Tropical wave tracked off Florida, and storms Paulette, Rene may turn into hurricanes
As the Atlantic basin approaches the peak of hurricane season, the National Hurricane Center is tracking six systems in the Atlantic. Two of them — Tropical Storms Paulette and Rene — are forecast to strengthen into hurricanes in the next couple of days and are not a threat to Florida.
Forecasters are also watching four tropical waves in the Atlantic, one of which is off South Florida’s coast.
Florida has yet to have a disturbance tracked so closely to the state this hurricane season. The large area of disorganized showers and thunderstorm is centered a couple of hundred miles northeast of the Central Bahamas, according to the hurricane center.
The system is forecast to drift west and will likely be in the vicinity of the Florida peninsula on Friday. The disturbance is expected to bring rain and thunderstorms, mainly to the interior and west coast of Florida through Sunday, according to the National Weather Service.
South Florida will see a wet and soggy weekend, with rain chances ranging from 50 to 70%, the weather service said.
Forecasters say the disturbance could see some development over the weekend as it moves over the Gulf of Mexico. It has a near 0% chance of forming in the next 48 hours and a low 20% chance forming in the next five days.
Will Tropical Storms Paulette and Rene become hurricanes?
Tropical Storms Paulette and Rene are spinning around in the center of the Atlantic ocean, far from land, and are forecast to strengthen into Category 1 hurricanes in the next few days.
As of 5 am. Thursday, Paulette is showing signs of weakening but is expected to re-strengthen during the weekend, with the storm being at hurricane level strength by the time it nears Bermuda early Monday.
As of the 5 a.m. advisory Thursday, Paulette is moving toward the west-northwest near 10 mph with maximum sustained winds near 60 mph with higher gusts. The tropical storm is about 935 miles east-northeast of the Northern Leeward Islands and about 1,250 miles southeast of Bermuda. Its tropical-storm force winds are extending up to 205 miles from the center.
Forecasters say those with interests in Bermuda should continue monitoring the storm’s progress. Swells caused by Paulette are also forecast to reach portions of the Leeward Islands Thursday night and Friday and will spread westward to portions of the Greater Antilles, Bahamas and Bermuda into the weekend. These swells will likely cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions, according to the hurricane center.
Tropical Storm Rene is continuing to move west-northwestward across the Atlantic near 10 mph and is about 730 miles west-northwest of the Cabo Verde Islands. The storm’s maximum sustained winds are near 40 mph with higher gusts, according to the hurricane center.
Rene’s forecast shows it briefly becoming a Category 1 hurricane possibly by Saturday, then weakening again.
What about the tropical waves in the Atlantic?
A tropical wave is expected to move off the west coast of Africa Thursday and will likely turn into a tropical depression later this week or during the weekend, according to the National Hurricane Center. While it’s still too early to tell where it will go, Florida meteorologists are keeping an eye on it because of how far south it is.
The wave has a 60% chance of forming into a tropical cyclone in the next 48 hours and a 90% chance of formation in the next five days, according to the hurricane center’s update.
Another tropical wave is also forecast to emerge off the west coast of Africa this weekend. It could see some slow development over the far eastern tropical Atlantic Ocean early next week. The system has a 30% chance of development in the next five days.
Forecasters are also monitoring a disturbance near the coast of the Carolinas that has weakened to a trough. The system is forecast to move inland over eastern North Carolina Thursday afternoon at 10 to 15 mph. While the chances for significant development are decreasing, forecasters are asking those along the coasts of North and South Carolina to continue monitoring the disturbance.
The next two storm names are Sally and Teddy. Once the hurricane center hits the final name, Wilfred, storms will be named after Greek letters.
This story was originally published September 9, 2020 at 6:53 AM with the headline "Tropical wave tracked off Florida, and storms Paulette, Rene may turn into hurricanes."
