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Storm threat dissippiates for Florida, remains for Gulf next week

Although forecasters had given it a high chance of developing into a depression or storm, the chances have now dropped to 60 per cent and the National Hurricane Centre (NHC) said Invest 99L, as the system is still being called, showed no signs of getting better organized.

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According to the National Hurricane Center the tropical wave we have been watching for several days is now located between the southeastern Bahamas and the northeastern coast of Cuba.

The chances of development were only 10 percent. Forecasters anticipate the storm will regain hurricane status sometime on Saturday and remain strong until passing east of Bermuda sometime between Monday and Tuesday.

Hurricane Gaston, seen on the far right in this radar image of the Atlantic, should weaken back into a tropical storm on Thursday. At present, the storm is kicking up disorganized showers and thunderstorms, the hurricane center reported Friday morning.

A tropical weather system in the Atlantic has not yet earned a name, but it’s already bringing the threat of flooding, mud slides and damaging winds to the Caribbean, WYFF News 4 Meteorologist Chris Justus said.

Meanwhile, to the east, Tropical Storm Gaston continued to move to the northwest with winds of 65 miles per hour.

For the next couple of days, as this system tracks toward the northwest, near Cuba, it will continue to struggle to become more organize. “This forecast will continue to change each day, so stay aware of the changes”. As that happens next week, conditions should become more favorable for tropical development.

Tropical cyclone potential for the next 5 days. By Saturday, Gaston is expected to be upgraded to a category 1 hurricane, with wind speeds ranging between 74 to 95 miles per hour (64 to 82 kts).

The hurricane season runs from June to November, but the two-month period from mid-August to mid-October poses the greatest risk for storm activity.

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And, as always, let Invest 99L serve as a reminder to make sure you’ve got your hurricane plan firmly in place for the next storm that does hit Houston!

Tropical Depression Seven Forms in the Eastern Atlantic; Forecast to Strengthen into Gaston