ORLANDO, Fla. – The National Hurricane Center continues to monitor a large area of disturbed weather that has the potential of becoming a tropical depression while it moves slowly westward or west-northwestward by mid-week in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico.
As of 8 a.m. on Sunday, the NHC has placed a 10% chance of tropical development over the next two days and a 60% chance over the next seven days.
Atmospheric conditions are expected to be conducive for further development through the week and we may have the first named storm of the season this week or during the upcoming weekend. The first name on the list is Alberto. On average, the first named storm develops June 20.
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Central Florida is not expected to be impacted by this area; however, it could bring some tropical moisture into the region through the first half of the week, keeping rain chances at 30-40%.
The NHC is also watching another area of interest where a broad low pressure system could develop several hundred miles northeast of the Bahamas, moving westward or west-northwestward by mid-week. Whether it strengthens, long-range models suggest that tropical moisture may intensify by the end of the week into the upcoming weekend.
Rain chances during this time frame are currently expected to be moderate-to-high, ranging between 50-60%. Rain chances may increase through the end of the week.
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