Activity in the tropics is teeming with a new tropical depression, a re-emerged Tropical Storm Gert, what were Hurricane Idalia and Hurricane Franklin, Tropical Storm Jose, and a system that will move off Africa’s coast this weekend that has increasing odds of forming.
Along with the four named storms churning, a new tropical depression has formed that will likely become a tropical storm soon, according to the National Hurricane Center.
If named, it would be Tropical Storm Katia (KAH-tyah).
After Katia, the next named storm would be Lee.
What was Tropical Storm Gert last week reformed as of late Friday afternoon, the National Hurricane Center said, joining what are now Post-Tropical Cyclones Idalia and Franklin and Tropical Storm Jose among the named storms.
The hurricane center is also tracking two more systems in the Atlantic, including newly formed Tropical Depression Twelve, which formed in the eastern Atlantic late Friday morning. It could become a short-lived tropical storm by Saturday.
As of 8 p.m., Tropical Depression Twelve was located 450 miles northwest of the Cabo Verde Islands, off the coast of Africa, moving north-northwest at 12 mph with maximum winds near 35 mph. The depression should weaken and degenerate into a remnant low by Sunday.
Among the named systems, only one is a threat to land. A tropical storm watch is in effect for Bermuda as Idalia could re-strengthen into a tropical storm by Saturday and approach the southern part of the island, according to the hurricane center.
As of 8 p.m., Idalia was located 80 miles west-southwest of Bermuda, heading east-southeast at 15 mph with 50 mph sustained winds. Its tropical-storm-force winds extend out 240 miles.
The storm could bring as much as 5 inches of rain to Bermuda through Sunday night and will likely cause flooding, the hurricane center said.
Franklin weakened to a Category 1 on Thursday and further weakened into a post-tropical system late Friday afternoon. As of 5 p.m., it was about 790 miles northeast of Bermuda. Franklin is forecast to slowly weaken over the weekend into early next week, the hurricane center said.
What was Franklin is also expected to absorb Tropical Storm Jose, which formed Thursday, by Friday night or early Saturday.
At 5 p.m., Jose was located over 1,000 miles northeast of Bermuda, quickly moving north-northeastward at 32 mph with sustained winds of 50 mph. Tropical-storm-force winds extend out up to 70 miles.
Meanwhile, as of the 5 p.m. advisory, Tropical Storm Gert was located 695 miles east-southeast of Bermuda moving east-southeast at 7 mph with 40 mph sustained winds. Gert is expected to dissipate by Monday, the latest advisory said.
The last weather system being monitored is what’s expected to be a tropical wave coming off the west coast of Africa this weekend. The disturbance is expected to move west-northwestward between 15 and 20 mph over the eastern and central Atlantic.
As of 8 p.m. Friday, it was given a 60% chance of developing in the next seven days, up from earlier in the day.
The NHC, which operates under the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, has forecast 14-21 named storms, including 6-11 hurricanes, and two to five major hurricanes.
As of Aug. 31, there have been three hurricanes — Don, Franklin and Idalia, the latter two of which were major hurricanes.
The National Hurricane Center has been predicting an “above-normal” 2023 hurricane season as a result of ongoing record-breaking sea surface temperatures that continue to fight off the tempering effects of El Niño.
While sea surface temperatures have remained hot for longer than anticipated, El Niño’s effects, which typically reduce hurricane chances, have emerged more slowly.
