The National Hurricane Center is tracking three systems in the Atlantic basin, including newly-formed Tropical Storm Gordon and a disturbance northeast of Florida showing more potential for development, according to the latest advisory .
The system off the southeastern U.S. could become a subtropical or tropical depression early next week as it moves toward the coast.
Francine made landfall Wednesday night as a Category 2 storm in Terrebonne Parish in Louisiana with maximum sustained winds near 100 mph.
➤ Track all active storms
➤ Weather alerts via text : Sign up to get updates about current storms and weather events by location
Now, forecasters are tracking the following three systems:
- Tropical Storm Gordon in the eastern Atlantic
- Invest 94L near the northern Leeward Islands
- Disturbance a few hundred miles off the southeastern U.S. coast
Here's the latest update from the NHC as of 1 p.m. CDT Sept. 13:
Where is Tropical Storm Gordon? Track its path
- Location : 990 miles west-northwest of Cabo Verde Islands
- Maximum sustained winds: 40 mph
- Movement : west-northwest at 11 mph
- Pressure : 1006 mb
At 10 a.m. CDT, the center of Tropical Storm Gordon was located near latitude 19.4 North, longitude 38.6 West.
Gordon is moving toward the west-northwest near 12 mph, and the storm is expected to move more to the west this weekend and Monday.
Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 40 mph, with higher gusts.
Slight strengthening is expected today before a weakening trend begins on Saturday.
Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 70 miles from the center.
Spaghetti models: Tropical Storm Gordon
Special note about spaghetti models: Spaghetti model illustrations include an array of forecast tools and models, and not all are created equal. The Hurricane Center uses only the top four or five highest performing models to help make its forecasts.
Will Tropical Storm Gordon hit Texas, US?
Don't expect any impacts from Tropical Storm Gordon in the U.S., according to Alex DaSilva, AccuWeather lead hurricane forecaster.
"This will not bother anyone, except maybe shipping," DaSilva said in a telephone interview Thursday. "It will stay in the Atlantic and pose no threat to the U.S.
NHC tracking 2 other disturbances: See tropical outlook
Offshore the Southeastern U.S. over the western Atlantic: A non-tropical area of low pressure could form along a frontal boundary a few hundred miles off the southeastern U.S. coastline this weekend.
Thereafter, the low may develop some subtropical or tropical characteristics, and a subtropical or tropical depressioncould form early next week while the system moves generally northwestward toward the coast.
- Formation chance through 48 hours : Low, 10 percent.
- Formation chance through 7 days : Medium, 40 percent.
Invest 94L, east of the Leeward Islands: An area of low pressure near the Northern Leeward Islands is producing limited shower and thunderstorm activity. Environmental conditions, including the proximity of dry air, do not favor development of this system and development is no longer expected while it moves west-northwestward at about 15 mph.
- Formation chance through 48 hours : Near 0 percent.
- Formation chance through 7 days : Near 0 percent.
What do the colored areas on the NOAA map mean?
The hatched areas on a tropical outlook map indicate "areas where a tropical cyclone — which could be a tropical depression, tropical storm or hurricane — could develop," said National Hurricane Center Deputy Director Jamie Rhome.
The colors make it visibly clear how likely a system could develop with yellow being low, orange medium and red high.
The National Hurricane Center generally doesn't issue tropical advisories until there is a named storm, but there is an exception.
"If a system is near land and there is potential for development, the National Hurricane Center won't wait before it issues advisories, even if the system hasn't become an actual storm. This gives residents time to prepare," Rhome said.
Hurricane tracker: See active storms in the Atlantic
Texas weather watches and warnings
2024 hurricane season names
With the addition of Tropical Storm Gordon, the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season has now seen seven named storms:
- Tropical Storm Alberto : Made landfall on the Texas coast in June 2024 with some flooding, impacting the region less than initially forecasted.
- Hurricane Beryl : Hit the Texas coast on July 8 as a Category 1 hurricane near Matagorda, causing at least 38 deaths and setting records for tornado spin-offs.
- Tropical Storm Chris : Brought heavy rainfall and flooding to parts of Mexico in early July.
- Hurricane Debby : Made landfall near Steinhatchee, Florida, on Aug. 5, and caused severe damage along the East Coast, resulting in at least 10 fatalities.
- Hurricane Ernesto : Struck Puerto Rico on Aug. 24 with significant flooding, then hit Bermuda. It was a moderately strong hurricane with three indirect fatalities.
- Hurricane Francine : Made landfall Sept. 11 in the Parish of Terrebonne in Louisiana, about 30 miles south-southwest of Morgan City, and caused power outages for thousands in the state.
Stay informed. Get weather alerts via text
Interactive map: Hurricanes, tropical storms that have passed near your city
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Tropical Storm Gordon forms in the Atlantic. Is it heading to Texas? Track its path
Local News
