The National Hurricane Center began tracking a system Monday that could develop into the season’s next tropical depression or storm.
As of the NHC’s 8 p.m. tropical outlook, the forecast calls for an area of low pressure to form in the central tropical Atlantic in a few days.
“Thereafter, environmental conditions appear generally favorable for some slow development of this system by this weekend into early next week as it moves westward to west-northwestward at 10 to 15 mph,” forecasters said.
The NHC gives it a 20% chance to form in the next seven days.
8pm EDT 26th August — NHC is monitoring the central Tropical Atlantic where an area of low pressure could form over the next few days. This system has a low chance (20%
) of TC formation over the next 7 days.
Latest Outlook: https://t.co/DboWSR4Ct1 pic.twitter.com/xKYrUqRjWi
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) August 26, 2024
) of TC formation over the next 7 days. If it were to gain named status, it could become Tropical Storm Francine.
The long-range forecast now puts the system just outside the Caribbean’s Leeward Islands.
That’s a similar spot to where Tropical Storm Ernesto moved through before growing into a hurricane.
The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season has so far produced three hurricanes among five named storms.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s upgraded forecast issued earlier this month calls for 17-24 named storms, of which 8-13 could become hurricanes, with 4-7 that could develop into major hurricanes of Category 3 strength or higher.
The season has had only one major hurricane when Beryl became the earliest in recorded history to form into a Category 5 hurricane back in June.
Florida was hit in early August by Category 1 Hurricane Debby that passed over the Big Bend region of the state.
Hurricane season runs from June 1-Nov. 30.