Depression 10 expected to reach hurricane strength as it approaches Florida Gulf Coast
Tropical Depression 10 formed near Mexico and it has Florida’s Gulf Coast in its sights as it strengthens.
In Sunday’s latest forecast track, the National Hurricane Center predicted it will likely approach the state — anywhere along the coast from near Tampa to the Panhandle — sometime next week, becoming a hurricane as it moves over the Gulf of Mexico.
Although the system is days away from being near Florida, parts of Cuba and Mexico have been put under tropical storm warnings and watches as it looms nearby.
The depression is about 70 miles east-northeast of Cozumel, Mexico, with maximum sustained winds at 35mph.
As of the NHC’s 5 a.m. Sunday advisory, it was meandering over the Yucatan Channel moving northwest at about 1 mph. Forecasters say it won’t be picking up any steam until Monday.
Do we know what parts of Florida will be affected?
The depression is forecast to strengthen during the next few days making landfall somewhere near Florida’s Panhandle as a possible hurricane sometime between Tuesday and Wednesday.
It is still too early to narrow down the track. Forecasters warn that there is significant uncertainty over where the system will be or how strong it will get three to four days from now.
At play in the Gulf of Mexico were two major and conflicting forces: sea surface temperatures in the high 80s, far warmer than usual that can fuel development, but also a swath of storm-shredding wind shear. If it can skirt the shear and stick to the hot waters, a low-strength hurricane could be a threat.
However, if it becomes a hurricane it will bring potentially dangerous storm surge, heavy rainfall and strong winds to portions of Florida’s west coast and Panhandle — a region still recovering from devastating Hurricane Ian last year. The southeast U.S. is also likely to see heavy rainfall late next week.
While it still hasn’t earned a name, which would be Idalia, Gov. Ron DeSantis already issued a state of emergency for 33 counties along Florida’s Gulf Coast.
“I encourage Floridians to have a plan in place and ensure that their hurricane supply kit is stocked,” he said in a statement.
How will the depression affect Cuba, Mexico?
Cuba and Mexico are currently facing the threat of the depression, which is forecast to become a tropical storm on Sunday.
A tropical storm warning is in effect for Yucatan Peninsula from Tulum to Rio Lagartos, including Cozumel. A tropical storm watch is in effect for Pinar del Rio, Cuba, and the Isle of Youth.
Western Cuba could see 4 to 8 inches of rains, with isolated maximums of up to 12 inches. Flash and urban flooding, along with landslides, may result from the downpour.
The eastern Yucatan Peninsula is in for similar showers with possible rain totals of 3 to 6 inches, with isolated higher amounts of 10 inches.
Franklin to become a major hurricane
Franklin, meanwhile, strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane Saturday morning and is continuing to grow strong, according to the NHC’s 5 a.m. Sunday advisory. It is projected to become a major Category 3 hurricane as early as Monday but its track should keep it away from the east coast of the United States. The island of Bermuda, however, could see some impacts over the next few days.
Franklin is moving north-northwest at nearly 8 mph and is expected over the western Atlantic through early next week.
Maximum sustained winds have increased to about 90 mph with higher gusts.
Franklin is expected to steadily strengthen and could become a major hurricane early next week, reaching 125 mph winds.
Hurricane-force winds are currently extending outward up to 25 miles from the center, with tropical-storm-force winds extending outward up to 140 miles.
This story was originally published August 25, 2023 at 9:13 PM with the headline "Depression 10 expected to reach hurricane strength as it approaches Florida Gulf Coast."
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