ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — In a flurry of activity through the second half of August and now into September, the 2021 hurricane season has verified the forecasts for yet another busy year.
While Hurricane Larry is nearing Bermuda as a Category 2 storm, it does not pose a direct threat to the United States. Another disturbance, however, bears some watching.
This latest tropical disturbance, Invest 91-L, is producing an area of disorganized showers and thunderstorms in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico.
As of Wednesday afternoon, the National Hurricane Center gives the system a high 80-percent chance of development over the next five days as it approaches the Gulf Coast of Florida. It eventually emerges over the Atlantic waters by late Thursday where conditions look unfavorable for any further development.
The area of low pressure has continued to organize Wednesday afternoon, and if the development trends continue, advisories will likely be initiated on a tropical depression/storm Wednesday night.
This will result in an increased chance of rain for Tampa Bay, but the northern part of the Florida Peninsula and most of the Florida Panhandle has the best chance for tropical downpours that could lead to potential flooding through Wednesday and Thursday.
Elevated rain chances and humidity, especially through the afternoon hours should be expected. Depending on how quickly the system moves northeast, that higher chance of rain could linger into Friday, as well.
The good news for Floridians will be that the system will remain relatively progressive and continue to track northeast and begin to move out of the area for the weekend.
This will result in more of a normal summertime pattern with only a 30-40 percent chance for showers and storms for Saturday and Sunday.
The next storm name on the 2021 list is Mindy.