While the weather has been much calmer this week than it was a week ago when Hurricane Helene was ripping through Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina into Eastern Tennessee, things may be about to change. Lower than normal pressures in the Gulf of Mexico have been developing all week. Up until now models have been indecisive regarding whether this could develop into a tropical storm early next week. It appears now that the risk of a developing tropical storm is rising for the Gulf of Mexico.
Photo byTropical Tidbits
Low pressure is forecast to develop in the Upper air conditions are not quite as dynamic as they were 10 days ago when Helene was in its formative stages. However conditions due appear to be growing more favorable for tropical cyclone formation in Southwest Gulf of Mexico. Upper air steering currents would take any tropical system eastward or east northeastward and that puts Florida in the path early next week. Models at this time would suggest that this could become a high end tropical storm (winds 70 mph or less) or possibly a minimal hurricane before any landfall. The west coast of Florida lies in the risk zone. Right now models suggest that the track will be further south than it was with Helene.