RZW Exec partners, good evening! We will begin our public messaging in the next few minutes discussing the developing potential for a tropical storm in the eastern Gulf of Mexico next week. I’ve copied in the discussion I’ll be posting plus an exclusive, first look at the graphic we will use.

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TROPICAL DEVELOPMENT POSSIBLE IN SOUTHEASTERN GULF NEXT WEEK… There is a low, but increasing, chance that a tropical depression or tropical storm may form in the southeastern Gulf of Mexico late next week. Uncertainties loom large, as this system is still about a week out, but several reliable models point to “tropical mischief” forming near the Florida Peninsula in the days ahead. Main headline on this Wednesday evening is that there is considerable uncertainty (thus absolutely no need for fear, panic, or stress), yet some weather models show a potential tropical storm affecting south Alabama and northwest Florida late next week. Let’s talk details about what we do know…

EURO MODEL: TROPICAL STORM… We look at a variety of weather models each day to generate a forecast. One of the models that often proves reliable is the ECMWF (European) model. This model has suggested for the last few days that a tropical depression or tropical storm could form near The Bahamas before crossing the Florida Peninsula and emerging in the eastern Gulf of Mexico. The European model brings the system rapidly to the northwest over the warm waters of the Gulf, before moving the system inland along the northern Gulf Coast (LA/MS/AL/FL). This is ONE idea on the table and must not be taken at face value as exactly what WILL happen. It’s one idea of what COULD happen.

GFS MODEL: OPEN WAVE IN CENTRAL GULF… Adding to the uncertainty is that the American-based Global Forecast System (GFS) has consistently suggested that this same system will remain weak, in the form of an open tropical wave, as it moves from east to west across the Gulf of Mexico. We note that the GFS has been more bullish on the idea of taking the system well to our south and ultimately into Texas or Louisiana late next week as a much weaker system. The Canadian and Japanese models also lean toward this “weaker, more westerly” solution.

CONSIDERABLE UNCERTAINTY… The “truth” of what will likely happen is probably somewhere in the middle of these two solutions. No one, and I mean NO ONE, knows IF this area of low pressure will develop into a tropical storm or remain an open tropical wave. The key message as of now is that we are monitoring a low-end potential for a tropical storm that COULD threaten Alabama and northwest Florida. Certainly doesn’t mean that will happen. It’s one possibility.

DON’T CHANGE ANY PLANS YET… It’s way too early to consider trip/vacation cancellations/postponements. We’re in a “wait and see” mode at this point. More guidance will provide clarity later this week into the weekend.

WARM WATERS IN GULF OF MEXICO… It’s totally normal for the Gulf of Mexico to feature sea surface temperatures (SSTs) of mid- to upper-80s this time of year, and that’s exactly what we’re seeing. Several buoys are reporting water temperatures of 86, 87, and 88° in the northeast part of the Gulf where this potential tropical system could move. Water temperatures in that range are conducive for significant tropical/hurricane development, although that’s only ONE ingredient in this process. I meet folks that stress out over high water temperature values in the Gulf, when in truth, that’s one piece of the 20 piece puzzle. Moisture content in the atmosphere, shear values near and around the storm, and surrounding pressure systems (like the Bermuda high, as one example) are all other factors that must be weighed properly when forecasting tropical systems.

DISTINCT SYSTEM EMERGING FROM AFRICA… The National Hurricane Center is also monitoring a vigorous tropical wave that will emerge from the African continent into the far eastern waters of the Atlantic Ocean on Thursday. This system now has a 70 percent chance of developing into a tropical storm as it moves westward in the days ahead. Plenty of uncertainty with the future track, but early model indications point to this system recurving into the open waters of the Atlantic between Europe and Bermuda and affecting no land masses. That would be a great thing IF that solution verifies. We’ll keep you posted about this separate, distinct system as well.

CRAZY POSTS AHEAD: BEWARE… As I consistently caution when we start looking at tropical development potentials: If you’re reading this on social media, odds support that you’re going to see some crazy, bizarre, “fear mongering” posts in the days ahead. It’s a sad part of today’s world. Again, the truth is, we don’t have a firm grip just yet of anything concrete. What we know at this point is there is a growing consensus that a tropical storm could form/move across the eastern part of the Gulf of Mexico late next week. Please join me in not sharing bad info… That just feeds the trolls, hype machine, fear mongers, and click-baiters. It is stunning that we have trained meteorologists that feed into this fear-based narrative, yet it happens A LOT in these situations. Please ignore the HYPE. My working guidance for folks is — if there aren’t a lot of details/clarity (aka if a post is two lines long without explanation), it probably isn’t worth your time and certainly not worth your “share” on social media.

APP… The RedZone Weather app is free. It’s available for iOS and Android devices at redzoneweather.com/app. Be sure to turn ON “Medium-Level Alerts” for the latest information about this system by visiting the Alerts tab (bottom right corner) and tapping the large, yellow “Alert Settings” button to customize which alerts you would like to receive from me.
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NEXT RZW EXEC UPDATE:  The next RZW Exec notification will be will be sent no later than 8PM on Thursday, August 30 (tomorrow) concerning this tropical potential. You can also find the latest information in our public morning forecast video and discussion with public updates throughout the day on Twitter and here in the RZWeather app tomorrow. Let me know if you have any questions. Have a great evening!

POTENTIAL FOR TROPICAL MISCHIEF… There is a low, but increasing, chance of a tropical depression or tropical storm forming late next week in the southeast Gulf of Mexico near southern Florida. Details are scarce at this point since this system is still over one week out, however I want to bring you the latest before we start mentioning this publicly on Wednesday morning in our morning forecast video discussion. Let me heavily stress this is a low confidence situation with many variables at this point. Further forecast refinements will be necessary in the days ahead. There will be another RZW Exec update tomorrow evening about this tropical mischief potential. There is plenty we just don’t know yet, but let’s focus on what we do know…

EURO: TROPICAL STORM… Here’s the main reason of concern at the moment. The European (ECMWF) model is suggesting a moderate (50-60mph) tropical storm being near or just to the south of our local area in the middle part of next week. The view you see above is the raw Euro model output (courtesy tropicaltidbits.com) valid at 12Z (7AM CDT) on Thursday, September 6. Again, this is raw model output over one week out. A lot can and will change, thus why I’m not comfortable mentioning this publicly just yet. The Euro model paints a picture of a northwest-moving tropical storm moving from near South Florida into Mississippi and Louisiana late next week. This would likely mean that local impacts in south Alabama and northwest Florida would be possible, including a risk of isolated tornadoes.

The American GFS model shows a very different solution, however…

GFS: BARELY ANYTHING… The Global Forecast System (GFS) today has consistently suggested an open trough passing to our south in the Gulf of Mexico. This would mean our seasonal weather pattern would continue with basically NO local impacts. Afternoon storms, yes. Heat and humidity, yes. Tropical storm conditions, NO, if this solution is correct.

The images above are raw model output of wind speeds at approximately 5,000 feet off the ground (the 850 millibar level) and surface-based isobars. (“behind the scenes” view of how the forecast is made everyday!)

SEVERITY & POTENTIAL HAZARDS: It is simply too early to say with confidence just how severe and/or impactful to south Alabama and northwest Florida this potential system will be. There is chance that no formal tropical development occurs and the system remains an open tropical wave that stays to our south. There’s also a chance that the system ramps up to a hurricane and moves northwest toward our local area. The truth of what happens is probably somewhere in the middle of those two extreme solutions. We’ll have much more clarity in the days ahead as more model data pours in.

TIMEFRAME: Impacts, if any occur, would likely happen in south Alabama and northwest Florida between Wednesday, September 5 and Saturday, September 8.

NEXT RZW EXEC UPDATE:  Another RZW Exec notification will be will be sent no later than 8PM on Wednesday, August 29 (tomorrow) concerning this tropical potential.

Let me know if you have any questions or concerns. Have a good evening!