Hurricane watchers increase threat of storm Patty hitting the US

Storm Patty is brewing in the Caribbean – and there’s a good chance it will hit the US.

AccuWeather meteorologists are monitoring a disturbance that could strengthen as it moves toward the center or west, where conditions are optimal for development.

Lead hurricane expert Alex DaSilva said, “Next week, most of the wind shear will shift northward, and so it will essentially create a pocket of high ocean temperatures, lots of moisture, and very low wind shear that will be beneficial to tropical areas.” development.’

There are two possible paths this storm could take: one to the west and the other to the north.

The western track is unlikely to impact the U.S., but it could affect South Florida if the storm gains strength over the next seven days.

‘Storms in the Caribbean usually move north or northeast in November. This means residents and visitors from Florida (including the Gulf Coast) to the Carolinas will need to keep a close eye on development,” DaSilva said.

This has prompted the National Hurricane Center (NHC) to slightly increase the chance of a tropical disturbance over the next seven days.

DaSilva added, “Even if a tropical storm forms and pushes into Mexico or Central America, changing steering winds could turn that storm toward the northeast and later toward Florida. ‘

But regardless of whether a hurricane forms, the Caribbean islands can expect rough seas and heavy rain next week as this system develops.

This storm moved slowly due to high wind shear in the area.

“It has created a very hostile environment where showers and thunderstorms can develop into a tropical threat. There’s not a lot of dry air, so it’s really just the wind shear holding things back,” DaSilva explains.

But that wind shear is expected to shift next week, creating a “pocket” of favorable conditions for hurricane development.

If this storm starts to organize, meteorologists say it will happen slowly.

This is typical of storms developing in the Central American Gyre; a large, inflated area of ​​low pressure could be a source of early and late season tropical development, according to The Weather Channel.

But if and when it becomes a hurricane, it could quickly strengthen.

There are two possible paths this storm could take: one to the west and the other to the north. If the storm moves north, it could impact South Florida

Hurricane Oscar was an example of this. This system quickly grew from a tropical storm to a hurricane within hours.

As for when exactly Hurricane Patty could hit South Florida, experts say it’s too early to tell.

AccuWeather will be able to provide an updated forecast on the direction and potential landfall of this storm, if and when it develops.

Heading into the sunny state, residents will have to brace for their fourth named storm since August.

Hurricane Patty would follow Hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton, which made landfall in Florida in August, September and October respectively.

The state is still reeling from the devastation caused by Milton, which occurred just two weeks after Helene.

This Category 3 storm hit Florida with winds of more than 100 miles per hour, up to 18 inches of rain and devastating flooding.

It also triggered 150 tornado warnings across the state and left more than three million homes and businesses without power.

Officials estimate the storm caused $50 billion in damage and claimed the lives of at least fourteen people.

Milton was the fifth hurricane to make landfall on the Gulf Coast this season, and the thirteenth storm overall.

As the Atlantic hurricane season draws to a close, AccuWeather meteorologists have warned that three more storms could form before it officially ends on November 30.

There is little risk of direct impacts along the Gulf Coast through Alabama, with a possible route to Florida and along the East Coast.

‘We may even see a tropical storm in December this year. It doesn’t happen often, but very warm sea surface temperatures could make it possible this year,” DaSilva said earlier.