Gaston Weakens; Disturbance Moves Toward Florida

TAMPA BAY, FL — As Tropical Storm Gaston moves through the Atlantic Ocean on a path expected to take it east of the Bahamas early next week, a disturbance is continuing on a path that would take it across southern Florida.

As of Thursday morning, Tropical Storm Gaston was located about 1,065 nautical miles east of the Leeward Islands, according to the National Hurricane Center. The storm had maximum sustained winds near 70 mph. The storm had been upgraded to a hurricane overnight, but lost steam later Thursday morning.

Forecasters say Gaston is moving northwest at 17 mph. While Gaston was downgraded to tropical storm status, forecasters expect it to once again reach hurricane status over the weekend. The system is expected to pass east of Bermuda on Tuesday.

While Tropical Storm Gaston poses no likely threat to Florida, the same cannot be said for a second storm under watch by the hurricane center. The broad low pressure system was located southeast of the Turks and Caicos Islands Thursday morning. At present, the storm is producing gale-force winds and rain but is disorganized.

“This system could become a tropical depression during the next couple of days,” forecasters wrote in Thursday's Tropical Weather Outlook report. Conditions are expected to become more conducive for development over the weekend. On its present path, the storm is expected to strike somewhere in South Florida.

A NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft is expected to investigate the disturbance late Thursday morning. At present, the storm has been given an 80 percent chance of further development.

Should it develop enough to earn a name, it will be called Hermine, the eighth named storm of the 2016 Atlantic Hurricane Season.

While it’s too early to tell what, if any, impact the storm will ultimately have on Florida, forecasters say now is the time to prepare.

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 of Tropical Storm Gaston and the tropical disturbance courtesy of the National Hurricane Center