Hurricane trackers have revealed the latest developments on two storms near the Atlantic as the intense hurricane season comes to an end.
But as Rafael has diminished, meteorologists are now keeping an eye on a new weather event – potential tropical storm Sara.
The National Hurricane Center said Tuesday that it is tracking a tropical wave in the Caribbean that has an 80 percent chance of formation later this week.
Computer models have produced a range of possibilities for the system, with some predictions showing it could form into Hurricane Sara in the Gulf of Mexico next week.
The NHC reported there is a medium chance that the Sara will develop into a tropical storm and AccuWeather found that it could pose a major issue for people living in south Florida.
Sara could bring heavy rainfall and localized flash flooding to parts of Louisiana, Arkansas, Florida and several others along the US Gulf Coast by Thursday.
AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Bernie Rayno said: ‘Get ready for Sara. We expect the next tropical storm to develop in the Caribbean this week.’
Hurricane trackers revealed that a storm is developing in the Atlantic that could become Tropical Storm Sara by the end of the week
Tropical Storm Sara is likely to bring heavy rainfall and potential flooding to Louisiana, Arkansas and Florida
Rafael made landfall early last week, primarily hitting the Cayman Islands and Cuba while also causing life-threatening tidal waves on south Florida shores.
The storm was upgraded to a Category 3 hurricane as it reached the Caribbean but was downgraded to a tropical storm as it slowed in the Gulf of Mexico.
‘Don’t let your guard down just because the calendar says we’re heading into mid-November,’ AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Expert Alex DaSilva warned.
‘Conditions and water temperatures in the tropics are still primed for tropical storms to form in the final weeks of hurricane season,’ he continued.
‘History shows that Florida faces a higher risk of tropical impacts than any other state during the month of November.’
The storm is currently moving across the Atlantic at speeds of 23 miles per hour and once the wind speeds reach 39 miles per hour, it will be upgraded to a tropical storm.
The storm will increase its wind speed between November 14 and 18 as it enters the Gulf of Mexico
NHC reported that there is a 40 percent chance the storm will grow into a tropical storm within the next 48 hours and parts of the US can expect localized flash flooding by early next week
‘Environmental conditions appear conducive for development, and a tropical depression is likely to form by the end of the week as the system moves slowly westward into the western Caribbean Sea,’ NHC said in an update.
As it grows, it will bring showers, thunderstorms and flash flooding to the central Caribbean, including Hispaniola.
AccuWeather reported that the record-breaking warm waters are creating the right environment for these storms to develop.
‘We still have exceptionally warm waters heading into mid-November. Ocean heat content, or the depth that warm waters reach beneath the surface, is at record levels for this time of year in the Gulf of Mexico,’ said DaSilva.
‘Ocean heat content is near record levels for mid-November in the Caribbean. These warm waters will provide extra fuel for any storms that can develop in the next few weeks.’
Through the last two storms – Patty and Rafael – a wind shear off the southern US coast has protected southern states from being hit with major inclement weather.
Wind shears can stop storms by removing heat and moisture from the air which is needed for a tropical storm or hurricane to develop.
‘The storms will get a boost on Wednesday when wind shear starts to fade away,’ Rayno said.
‘A front will provide more upward motion by midweek, helping these storms organize.’