Hurricane Kirk forms in Atlantic, not expected to threaten Florida: NHC

Tampa weather | Rain chances slowly going up

FOX 13 meteorologist Dave Osterberg has the latest forecast and an update on the active tropics.

TAMPA, Fla. - The tropics remain active just days after Hurricane Helene caused widespread devastation in Florida and several other states.

Hurricane Kirk formed in the Atlantic on Tuesday and is expected to become a major storm by Thursday. The National Hurricane Center is also monitoring two additional areas for possible development.

Disturbance in the Caribbean could move into the Gulf

One area of low pressure the NHC is watching is in the western Caribbean and could move into the Gulf of Mexico in the coming days.

As of Tuesday morning, the area has a 10 percent chance of development in the next two days and a 40 percent chance in the next seven days.

FOX 13 Meteorologist Dave Osterberg says models are struggling to figure out what could happen as deep tropical moisture moves into the Gulf this weekend.

"On one hand, a weak low could develop. On the other hand, we've got a lot of wind shear in the northern Gulf," Osterberg said. "And that could not allow [development] to happen."

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According to Osterberg, significant rainfall could occur late this weekend and into next week, even if the disturbance doesn't develop.

Elsewhere in the tropics

Hurricane Kirk is not expected to pose a threat to the U.S. but the storm is gaining strength in the eastern Atlantic.

Another disturbance known as Invest 91L is moving right behind Kirk, with the NHC giving it a 90 percent chance of development in the next seven days. Osterberg says that one will also head out to sea.