The National Hurricane Center has picked up on a potential low pressure system forming in the northeastern Gulf, giving it a low chance of tropical development over the next seven days.
The kidney bean shaped spot highlighted by the center has been much publicized by meteorologists over this past week but weather models were non comital on its future and the hurricane center didn’t put it in its official outlook until early Wednesday, July 15.
If something forms, the next name on the 2026 hurricane list is Bertha, followed by Cristobal.
Slow development of the system is possible while it moves slowly northeastward either in the Gulf or possibly after it moves into the Atlantic off the coast of Florida and the southeastern U.S. by early next week.
Whether the area gains a name may depend on how long it stalls over the Gulf of Mexico, now referred to as the Gulf of America by the U.S. government. A quick moving storm may not have enough time over those warm waters to get purchase but a dawdling system could gain strength before moving inland.
No one early Wednesday was forecasting a hurricane or even a tropical storm, but if something were to form, it would be more likely akin to it would likely be more akin to a soft and soggy Arthur.
Kimberly Miller is a journalist for the USA TODAY NETWORK FLORIDA. She covers weather, the environment and critters as the Embracing Florida reporter. If you have news tips, please send them to kmiller@pbpost.com. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at palmbeachpost.com/newsletters.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Hurricane Center identifies area in the Gulf for possible development
Reporting by Kimberly Miller, Palm Beach Post / Palm Beach Post
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Kimberly Miller, Palm Beach Post | USA TODAY Network
