In a Special Advisory issued at 11:25 a.m. EDT on Friday, the National Hurricane Center says a system of disorganized showers is forecast to move westward at 10 mph over the Bahamas and South Florida on Friday night and continue moving into the Gulf of Mexico over the weekend.
Once over the Gulf, upper winds will make for a favorable environment for further development. The disturbance could become a tropical depression while it is near South Florida tonight, but it is more likely to become a tropical depression while it moves slowly west-northwestward over the eastern Gulf of Mexico this weekend and early next week.
Regardless of development, this system is expected to produce locally heavy rainfall over portions of the Bahamas, South Florida, and the Florida Keys during the next couple of days. Chances of further formation in the next 48 hours remains at 60 percent, according to the Tampa Bay Times.
Tropical Storms Paulette and Rene
One thing is for sure – It has been a very busy Atlantic Hurricane season so far. Two tropical storms continue to whirl in the Tropical Atlantic, with Tropical Storm Paulette expected to become a hurricane sometime on Saturday. Tropical Storm Rene has shown some weakening after losing nearly all of its convection Friday morning, according to the 11 a.m. update. Dry air could be responsible, the NHC said.
Paulette is moving toward the northwest near 10 mph (17 kph) with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 kph). A motion toward the northwest or west-northwest with some increase in forward speed is expected through early Monday. On the forecast track, the center of Paulette should approach Bermuda Sunday night and Monday.
