Tropical Storm Fiona Holds Steady; 2 Disturbances Gain Steam

TAMPA BAY, FL — Tropical Storm Fiona isn’t likely to be a concern for the Tampa Bay area, but there are two other reasons for residents to keep their eyes on the weather over the next few days. Two tropical disturbances under watch by the National Hurricane Center have been given increased chances of further developing over the next few days.

As of Friday, Tropical Storm Fiona was continuing on a path that is likely to take her near Bermuda by Wednesday morning. The storm was holding steady with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph as of late Friday morning. The sixth named storm of the 2016 Atlantic Hurricane Season was moving west-northwest at 10 mph.

Hurricane center forecasters anticipate Fiona will downgrade to a tropical depression sometime on Sunday as she continues moving toward Bermuda.

The first of the two disturbances under watch was located about 600 miles southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands as of 2 p.m. Friday. The hurricane center says the tropical wave remains disorganized, but it's kicking up some shower activity.

Slow development is expected over the next few days. After that, however, “environmental conditions are expected to become more conducive for development, and a tropical depression could form early next week,” forecasters wrote in the Friday Tropical Weather Outlook report.

The system is moving westward at 15 mph. It has been given a 50 percent chance of developing more over the next five days.

The second disturbance under watch is a tropical wave that’s expected to blow off the coast of Africa on Saturday.

“Environmental conditions appear conductive for gradual development of this system early next week while it moves generally west-northwestward over the eastern tropical Atlantic Ocean,” the center's report said. The storm has been given a 30 percent chance of developing more over the next five days.

While it’s still too early to tell if either disturbance will pose a threat to Florida or Tampa Bay, the storms serve as a reminder for folks to be prepared as hurricane season continues. The season runs through Nov. 30.

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
• 2016 Hurricane Names: Is Yours On the List?
• Tampa Bay 'Ripe for Disaster,' Hurricane Experts Say

To keep up with storm activity as the season develops, bookmark the National Hurricane Center’s website and keep an eye on your hometown Patch site for local information.

Images courtesy of the National Hurricane Center