DEVELOPING TROPICAL SYSTEM COULD MOVE TOWARD SOUTHERN GULF NEXT WEEK; LOCAL IMPACTS TBD… We will need to monitor an area of disturbed weather in the southern Caribbean Sea over the next several days as the system moves northward. Earlier model guidance indicated the system may take more of an easterly track toward Hispaniola or Puerto Rico, but guidance today (as it often the case early on the process) has shifted to the west. This means that the odds of this system ultimately moving into the southern Gulf of Mexico have increased. While no one, and I truly mean NO ONE, can tell you if this system will develop into a named tropical storm or where it will end up, interests in Jamaica, Cuba, the Yucatan Peninsula, and the Gulf of Mexico region should closely monitor the progress of this developing system over the next few days.
NOVEMBER HURRICANES IN THE GULF OF MEXICO DO HAPPEN… Despite the Gulf of Mexico having a high number of landfalling systems this year, we still have one more month, officially, of hurricane season. The 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season will officially end on Saturday, November 30. It would be highly uncommon for us to have hurricane issues in the month of November, but it isn’t completely unprecedented. Tropical Storm Eta affected Florida in November of 2020. Tropical Storm Ida impacted Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and northwest Florida in November 2009. Hurricane Kate made landfall in the Florida Panhandle, causing extensive damage near Port St. Joe, in late November 1985. Are hurricane issues uncommon in November? Yes. Unprecedented, no. This is why we need to monitor this developing system.
APP… If you haven’t already, be sure to download the free RedZone Weather app to keep up with all the latest information on the world of weather in south Alabama and northwest Florida. redzoneweather.com/app is the link for the free download. Once you have the app downloaded to your iOS or Android device, be sure to visit the Alerts tab (lower right corner) and tap the Alert Settings button to customize the alerts you would like to receive straight from me.
I will have a detailed update on the tropics in the next regularly scheduled RedZone Weather forecast video that will be posted by 7:15AM tomorrow morning. Be sure to join me then for the latest information. Have a good night and Happy Halloween!