Tropical System Moving Toward Caribbean Could Threaten Gulf

(KMDL-FM) The National Hurricane Center continues to track three viable tropical systems in the tropical Atlantic Basin. They have been watching these areas for several days now, and one of the strongest waves appears to be headed for a potential impact in the Caribbean Sea; from there, forecasters cannot rule out impacts to interests in the Gulf as well.

Is There a Current Tropical Threat in the Gulf?

The important thing to know at this juncture is that any impact from any of these systems would be at least a week away or more. It's easier to get an idea of just how much ocean there is between these systems and a landfall; just take a look at this broadview map from the Hurricane Center's graphics department.

nhc.noaa.gov

The storm system that is of most concern to National Hurricane Center forecasters is the storm system that is shaded in red. The other system, shaded in yellow, has been given a very low 20% probability of growing stronger over the next week. Meanwhile, the storm in red has been given an 80% probability of strengthening.

Tropical forecasters have designated this system as Invest 92L. It currently has maximum winds of 25 knots and was located at a very low latitude of 10.7 degrees north and 36.0 West. This puts the center of this storm system approximately 800 miles southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands.

Fiona Goodall, Getty Images

The system is forecast to move into atmospheric conditions that are favorable for further development over the next couple of days, hence the probablity for strengthening. Needless to say, the eastern islands of the Caribbean will want to pay special attention to the system over the next few days.

What is the Potential Tropical Threat to the Gulf Right Now?

To predict an impact in the Gulf with any certainty at this point would be pointless. We simply don't have enough information, and there are far too many variables to consider. If you'd like to see the spaghetti models for the storm, they're here. 

READ MORE: Here Is the Latest Tropical Forecast for Louisiana and the Gulf

We do expect those to change as forecasters gather more information on the growing storm. Remember, Hurricane Season lasts until November 30th, so we've still got several months, weeks, and days. We'll need to be looking south. In the meantime, I does look as if we are okay for the near term.