Hurricane Gaston has formed in the Atlantic, though there are no coastal watches or warnings associated with the storm.
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This storm would be named Hermine and could move over Florida and that’s when it gets super interesting, and not in a good way. At that point development into a tropical system is likely.
A low pressure area moving through the southeastern Bahamas Thursday afternoon kept forecasters scratching their heads after the hurricane hunter aircraft returned without finding a storm with an identifiable center or circulation.
Unfortunately, that’s the game we’re going to have to play until this poorly organized tropical disturbance, known as Invest 99-L, makes it into a more favorable environment over the next few days.
Another system now active is Tropical Storm Gaston, located about midway across the Atlantic Ocean.
Authorities in the Turks and Caicos Islands and Bahamas said heavy wind and rain was expected in parts of both island chains through Thursday night and small boats were advised to stay in port.
The National Hurricane Center predicted 2016 to be the strongest hurricane season since 2012, according to its updated Hurricane Season Outlook released in August.
“Overall, environmental conditions are not expected to be as conducive for development of this system as anticipated earlier this week”, Blake said. Tropical wind gusts have been detected, although a final determination on the system’s status won’t be made until later. “With the steering pattern setup, it appears less likely that the tropical system would take a north turn around Florida and then go up the East Coast”.
If a tropical system forms, forecast models show many solutions for locations where the storm would head, according to Merwin.
There is the chance that this system holds together enough to eventually make it into the eastern Gulf near Florida.
No watches or warnings have been issued in connection with this storm, and it is now not forecast to make landfall.
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Forecasters said the storm was fighting wind shear, but that could lessen in 48 hours and Gaston could strengthen again by this weekend, possibly reaching hurricane status for a second time.
