TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — National Hurricane Center forecasters were monitoring two named storms in the Atlantic on Tuesday.
The 2023 hurricane season has produced eight named storms so far, and with the season reaching its busiest stretch, forecasters are also keeping an eye on two disturbances.
Tropical Storm Harold
Tropical Storm Harold formed overnight in the Gulf of Mexico. The storm has maximum sustained winds near 45 mph, with higher gusts.
Harold made landfall in south Texas on Tuesday and is expected to continue moving inland. Its center is currently located 30 miles east-southeast of Hebbronville, Texas, near the Mexico border.
Several inches of rain are expected in the region. Portions of Mexico could see up to 10 inches, while isolated parts of Texas could experience six inches of rain.
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for:
- Mouth of Rio Grande to Port O’Connor, Texas
A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for:
- Port O’Connor to Sargent, Texas
Harold is expected to gradually weaken and become a tropical depression late Tuesday according to the National Hurricane Center.
Tropical Storm Franklin
Tropical Storm Franklin continued to crawl towards Hispaniola on Tuesday. Franklin is forecast to reach the southern coast of the island on Wednesday and move off of its northern coast later that day.
The storm has maximum sustained winds near 50 mph, with higher gusts. It is not expected to strengthen before reaching Hispaniola, but may weaken some as it traverses the mountainous island.
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for:
- Dominican Republic entire south coast from Haiti border eastward to Isla Saona
- Haiti entire south coast from Anse d’Hainault eastward to the Dominican Republic border
A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for:
- Dominican Republic entire north and east coast from the Haiti border eastward and southward to Isla Saona
- Turks and Caicos Islands
Puerto Rico and Vieques could see 1-3 inches of additional rain through Thursday. 5-10 inches are forecast across portions of Hispaniola, with isolated areas receiving up to 15 inches through Wednesday.
As of the Tuesday afternoon forecast, NOAA Hurricane Hunters were investigating the storm’s wind field after new satellites images revealed a new center for Franklin may be forming to the west.
Post-Tropical Cyclone Gert
Gert became a post-tropical cyclone on Tuesday.
Its remnants will drift west-northwestward until it dissipates, according to the NHC.
Areas of interest
The NHC is also watching two tropical disturbances in the Atlantic.
Forecasters are watching the remnants of former Tropical Storm Emily near the Leeward Islands. They believe the system could develop some by Friday or Saturday, but it will move into unfavorable conditions when it drifts north of the Gulf Stream on Sunday.
It has a 30% chance of development over the next seven days.
The NHC is also watching an area of disorganized showers and thunderstorms located a few hundred miles west of the Cape Verde Islands. Conditions are “only marginally conducive for gradual development,” according to the latest forecast, but the NHC did not rule out the possibility of a tropical depression forming later this week or over the weekend.
Meteorologists said the system has a 40% chance of formation over the next seven days.
