...
By Anna Skinner
Associate News Editor
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
There's a chance that Tropical Storm Chantal will form near Florida during Fourth of July weekend, which may dampen holiday festivities in the Sunshine State.
The biggest threat from the developing system will be rain, AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Expert Alex DaSilva told Newsweek, although he doesn't expect Chantal to become a hurricane.
Why It Matters
If it forms, Tropical Storm Chantal will be the third named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, which began on June 1. The first storm, Tropical Storm Andrea, formed last week and caused no U.S.-related impacts. Tropical Storm Barry formed in the Bay of Campeche over the weekend and impacted Eastern Mexico.
Read More on News
Now, there's a small chance that Tropical Storm Chantal will form near Florida over Fourth of July weekend.
...
What To Know
The most recent forecast from the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said that a disturbance near the southeastern U.S. has a 20 percent chance of forming within the next seven days. There's a near-zero percent chance it will form in the next 48 hours.
"This is typically the area you would look this time of year," DaSilva told Newsweek. "A lot of times, early in the season, we get development from old, decaying frontal boundaries or cold fronts coming south."
DaSilva added that ocean surface temperatures are "plenty warm enough" in the Gulf and the Southeast coast to support tropical development. It remains unclear which side of Florida the storm will develop on.
Saharan dust could impede the storm's development, as tropical systems prefer moist air.
"If something develops, it doesn't look like it will be a rapid intensification scenario," DaSilva said.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration anticipates that 13 to 19 named storms will form during this year's Atlantic hurricane season, with six to 10 strengthening into hurricanes and three to five strengthening into major hurricanes.
What People Are Saying
AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Expert Alex DaSilva told Newsweek: "Regardless of if it develops, it does look like a wet weekend overall for most of state of Florida, including the holiday on Friday. Generally speaking, especially for folks in central and northern Florida, this looks like it's going to be a wetter pattern for this weekend overall. Even South Florida as well."
The NHC, in a forecast: "A frontal boundary is expected to stall and weaken off the southeast U.S. coast late this week. An area of low pressure could develop from the weakening front by the weekend off the southeast U.S., over Florida, or over the eastern Gulf. Some gradual tropical or subtropical development could occur thereafter as the low moves little."
What Happens Next
DaSilva urged people in Florida and southern Georgia to follow the AccuWeather forecast carefully for this weekend. Rip currents also could be dangerous on whichever side of Florida the storm develops on.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines