Tropical Storm Gaston Gains Strength; 4 Disturbances Under Watch

TAMPA BAY, FL — As Tropical Storm Gaston moves closer to Bermuda, the National Hurricane Center is keeping a close watch on four other disturbances in the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. One of those disturbances has the potential to create wet weather for Florida.

As of Saturday at 11 a.m., Tropical Storm Gaston was located about 643 nautical miles east-southeast of Bermuda. The storm was packing maximum sustained winds of 70 mph and was headed on a northwest track at 10 mph.

Forecasters anticipate Gaston will reclaim hurricane status sometime on Sunday or Monday. On its current path, Gaston is expected to pass to the east of Bermuda early next week.

The disturbance most likely to have an impact on Florida was located between the northern coast of Cuba and Andros Island as of Saturday afternoon. The weak area of low pressure has showers associated with it, but remained disorganized, forecasters wrote in Saturday morning's Tropical Weather Outlook report.

Conditions are not favorable for the system to develop much over the next day or two, forecasters say. That could change, however, when the storm arrives in the eastern Gulf of Mexico early next week.

Forecasters are warning residents in Florida and along the eastern Gulf Coast to keep an eye on the system’s possible development. The storm has been given a 40 percent chance of developing more over the next five days. It’s moving west-northwest at 10 mph.

The second disturbance under watch is a trough of low pressure located south of the coast of southwestern Louisiana as of Saturday afternoon. The storm is expected to arrive on the coast of Texas over the weekend, bringing the potential of heavy rainfall. It has been given only a 0 percent chance of developing further over the next two days.

The third disturbance on the scene is a broad area of low pressure located about 140 miles south of Bermuda. Forecasters say any development of this system is likely to be slow due to its proximity to dry air. The storm is moving westward at 10 mph toward the North Carolina coast. It's been given a 30 percent chance of further development over the next five days.

As of Saturday's 2 p.m. update from the hurricane center, another tropical wave was under watch. The storm isn't expected to move off the coast of African until sometime on Tuesday. Even so, it has been given a 30 percent chance of developing further over the next five days.

While it’s still too early to tell if the disturbance to the south of Florida will have an impact on the Tampa Bay area, forecasters at the National Weather Service say the region could be in for a rainy week. Residents are advised to keep an eye on the storm’s progress.

As hurricane season’s peak continues, emergency management officials urge residents throughout Tampa Bay to be prepared.

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