Tropical storms expected to land in Caribbean, Texas as forecasters watch 3 other systems – South Florida Sun Sentinel

Activity in the tropics is heating back up with a new system forecast to emerge and move into the Gulf of Mexico, potentially toward the U.S. Gulf Coast and Florida.

National Hurricane Center experts are also forecasting that Franklin will approach major hurricane strength before weeks end, as well as the regeneration of Tropical Storm Emily and a fourth disturbance being monitored in the central Atlantic.

As of 8 a.m. the area of low pressure expected to emerge in the eastern Gulf of Mexico was located over the northwestern Caribbean. It could form into a tropical depression in the Caribbean before heading north across the eastern Gulf of Mexico, forecasters said. Its odds of developing were up to 50% in the next seven days as of early Thursday.

Tropical Storm Franklin cut north through the Dominican Republic on Wednesday, delivering a deluge through the country and causing flooding in several areas. The storm emerged off the north coast of the island of Hispaniola on Wednesday evening, though heavy rains continued over the island early Thursday.

Franklin could become a hurricane by Saturday, approaching major hurricane strength, forecasters said Thursday. If it forms, it would be the second hurricane of the Atlantic season. Hurricane Don formed in late July, but was no threat to land.

As of 11 a.m., Franklin was moving northeast at 7 mph about 90 miles east-northeast of Grand Turk Island. Its tropical-storm-force winds extended as far as 115 miles from the center of the storm Thursday. Maximum sustained winds have increased to 60 mph with higher gusts.

While slow intensification is forecast over the next day and a half, more favorable upper-level conditions will allow Franklin to intensify in the following days. Franklin is expected to reach near major hurricane strength within the next four days, forecasters said in the latest advisory.

More than 350 people were in shelters in the Dominican Republic, where the Associated Press reported at least one dead and two missing in Franklins wake. Another 280 people were evacuated from their homes to safer ground, with at least six communities cut off by heavy rains, AP reported.

Officials were also concerned about Franklins impact in Haiti, which is prone to catastrophic flooding given the countrys severe erosion.

Haiti is among the most vulnerable countries in the world when it comes to the effects of extreme weather, said Jean-Martin Bauer, the World Food Programs director for Haiti. In June, a powerful thunderstorm that unleashed heavy rains left more than 40 people dead across the country.

The remnants of Tropical Storm Emily, which formed early Sunday and was downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone Monday, were more than 1,000 miles east-southeast of Bermuda as of 8 a.m. Thursday. The latest forecast said it was likely to regenerate into a tropical storm by Friday.

The storm is expected to move northward over the subtropical central Atlantic.

The disturbance several hundred miles west of the Cabo Verde Islands off Africas west coast was moving west-northwest to northwest across the central tropical Atlantic Wednesday evening, producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms.

The hurricane center said the disturbances circulation had become better defined since Tuesday, and it could slowly develop into a tropical depression by the weekend. It is expected to move into the central tropical Atlantic.

As of 8 a.m. Thursday, it had a 20% chance of developing within 48 hours and 40% within seven days, up from Wednesday.

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 Nio.

While sea surface temperatures have remained hot for longer than anticipated, El Nios effects, which typically reduce hurricane chances, have emerged more slowly.

The next named storm to form would be Idalia.

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.

Information from The Associated Press was used to supplement this report.

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Tropical storms expected to land in Caribbean, Texas as forecasters watch 3 other systems - South Florida Sun Sentinel