Tropical Depression Francine made landfall as a Category 2 hurricane in Louisiana. The excitement in the Atlantic isn't over, however, with the National Hurricane Center tracking another tropical depression , two invests and a system of low pressure off the coast of Florida .
Francine made landfall Wednesday night in Terrebonne Parish in Louisiana with maximum sustained winds near 100 mph. It's continuing to track north-northeast at 12 mph, with wind speeds around 35 mph.
A tornado watch has been issued for several counties in Florida's western Panhandle as Tropical Depression Francine continues to move inland, including Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton and Bay counties.
Tropical Depression Francine is expected to turn north during the next day or so as it slows down. The storm's center will move over central and northern portions of Mississippi through early Friday, according to the NHC's latest advisory.
Elsewhere in the Atlantic basin, forecasters are tracking:
- A system of low pressure off the coast of Florida that currently has a low chance for development. Chances for some subtropical or tropical development are expected to improve next week.
- Two invests in the Atlantic Ocean have a low chance for development.
- And, in the far eastern Atlantic, Tropical Depression 7 formed Wednesday and could become Tropical Storm Gordon later today.
Here's the latest update from the NHC as of 8 a.m. EDT Sept. 12:
Where is Tropical Depression Francine now?
Tropical Depression Francine is about 30 miles south of Jackson, Mississippi, according to the NHC’s 8 a.m. advisory. The system is moving north-northeast at about 12 mph as it spreads heavy rainfall across Mississippi, Alabama and portions of the Florida Panhandle.
What is a tropical depression?
A tropical depression is a tropical cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 38 mph or less.
Tropical Depression 7 could become Tropical Storm Gordon today
- Location : 600 miles west of Cabo Verde Islands
- Maximum sustained winds: 35 mph
- Movement : west-northwest at 17 mph
- Pressure : 1007 mb
What you should know about Tropical Depression 7
At 5 a.m., the center of Tropical Depression Seven was located near latitude 17.3 North, longitude 33.0 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.
Maximum sustained winds are 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.
Spaghetti models for Tropical Depression 7
Other tropical disturbances in the Atlantic
Offshore the Southeastern U.S. over the western Atlantic: 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.
Thereafter, some subtropical or tropical development is possible during the early part of next week while the system drifts to the north or northwest.
- Formation chance through 48 hours: low, near 0 percent.
- Formation chance through 7 days: low, 30 percent.
Invest 92L in the Central Tropical Atlantic: A weak area of low pressure located several hundred miles east of the Leeward Islands is producing limited shower and thunderstorm activity. Development of this system is not expected while it moves westward at around 10 mph over the central tropical Atlantic.
- Formation chance through 48 hours: near 0 percent.
- Formation chance through 7 days: near 0 percent.
Invest 94L, east of the Leeward Islands: Showers and thunderstorms have become a bit more concentrated in association with a small area of low pressure located a few hundred miles east of the Leeward Islands. However, the proximity of dry air near the system is expected to limit additional development over the next couple of days.
Environmental conditions are expected to become even less conducive over the weekend while the system moves slowly west-northwestward.
- Formation chance through 48 hours: low, 20 percent.
- Formation chance through 7 days: low, 20 percent.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: The National Hurricane Center is tracking a new tropical depression as Francine weakens
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