Atlantic Tropical Disturbance May Become Depression Soon

SARASOTA, FL — Hermine has barely dropped out of the picture as a new tropical disturbance is grabbing the attention of forecasters at the National Hurricane Center. The latest storm on the tropical scene is currently located off the coast of Africa, but forecasters say it has strong chances of developing more this weekend.

As of 2 p.m. Wednesday, the tropical wave was located near the Cabo Verde Islands. The system was producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms. While forecasters don’t anticipate much development over the next few days, that’s expected to change.

“Conditions are forecast to become a little more favorable for gradual development, and a tropical depression could form by the weekend,” the hurricane center wrote in its 2 p.m. Tropical Weather Outlook report.

As of Wednesday, forecasters said the storm had a 20 percent chance of developing more in the next 48 hours. Those chances rise to 70 percent over the next five days.

While it’s still too early to tell just what, if any, impact the system might have on Florida or the Continental United States, forecasters urge residents in coastal areas to remain vigilant as the 2016 Atlantic Hurricane Season continues.

Hurricane Hermine was a stark reminder of the arrival of the season’s peak. The Category 1 storm made landfall a little bit east of St. Marks, Florida, along the Gulf Coast in the early morning hours of Sept. 2. The storm left widespread damage in its wake, including flooding reported far south along the Gulf Coast, before moving through Georgia and the Carolinas. The storm ultimately moved out to the Atlantic Ocean where it interfered with Labor Day weekend activities in New York and New England before breaking apart for good earlier this week.

In the Tampa Bay area, some communities are still dealing with flooding concerns left behind by Hermine. Pasco County in particular has faced difficulties thanks to the flooding of the Anclote River. As of Tuesday, more than 2,400 residents were still affected by flood waters.

To find out more about hurricane season and storm preparation in the Tampa Bay area, 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.

Image courtesy of the National Hurricane Center