TS Gaston expected to become hurricane; 3 systems being watched

Another system now located over the north-central Gulf of Mexico has a 10 percent chance of developing into a tropical cyclone in the next 48 hours, the NHC added.

Even if the storm remains a messy tangle of thunderstorms, forecasters warn Hispaniola and central Cuba could get hit today with heavy rains that could trigger risky flash floods and mudslides.

TROPICS: Tropical Storm Gaston continues to battle shear and a touch of dry air over the next 24 hours before emerging into a more favorable environment for development through the weekend – possibly becoming a Category 2 hurricane by Sunday.

TROPICAL wave “Invest 99L” will not produce as much rain and wind over the southeast Bahamas as was originally predicated, Deputy Director of the Department of Meteorology Basil Dean said Friday. This area checking in with maximum sustained winds of 70mph and continuing to move northwest 15 knots. At present, the storm is kicking up disorganized showers and thunderstorms, the hurricane center reported Friday morning.

“Surface pressures in this area are now high, and little to no development of this system is expected before it reaches the coast of Texas over the weekend”, the forecast said.

– Southern Florida is bracing for heavy rains from a tropical disturbance that could strengthen into a tropical storm.

Forecasters said Gaston will become a hurricane again by Friday or Saturday, but it is not forecast to impact the continental U.S. Overall, the model guidance has shifted a little bit to the north on this forecast cycle, and the latest NHC prediction is adjusted in that direction at days 4 and 5.

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There were no coastal watches or warnings in effect for the storm, the NHC said. “And those are two enemies of a tropical cyclone trying to develop”, the Miami Herald quoted National Hurricane Center spokesman Dennis Feltgen as saying. The system is moving slowly west-northwest at about 10 miles per hour. Also, if you own a home, remember that with storm insurance, it takes 30 days for the policy to become active.