As Tropical Depression Francine weakens, another tropical cyclone is waiting in the wings, along with a "tropical rainstorm" that could affect some coastal areas along the U.S. East Coast next week.
Tropical Depression Seven is expected to become Tropical Storm Gordon later today, but don't expect any impact from the system in the U.S., according to Alex DaSilva, AccuWeather lead hurricane forecaster
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The same can't be said for a system being tracked by the National Hurricane Center off the coast of Florida. While the disturbance currently has a low chance for development over the next few days, it could develop into something late this weekend.
There is little time for it to strengthen before it moves onshore but regardless of development, rain and coastal flooding are possible across the Carolinas, DaSilva said in a telephone interview Thursday afternoon.
Tropical Depression 7 could become Tropical Storm Gordon today
- Location : 710 miles west-northwest of Cabo Verde Islands
- Maximum sustained winds: 35 mph
- Movement : west-northwest at 17 mph
- Pressure : 1007 mb
- Next advisory: 5 p.m.
What you should know about Tropical Depression 7
At 11 a.m., the center of Tropical Depression Seven was located near latitude 17.8 North, longitude 34.6 West.
The depression is moving toward the west-northwest near 17 mph, and a west-northwest to west motion at a slower forward speed is anticipated over the next few days.
➤ Spaghetti models for Tropical Depression 7
Maximum sustained winds remain near 35 mph, with higher gusts.
Gradual strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours, and the depression could become a tropical storm later today or tonight.
The next named storm for the Atlantic hurricane season is Gordon.
Spaghetti models for Tropical Depression Seven
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 Depression 7 impact the US or Florida?
"This will not bother anyone, except maybe shipping," DaSilva said. "It will stay in the Atlantic and pose no threat to the U.S.
➤ Spaghetti models for Tropical Depression 7
"It could become hurricane way down the road, maybe next week. That can't be ruled out, but there will be no impact to land."
Tropical development possible next week for disturbance off Florida coast
In a few days, a non-tropical area of low pressure could form along a residual frontal boundary a few hundred miles off the southeastern U.S. coastline, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Thereafter, some subtropical or tropical development is possible during the early part of next week while the systemdrifts to the north or northwest.
- Formation chance through 48 hours: low, near 0 percent.
- Formation chance through 7 days: low, 30 percent.
Impacts 'tropical rainstorm' could have on Florida
The system off the Southeast U.S. coast may get a boost from what's left of Francine.
"It's going to have some DNA from Francine," DaSilva said in a telephone interview Thursday.
"A piece of energy over the weekend will be dragged off Atlantic coast. That old piece from Francine, along with a stalled frontal boundary, will provide the catalyst for tropical development off the Carolinas."
Florida can rest easy since no direct impacts are expected.
"There may be some increased wave action and rough surf and rip currents, especially in North Florida, but nothing direct," Da Silva said.
Carolinas could feel storm impacts next week
DaSilva said the timing for something to develop runs from Sunday, Sept. 15 through Tuesday, Sept. 17.
The earliest something could develop would be Sunday and then it would move inland Monday night or Tuesday.
"It could try to spin up quickly, but it likely wouldn't be very strong. If it does develop, it would likely be a tropical storm" before moving inland, DaSilva said.
"Becoming a hurricane would be extremely, extremely, extremely unlikely since there's not enough time" before it moves inland probably sometime Tuesday somewhere in the Carolinas.
The system does have the potential to become a named storm, though, DaSilva said.
"It's over Gulf Stream waters with plenty of warm ocean water to work with but again, there's not a lot of time" for it to develop.
Do expect the system to move onshore and not drift out to sea, though, DaSilva said.
"There aren't a lot of escape routes for it. High pressure to north would cause it to drift inland instead of escaping out to sea."
- Coastal flooding and erosion would be the main threats, especially since the system would threaten areas already hit hard by other weather systems this year.
- Look for the potential for significant rainfall. "It's fairly slow moving. Overall, the area could see 2 to 4 inches Monday and Tuesday. Maybe a little showers at the beach Sunday while it's still offshore," DaSilva said.
- Winds probably wouldn't be that strong, maybe 40 to 50 mph along coastal areas if it does develop.
"A lot will be determined on whether it can organize. If it's just clusters of thunderstorms, there will be less wind impacts."
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Will Florida feel impacts from Tropical Depression 7, 'tropical rainstorm' soon? What to know
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