While all eyes are on Major Hurricane Irma and dealing with the clean-up after the Hurricane Harvey catastrophe, people should also start to pay attention to other disturbances within the Atlantic hurricane basin, including watching out for what should become Jose soon.
A system in the central Atlantic could become Jose on the heels of Irma. A broad area of low pressure located several hundred miles southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands continues to produce disorganized showers and thunderstorms. Environmental conditions are expected to be conducive for gradual development, and the National Hurricane Center says a tropical depression is likely to form within the next few days. The system is projected to move west northwest at 10 to 15mph over the tropical Atlantic Ocean. The National Hurricane Center believes there’s an 80% chance that this system will become a tropical cyclone over the next five days.
The atmospheric set-up over the eastern United States and the Atlantic will be extraordinarily complex with Irma moving through; however, being struck by one tropical cyclone does not make you immune to subsequent impacts. Residents, even those in the potential impact zones from Major Hurricane Irma, should monitor the forecasts for the possible arrival of Jose a handful of days after Irma.
While the Atlantic disturbance is showing the most promise for development, eyes are also on the Gulf of Mexico. A trough of low pressure located over the southwestern Gulf of Mexico is producing disorganized showers activity and gusty winds. According to the National Hurricane Center, environmental conditions are marginally conducive for slow development, and this system could become a tropical depression during the next couple of days while it meanders over the southwestern Gulf of Mexico during the next few days. The National Hurricane Center says there is a 60% chance that a tropical cyclone will form in the Gulf of Mexico over the next 5 days.
It is imperative that all US East Coast and Gulf Coast residents have a Hurricane Action Plan in place immediately. It may become necessary to act on it later this week ahead of Hurricane Irma’s arrival or soon after with Jose.
Experts believe this Atlantic Hurricane Season, which runs through to the end of November, will be a busy one. Dr. Phil Klotzbach and the experts at Colorado State University updated their seasonal outlook again on July 5, showing a much more active than normal season expected. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) also released their own forecast which shows this hurricane season to be likely more active than others.
