Tropical Disturbance Forming in Straits of Florida

SARASOTA, FL — Folks in Florida may not want to put away their sandbags and umbrellas just yet. According to the National Weather Service, an area of low pressure in the Straits of Florida has a 40 percent chance of developing more over the next 48 hours. That storm is just one of three disturbances under watch by forecasters as the weekend kicks off.

The system in the Straits of Florida is a low-pressure area that is currently producing squalls with winds of 30 to 35 mph, the hurricane center wrote in its 2 p.m. Friday Tropical Weather Outlook report.

“If the system’s thunderstorm activity persists or increases in organization, it could result in the formation of a tropical depression later today or Saturday,” forecasters wrote Friday afternoon.

On the upside, forecasters say even if a depression does form, “upper-level winds are not favorable for significant development.” Even so, the system has been given a 40 percent chance of further development over the next 48 hours with the same percentage chance set for the next five days.

Just how much of an impact, if any, the storm might have on the Tampa Bay area remains unclear at this time. The system is expected to move west into the southeastern Gulf of Mexico.

Another disturbance underwater was located north of the northern Leeward Islands and Puerto Rico as of 2 p.m. Friday. While that storm may take a path that brings it close to Florida, forecasters say conditions are not anticipated to be conducive for significant development. Even so, the system has been given a 10 percent chance of developing more over the next five days.

The third system forecasters are monitoring closely is a “large area of disturbed weather” that was located about 1,000 miles east of the Lesser Antilles as of Friday afternoon. This system is becoming more organized and is expected to become a depression sometime later in the weekend or early next week. On its current projected path, it shouldn’t pose a concern for Florida. The storm has been given an 80 percent chance of developing more over the next five days.

The Atlantic Hurricane Season peaks each year between mid-August and mid-October. While the season technically runs June 1 through Nov. 30, many of the major storms on record have occurred during the traditional eight-week peak.

To find out more about hurricane season and storm preparation in the Tampa Bay area, read these related Patch stories:

• Atlantic Hurricane Season 2016's Peak is Now
• 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