We’re in for a wet weekend as the National Hurricane Center eyes an Atlantic system, now known as Invest 97L, inching closer to Florida with the possibility of developing into the season’s next tropical storm.
Forecasters have been tracking the system for days, with models showing it passing over the islands of the Caribbean before tracking into the eastern Gulf of Mexico or near the Florida peninsula.
Chances for development increased Thursday afternoon as, according to the NHC, there is a 70% chance over the next seven days. While it is still unknown how strong the system will develop, if it were to become a tropical storm, it would be named Debby – the fourth named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season.
The National Weather Service is also warning of potential heavy rainfall and localized flooding across South Florida this weekend, noting in a Thursday outlook that rainfall totals look to be one to three inches on the eastern half of South Florida to two to four inches over the western half.
“A well-defined tropical wave near Hispaniola is forecast to move west northwest and be in the southeastern Gulf Of Mexico late this weekend into early next week,” the outlook reads. “This should allow for deep tropical moisture to work into South Florida this weekend.”
Stay up to date on the latest forecasts and information during hurricane season at hurricanes.gov.