Second Named Storm Of 2024 Hurricane Season Likely To Form: NHC

FLORIDA — The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season’s second named storm could form by the weekend or early next week.

Invest 95L, a tropical wave several hundred miles west-southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands in the Atlantic Ocean, has a 40 percent chance of developing into a tropical depression or storm over the next two days and a 70 percent chance of formation over the next seven days, according to the National Hurricane Center.

If it does form, it would likely be named Beryl. The season’s first named storm, Tropical Storm Alberto, formed in mid-June and brought heavy rain to parts of Mexico and Texas.

While Invest 95L is currently producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms, “environmental conditions are forecast to be conducive and development of this system is anticipated,” NHC said.

A tropical depression or tropical storm is likely to form this weekend several hundred miles east of the Windward Islands in the Caribbean, the agency said. The system is currently moving west across the Atlantic at 15 to 20 mph.

It’s not known where the storm system could go after this or how strong it could become.

In the meantime, here’s the weather forecast through the weekend for the Tampa Bay area from the National Weather Service:

• Thursday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. Heat index values as high as 104. West southwest wind 6 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
• Thursday Night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms after 5 a.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 79. West southwest wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 10 percent.
• Friday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. Heat index values as high as 104. South southwest wind 3 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
• Friday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 8pm, then isolated showers and thunderstorms between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 78. West southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.
• Saturday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m., then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.
• Saturday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 8 p.m., then scattered showers and thunderstorms between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 77. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.
• Sunday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m., then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2 p.m. Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 95. Calm wind becoming west northwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.
• Sunday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 8 p.m., then scattered showers and thunderstorms between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 78. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.