The gulf coast of Florida is gearing up for what might be its first tropical storm of the year, albeit, a bit early. If the storm, which is now considered a gale, were to form into a Tropical Storm, it would be named Tropical Storm Alberto.

If Tropical Storm Alberto does form, it is expected to be a weak, but heavy rainmaker for states in the southeast, most notably Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas. The National Hurricane Center is giving the storm a 60% chance to become a Tropical Storm.

The storm moved off the coast of Belize earlier today and into the similarly warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, which might have enough warm water fuel to push the storm into a full-blown organized Tropical Storm.

South Florida could break its monthly rainfall record if the forecasts come to fruition.

Wind shear in the gulf should keep the storm from growing beyond a small Tropical Storm, however, stranger things have certainly happened. Florida is still recovering from the powerful Hurricane Irma.

“Regardless of development, locally heavy rainfall is possible across western Cuba and the Cayman Islands during the next few days, and over much of Florida and the northern Gulf Coast during the weekend,” the National Hurricane Center stated during their evening update.

Much of the heavy rainfall may remain offshore. As it stands, forecasts simply aren’t clear.

Comments

comments