Francine Remnants To Drench FL, Tropical Depression 7 Forms

FLORIDA — After making landfall as a Category 2 hurricane, a weakened Tropical Depression Francine moved into Central Mississippi Thursday morning, the National Hurricane Center said. What's left of the storm could drench parts of Florida Thursday and Friday.

The system is bringing heavy rainfall and the possibility of tornadoes, as well as the risk of flash, urban and river flooding across parts of Mississippi, Alabama and the Florida Panhandle. This is expected to expand into Georgia and middle Tennessee Friday, forecasters said.

The west coast of Florida could see the effects of Francine’s remnants Thursday, Denis Phillips, chief meteorologist for ABC Action News, wrote in a Facebook post.

“Lots of clouds at times today coming off the leftovers of Francine to our northwest. We'll get some sun through these today and a few pop-up afternoon showers. Rain coverage will be lower at around 40%. After sunset, a few more showers may come in off the Gulf along our coast,” he wrote.

Meanwhile, Tropical Depression Seven has formed in the Atlantic and is likely to strengthen into Tropical Storm Gordon — the seventh named storm of the 2024 hurricane season — on Thursday, the South Florida SunSentinel reported. It’s moving west-northwest at 17 mph.

Also Read: ‘Highly Active’ Atlantic Hurricane Season Expected As Peak Looms: NOAA

Three other areas are also eyed by forecasters, though there is little chance of them strengthening, NHC said.

A weak area of low pressure several hundred miles east of the Leeward Islands is producing limited showers and thunderstorms. Development isn’t expected as it moves west over the central tropical Atlantic with nearly no chance of formation, NHC said.

There is also a second small low-pressure area a few hundred miles east of the Leeward Islands. Forecasters say it has a 20 percent chance of strengthening over the next seven days, though dry air near the system will likely limit its development, the NHC said.

“In a few days” a non-tropical area of low pressure could form a few hundred miles off the U.S. Southeast’s coast along a residual frontal boundary, according to forecasters.

Related: Forecasters Downgrade 2024 Hurricane Season Predictions

“Thereafter, some subtropical or tropical development is possible during the early part of next week while the system drifts to the north or northwest,” NHC said.

It has a 30 percent chance of development.

Here’s the latest forecast from the National Weather Service for the Tampa Bay area:

• Thursday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 92. Heat index values as high as 104. South southeast wind around 5 mph becoming west southwest in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.
• Thursday Night: Scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 8 p.m. Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly clear, with a low around 77. Light east wind. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.
• Friday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. Heat index values as high as 104. Calm wind becoming west around 6 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
• Friday Night: Scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 8 p.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 76. Light east wind. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.
• Saturday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming west northwest 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent.
• Saturday Night: Scattered showers and thunderstorms before 8 p.m. Mostly clear, with a low around 76. North northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.
• Sunday: Isolated showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming northwest around 6 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.
• Sunday Night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms before 8 p.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 75. North northwest wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 10 percent.