Tropical disturbances in Caribbean face uncertainty as they head to Gulf of Mexico: NHC

TAMPA, Fla. – The tropics remain active just days after Hurricane Helene caused widespread devastation in Florida and several other states.

A named storm could develop into a major hurricane in the Atlantic, while the National Hurricane Center is monitoring two other areas for possible development.

Disturbances in the Caribbean could spread to the Gulf

A low pressure area observed by the NHC is located in the western Caribbean and could move into the Gulf of Mexico in the coming days.

As of Tuesday morning, the area has a 10 percent chance over the next two days and a 40 percent chance over the next seven days.

FOX 13 meteorologist Dave Osterberg says models are struggling to figure out what could happen if deep tropical moisture moves into the Gulf this weekend.

“On the one hand, a weak low could develop. On the other hand, we have a lot of wind shear in the northern Gulf,” Osterberg said. “And that couldn’t allow (development) to happen.”

Osterberg said there could be significant rainfall late this weekend and into next week, even if the disturbance doesn’t worsen.

Elsewhere in the tropics

Tropical Storm Kirk is gaining strength in the eastern Atlantic. The NHC expects the storm to strengthen into a major hurricane later this week, but Kirk does not currently pose a threat to the United States.

Another disturbance called Invest 91L is moving just behind Kirk, with the NHC giving it a 90 percent chance of developing in the next seven days. Osterberg says they will also go out to sea.

Post-tropical cyclone Joyce dissipated over the Atlantic late Monday, according to the NHC.

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