. He added that it will increase our rain chances over the weekend.
TAMPA, Fla. - The National Hurricane Center is tracking a tropical disturbance in the northeastern Gulf that could bring heavy rain and flooding risks to Florida starting Saturday and a disturbance that formed on Wednesday off the coast of Africa.
Atlantic tropical development potential
What we know:
A tropical wave off of the Cabo Verde Islands has become better organized over the last 24 hours.
It is moving west-northwest and, according to the NHC, there is a chance for slow development over the next several days.
The NHC is giving it a 10% chance of developing over the next week.
However, meteorologists say it is moving into an area that is not conducive for additional development by the weekend.
Gulf tropical development potential
The National Hurricane Center says an area in the Gulf has a 20% chance of tropical development over the next seven days, though odds remain at 0% for the next two days. The system is expected to move northeast between Saturday and next Wednesday.
Regardless of whether it organizes, the system will bring tropical downpours and increased moisture across Florida and parts of the Southeast. The low pressure area would form in the northeastern Gulf, where water temperatures are warm, ranging from the upper 80s to near 90 degrees.
Weather factors and storm names
What we don't know:
Officials cannot yet confirm if the disturbance will overcome environmental hurdles like land interaction, wind shear and dry air. Forecasters do not know how close the system will get to Florida before it attempts to organize, which is a major factor in its development.
To become a tropical system, it must develop a defined circulation with organized thunderstorms. If it reaches maximum sustained winds of 39 mph, it will become a tropical storm and be named Bertha.
The Source: The information in this story was gathered from FOX 13’s Valerie Mills and the National Hurricane Center, which detailed the development probabilities and environmental conditions in the Gulf.