Tropical Storm Could Form In Atlantic, Move Toward FL: Forecasters

FLORIDA — Forecasters are eyeing a tropical disturbance that has a chance of developing into a tropical depression or storm that could head towards Florida.

The disturbance, which is near the Leeward Islands and Greater Antilles Monday morning, won’t see any development within the next two days, but has a 50 percent chance of strengthening into a tropical depression or storm over the next seven days, according to the National Hurricane Center.

If it does develop into a tropical storm, it would be Debby, the fourth named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season.

As the area of disturbed weather moves across the central tropical Atlantic Ocean, it’s “expected to interact with an approaching tropical wave during the next couple of days,” NHC forecasters said. “Environmental conditions are forecast to become conducive for some development thereafter, and a tropical depression could form later this week while the system is in the vicinity of the Greater Antilles or the Bahamas.”

Denis Phillips, meteorologist for ABC Actions News, wrote in a Facebook post, “Realistically, if something does form here, it would likely be toward the end of the week.”

There are numerous potential tracks for the disturbance, if it were to develop, Fox 13’s Paul Dellegatto wrote in a Facebook post.

“It looks like a trough will set up in the eastern United States which may help in keeping the storm east of Florida,” Dellegatto wrote. “I just do not have enough confidence to say that will happen for sure. IF there were to be any impacts to Florida, and that is still a big IF, it would be in about a week. At any rate, we will just continue to watch it and will keep you updated. Many more similar waves to track in the months ahead.”

Two large areas of high pressure could also affect the weather system’s path, Fox Weather reported. One high-pressure area is currently over the southern plains, while the other is sitting in the Atlantic near Bermuda. These could determine whether the system heads up the East Coast, tracks toward Florida, or is pushed south and moved into the Gulf of Mexico.

• Monday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 92. Heat index values as high as 104. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
• Monday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 11 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 76. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
• Tuesday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m., then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 93. Heat index values as high as 106. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
• Tuesday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 8 p.m., then isolated showers and thunderstorms between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 76. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.
• Wednesday: 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 93. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.
• Wednesday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 8 p.m, then isolated 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.
• Thursday: 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. Light and variable wind. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.
• Thursday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 8 p.m., then scattered showers and thunderstorms between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 77. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.
• Friday: 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 east around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent.
• Friday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 8 p.m., then isolated showers and thunderstorms between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 77. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.