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New tropical storm could form, impacting the US by early next week
A tropical system could develop into a tropical storm or tropical depression in the next two days, possibly impacting the United States by early next week, according to WRAL meteorologist Elizabeth Gardner.
Model plots show the system, currently moving through the Caribbean, could affect the central coastline of the Gulf Coast late this weekend or early next week.
Before reaching the U.S., the system is forecast to track northwest between the Yucatan Peninsula and Cuba over the next 48 hours, according to WRAL meteorologist Zach Maloch.
It will then continue heading northwest and will most likely strengthen in the warm gulf waters, where minimal wind shear could help it develop.
“Models are consistent and grouped rather tightly together, which has this system making landfall around the Louisiana border sometime early Monday morning,” Maloch said. “That timing can change. Model intensity is rather sporadic.”
Two other systems are unlikely to affect the U.S. as they curve around an large area of high pressure centered in the far eastern Atlantic.
The peak of the Atlantic hurricane season is Sept. 10. Historically, mid-August through October is the most active period of the Atlantic season.