Hurricane trackers warn of huge ‘tropical wave’ forming off American coastline – here’s where it could hit and how much damage it could bring

A massive tropical wave forming off the U.S. coast has hurricane watchers on high alert. Florida could be next in line.

The tropical wave, named Invest 97L by the National Hurricane Center (NHC), now has a 70 percent chance of developing and could potentially grow into a full-fledged hurricane.

The system is currently dumping rain on Hispaniola, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, but it could soon turn its sights on the Sunshine State.

Meteorologist George Waldenberger said Channel 9 News It will likely develop this weekend or early next week.

“For now, you can expect an increased chance of heavier rainfall on Sunday, Monday and possibly beyond,” he said. “There could be severe storms in the area during the same time period with this disturbance nearby.”

The tropical wave, named Invest 97L by the National Hurricane Center (NHC), now has a 70 percent chance of developing and could potentially grow into a full-fledged hurricane

Waldenberger said he’s still “looking at where the circulation will develop and how organized this system can be early next week.”

“Water temperatures are around 80 degrees Fahrenheit, which is enough fuel for this system to grow into Debby, and possibly even a hurricane towards the end of the weekend and into early next week on our west coast,” Chief Meteorologist Tom Terry told Channel 9 News on Thursday morning.

“Heavy rainfall and worse (is possible) in this scenario for the Sunshine State,” he added.

The tropical rain storm has no clear center yet, but there are signs of organization as the storm moves toward Florida.

Meteorologists expect the storm to strengthen as it leaves Cuba, with warm waters likely to fuel its fury from late weekend into early next week.

The tropical storm has already hit the northern Caribbean islands and is expected to also hit Cuba and the western Bahamas on Friday.

The system is currently dumping rain on Hispaniola, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. But it could soon have the Sunshine State in its sights. (Pictured: Rainstorm at Veteran’s Memorial Marina Park on Thursday, July 11, 2024, in downtown Safety Harbor)

A woman walks along Manresa beach, covered in trash after the passage of Hurricane Beryl, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, July 3, 2024

Damaged boats lie on land and water after Hurricane Ian, Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, in Fort Myers, Florida.

Cubans repair a roof in San Juan y Martinez, Pinar del Rio province, on September 27, 2022 after the passage of Hurricane Ian

Florida’s weather forecast calls for downpours and severe thunderstorms in the Keys and southern peninsula on Saturday, with an increased risk of tropical storms or hurricanes starting on Sunday. AccuWeather reported.

The exact path of the storm remains uncertain. It could hit the east coast of Florida or veer into the Gulf of Mexico, depending on how quickly it intensifies.

It comes after at least eight people were killed and more than 2.7 million were left without power when Hurricane Beryl tore through Texas and the Mississippi Valley earlier this month.

And after weeks of relative calm, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) has warned that its successor, named Debby, may be looming east of the Lesser Antilles.

“The chance of tropical development within 7 days has increased to 40 percent,” the Texas Storm Chasers tweeted.

A contractor inspects a Dallas client’s home for structural damage after Hurricane Beryl tore through the area in Galveston, Texas on July 8, 2024.

“People along the Florida coastline should keep an eye on this. August looks busy, as it often is!”

The NHC first sounded the alarm on Friday after noticing the tropical disturbance and determining that it was likely to collide with an approaching tropical wave.

The chances of it developing have nearly tripled since then, with Weather Jamaica issuing a code orange warning that ‘Debby is imminent’.

Forecast maps indicate that the storm will move across the Caribbean and Florida as it develops, but warnings are that it could make landfall anywhere in the Gulf of Mexico or the Carolinas.

A large area of ​​high pressure near Bermuda could force the storm toward Texas, while another area over the southern Plains could force the storm toward the East Coast.