Tropical or subtropical depression or storm could form next week: Here’s what to expect
TAMPA, Fla. - Disorganized storms in the Gulf of Mexico may become a tropical or subtropical depression over the next week, bringing downpours to the Bay Area, according to the National Hurricane Center.
The disturbance has a 70% chance of developing over the next seven days and a 30% chance over the next two days.
FOX 13 Meteorologist Jim Weber stresses that this will not be a rapidly developing system. He noted it is not forecast to become a hurricane and will not produce devastating or strong winds or storm surge.
As the system works its way east toward Florida, Weber says strong wind shear will work its way south, which will protect the Bay Area. However, it will bring a lot of rain.
When will it rain?
Regardless of tropical or subtropical development, Florida should see heavy rain beginning on Sunday and into next week.
"Those are going to be the days where we have the potential for some widespread rain and locally heavy rain, especially for areas to the south of I-4," FOX 13 Meteorologist Valerie Mills said. "So it's really going to be central and southern parts of the state that will see the heaviest rain on the way."
Parts of Florida could see several inches of rain as deep tropical moisture moves across the state, likely Sunday through Tuesday.
How much rain will we get?
Northern counties in the Bay Area can expect between 2 -4 inches of rain while our southern counties see between 3 – 6 inches.
South Florida will likely get between 6 – 8 inches of rain from the system.
Tropical downpours could reach the Bay Area on Sunday and last into Tuesday.
Sandbag sites
Many Bay Area communities are still water-logged from Hurricane Helene and a few municipalities opened sandbag locations ahead of the expected rain.
Other activity in the tropics
Hurricane Kirk is a powerful Category 4 hurricane moving north through the Atlantic, but the storm is expected to weaken before bringing heavy rain and other potential impacts to places like the United Kingdom and France.
Tropical Storm Leslie is moving behind Kirk and will likely become a hurricane, as well, but it will also not impact the U.S., according to the NHC.
Tropical Storm Leslie is moving behind Kirk, but is expected to stay at sea and not impact land.
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