Gordon weakened to a tropical depression in the Atlantic Sunday as Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight formed northeast of Florida off the South Carolina coast and could bring coastal flooding and flooding rains to parts of the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic coast, according to the National Hurricane Center's latest advisory .
Gordon could degenerate into a remnant low at any time during the next few days and is expected to stay out at sea.
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Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight could become a subtropical or tropical storm during the next day or so.
The disturbance is expected to be steered by the flow on the southern or southwestern side of a mid-level high pressure system over the northeastern United States. This motion should bring the center inland over the southeastern U.S. coast in 24 hours or so, according to the NHC.
Heavy rain, coastal flooding, and high surf to portions of the southeast United States coast beginning tonight and continuing during the next couple of days. Tropical storm conditions are expected along portions of the coasts of South Carolina and North Carolina within the Tropical Storm Warning area beginning tonight through tomorrow night.
A tropical storm warning is in effect for Edisto Beach, South Carolina northward to Ocracoke Inlet, North Carolina.
Seas and surf are expected to build in the stretch of the Atlantic coast from northeastern Florida to the Delmarva Peninsula this week, according to AccuWeather.
Heavy rain amounts of 4-8 inches across eastern North Carolina and southeastern Virginia are expected as the storm nears the Carolinas tonight and Monday, according to AccuWeather's forecast. Flash flooding and road closures are possible.
Interests in these areas should monitor the system's progress.
The hurricane center is also monitoring three tropical waves.
- An eastern Atlantic tropical wave
- An eastern Caribbean tropical wave near western Venezuela
- A central Caribbean tropical wave is extending to inland Colombia
Here's the latest update from the NHC as of 8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 15:
Spaghetti models for Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight
Spaghetti models for Tropical Depression 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.
What's out there and how likely are they to strengthen?
Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight : The disturbance was centered near latitude 32.1 North, longitude 77.8 West.
The system has been moving erratically this evening, but the disturbance is expected to start moving toward the northwest near 7 mph) overnight.
On the forecast track, the center of the system should reach the coast within the warning area on Monday.
Maximum sustained winds remain near 45 mph with higher gusts.
This system is likely to become a tropical storm tonight or tomorrow morning and some strengthening is possible before the system makes landfall.
- Formation chance through 48 hours: high, 80 percent.
- Formation chance through seven days: high, 80 percent.
Tropical Depression Gordon : Gordon is located 1200 miles east of the Northern Leeward Islands, moving at 17 mph, with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph. Gordon is expected to weaken to a tropical depression later today, and it could degenerate into a remnant low at any time during the next few days.
Tropical wave 1: An eastern Atlantic tropical wave extends along 23W south of 17N. The wave is estimated to be moving W at around 5 kt. No significant convection is depicted in association with this wave.
Tropical wave 2 : An eastern Caribbean Sea tropical wave is along 67W from 20N southward to central Venezuela, moving W at 10 kt. No significant convection is depicted in association with this wave.
Tropical wave 3 : A central Caribbean tropical wave is along 76W extending from 21N to inland Colombia. The wave is moving westward at 5 to 10 kt. No significant convection is depicted in association with this wave.
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 a 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.
Who is likely to be impacted?
Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight could cause seas and surf to build in the stretch of the Atlantic coast from northeastern Florida to the Delmarva Peninsula into next week, according to AccuWeather forecasters.
Heavy rain, coastal flooding, and high surf to portions of the southeast United States coast beginning tonight and continuing during the next couple of days.
The system will bring the potential for scattered flash and urban flooding and minor river flooding across eastern North Carolina and northeast South Carolina from tonight into early Tuesday. There is also a risk of isolated flash and urban flooding across much of the Mid-Atlantic region through Wednesday.
Tropical storm conditions are expected along portions of the coasts of South Carolina and North Carolina within the Tropical Storm Warning area beginning tonight through tomorrow night.
The system has the potential to become a named storm. If it does, it will be named Helene.
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Forecasters urge all residents to continue monitoring the tropics and to always be prepared. That advice is particularly important for what is expected to be a very active hurricane season.
Weather watches and warnings issued in Florida
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When is the Atlantic hurricane season?
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30.
The Atlantic basin includes the northern Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico.
When is the peak of hurricane season?
The peak of the season was Sept. 10, with the most activity happening between mid-August and mid-October, according to the Hurricane Center.
National Hurricane Center map: What are forecasters watching now?
Systems currently being monitored by the National Hurricane Center include:
Interactive map: Hurricanes, tropical storms that have passed near your city
Excessive rainfall forecast
What's next?
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This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: NHC: Potential Tropical Cylone 8 forms off Carolinas as Gordon weakens in Atlantic
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