As the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season enters its final weeks, forecasters are monitoring a new area of low pressure in the western Caribbean Sea that could strengthen into a tropical depression or storm later this week.
According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), the environmental conditions in the region appear conducive for gradual development of this system over the next few days. There is currently a 40% chance that a tropical depression or storm could form by the weekend as the disturbance slowly moves westward.
If this system does develop, it would be named Sara and would be the next named storm of the 2024 season, which officially ends on November 30th.
While the system’s exact path and impacts remain uncertain, Florida could be in the line of fire. AccuWeather forecasters note that an area of wind shear may initially prevent the potential storm from moving northward, but this could diminish by the third week of November, potentially allowing the system to track toward South Florida and the Keys.
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Meteorologists are also watching for the possibility of heavy rainfall across parts of Central America, southeastern Mexico, Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola, and Puerto Rico later this week as the disturbance develops.
This potential Caribbean storm comes on the heels of a very active hurricane season for Florida, with two major hurricanes – Helene and Milton – making landfall earlier this year and causing significant damage.
“It’s the hurricane season that just won’t end,” wrote Dennis Phillips, chief meteorologist for ABC Action News. “Models are actually in decent agreement. We could see development in the Caribbean the middle of next week.”
Given the unpredictable nature of this year’s hurricane activity, Florida residents and businesses are advised to closely monitor the situation and be prepared for potential impacts in the coming weeks.
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(Image credit: National Hurricane Center)
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