Four disturbances in the Atlantic Ocean have the potential of becoming a tropical storm or depression in the next five days, according to the National Hurricane Center’s 8 p.m. update.
Yes, four potential storms, all at the same time.
The good news for Florida: It has dodged direct landfall from all 15 named storms this year and faces no imminent threat from these disturbances.
The bad: Three of the four disturbances are expected to strengthen in the coming days and one has a clear projected western track across the Atlantic Ocean. The climatological peak for hurricane season is Sept. 10 — placing this newest line of storms, seemingly, right on time.
One disturbance south of the Cabo Verde Islands, named Disturbance 3, was given a 70 percent chance by the hurricane center of becoming a tropical depression or storm in the next five days. It’s expected to soon merge with another storm before becoming a tropical depression in the mid-Atlantic Ocean next week.
From there, Disturbance 3 is expected to be in a part of the Atlantic “where environmental conditions are forecast to be more favorable for development,” the hurricane center said in its 8 p.m. Thursday advisory.
Spectrum Bay News 9 Meteorologist Brian McClure said this disturbance will be the most important one to watch over the next week. Even then, however, it is too far out to tell if the disturbance will ever make it to land.
“It may not happen until early next week, but I think that is the one we watch the most carefully next week,” McClure said. “But the good news for us is that, not only is it way out in the Atlantic, but it may never make it to land. ... We don’t have to worry about anything over the holiday weekend.”
Nearby, Disturbance 2 and Disturbance 4 were given a 40 percent chance of formation in the next five days. Both disturbances were off the coast of Africa and neither is expected to strengthen before next week, according to the hurricane center.
The final disturbance, Disturbance 1, will pose no threat to Florida, according to the hurricane center. It was in the northern Atlantic on Thursday night and was given a 20 percent chance of formation in the next five days. It is expected to move into colder waters before weakening.
Tropical Storm Nana, which was a Category 1 hurricane at landfall, weakened to a depression Thursday night after rapidly losing strength as it cut through northern Guatemala. Former Tropical Storm Omar became a remnant by Thursday night and will be completely dissipated by the weekend, according to the hurricane center.
The next storms to strengthen in the Atlantic will be called Paulette, Rene and Sally.
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2020 Tampa Bay Times Hurricane Guide
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