While the focus may be on where Hurricanes Olivia and Florence may go, there’s a named tropical cyclone already doing damage in the U.S.: Gordon. The system was a strong Tropical Storm when it hit the Gulf Coast earlier this week. Now it’s remnants are dropping copious amounts of moisture; it is forecast to do more of the same in the Ohio Valley and Mid Atlantic in the coming days.
In the last update from the National Weather Service Weather Prediction Center, Gordon was located near latitude 35.3 North, longitude 92.0 West. Gordon is moving toward the north near 7 mph and turn more toward the northeast tonight. Maximum sustained winds are near 10 mph. Some strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours as the storm become increasingly extra-tropical. The estimated minimum central pressure is 1013 mb or 29.92 inches.
Gordon and its transition to an extra-tropical low could produce total rain accumulations of 3 to 6 inches over Missouri into the Midwest, with possible isolated maximum amounts of 10 inches through Monday. This rainfall will likely cause local flooding and flash flooding.
Over time, this flood threat will shift east, with heavy rain eventually making it to the Mid Atlantic over time. People in the excessive rain areas should prepare for the possibility of flash and river flooding.
