A “well-defined tropical wave” that is causing showers and thunderstorms over Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands is being monitored by the National Hurricane Center. This tropical wave has the potential to strengthen into Tropical Storm Debby, which could pose a threat to the continental United States this weekend or early next week.
The storm, which the NHC has named Invest 97L, is moving toward Florida and the Gulf of Mexico. AccuWeather analysts are advising people living in Louisiana to the west coast of Florida to be prepared for the storm.
“The latest models show it going into the eastern Gulf and then exploding there,” AccuWeather lead long-range expert Paul Pastelok stated.
In preparation of what would be the first significant storm of the hurricane season and the possibility of weeks-long river flooding, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced a state of emergency for 54 of the state’s 67 counties, according to the Pensacola News Journal.
“Florida is monitoring Invest 97L in the Atlantic, which is expected to strengthen and potentially make landfall as early as this weekend,” DeSantis stated in a post on X on Thursday afternoon. It will move slowly and bring heavy rain, which may result in substantial flooding. I urge every citizen to get ready for the storm and heed any instructions from local disaster management officials and @FLSERT.”
As the system advances west-northwest over parts of the Greater Antilles over the next few days, the NHC indicated Thursday afternoon that development of this system appears doubtful. It is predicted that the environment will become more favorable for growth as the wave crosses the Greater Antilles, which encompass Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, Cuba, and Jamaica.
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“A tropical depression could form this weekend or early next week over the eastern Gulf of Mexico or far southwestern Atlantic Ocean, including in the vicinity of Florida,” the NHC stated on Thursday afternoon.
The hurricane center added that since this system has a 70% chance of forming during the next seven days, observers in the Greater Antilles, the Bahamas, and Florida should keep an eye on its development.
Forecasters warned people to be ready even though an organized storm hasn’t developed yet: “People from Louisiana to Florida’s west coast have to be ready in case it rapidly intensifies,” Pastelok stated.
“For now, the bottom line is to monitor the progress of this system and check your hurricane preparedness plan,” stated the Tampa National Weather Service.
