Hurricane Center warns: Tropical Storm Gordon could form today

A brand new weather system is brewing over the Mid-Atlantic, and as it gains intensity it is expected to soon be renamed Tropical Storm Gordon.

The storm, currently named Tropical Depression Seven, is forecast to potentially strengthen into a tropical storm on Friday, making it the seventh named storm of the 2024 hurricane season.

The tropical depression is currently moving westward over the Atlantic towards the Caribbean, but could drift northwest towards the United States in the coming week.

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“Maximum sustained winds will be around 35 mph (55 km/h) with stronger gusts. The low pressure system may strengthen into a tropical storm later today, but little change in strength is expected through the weekend,” the National Hurricane Center said in a public warning. “The low pressure system is moving toward the west-northwest at around 14 mph (22 km/h). A turn to the west is expected by this evening, with the system gradually weakening over the weekend.”

Tropical depressions are the initial stage of a tropical cyclone. They form when a low pressure system forms and sustained wind speeds reach less than 40 mph (62 km/h). When the tropical depression intensifies and its sustained wind speeds increase to 40–79 mph (62–127 km/h), it is classified as a tropical storm. It is at this stage that it receives an official name. When the tropical storm continues to intensify and its sustained wind speeds reach 75 mph (120 km/h) or more, it is classified as a hurricane.

The six named storms of the season so far include Tropical Storm Alberto, Hurricane Beryl, Tropical Storm Chris, Hurricane Debby, Hurricane Ernesto and Hurricane Francine.

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Beryl was the earliest Category 5 storm ever recorded in the Atlantic. It reached Category 5 on July 1, surpassing the previous record set by Hurricane Emily (Category 5) on July 16, 2005. It is considered the strongest July storm ever recorded and was also the first Category 4 storm ever to occur in June.

“The speed at which Beryl has intensified is unprecedented for this time of year. Maximum wind speeds increased by 65 mph within 24 hours, nearly doubling the threshold for rapid intensification, which is defined as at least a 35 mph increase in wind speeds within 24 hours,” said hurricane specialist and storm expert Michael Lowry previously Newsweek“The first major hurricane (Category 3 or higher) typically occurs on September 1, so Beryl is a full two months ahead of schedule.”

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Debby reached Category 1 strength, while Ernesto and Francine reached Category 2 strength. Francine was the most recent hurricane to hit the United States, inundating Louisiana and Mississippi with strong winds and flash flooding.

According to Gordon, the list of Atlantic storm names for 2024 is: Helene, Isaac, Joyce, Kirk, Leslie, Milton, Nadine, Oscar, Patty, Rafael, Sara, Tony, Valerie and William.

Two more potential tropical depressions are currently forming in the Atlantic, one near the Leeward Islands and another just off the southeast coast of the United States.

The Leeward Islands system has a 20 percent chance of developing into a tropical cyclone within the next 48 hours.

“Environmental conditions, including the proximity of dry air, are not favorable for the development of this system as it moves west-northwestward at about 15 mph (24 kph). Regardless of development, locally heavy rainfall and gusty winds are possible over the northern Leeward Islands today,” the NHC said.

Meanwhile, the low pressure system in the southeastern United States has a 30 percent chance of developing into a tropical cyclone in the next seven days, but a 0 percent chance in the next 48 hours.

“Some subtropical or tropical development is possible during the first few months of next week as the system moves generally northwestward toward the coast,” the NHC said.

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