This Labor Day weekend is unusual in the Atlantic Basin as there are no named storms reported by the National Hurricane Center. This break in hurricane activity may not last long, as AccuWeather is warning that tropical activity is expected to increase as the 2024 hurricane season reaches its midpoint. By September, warmer ocean temperatures across the Atlantic create favorable conditions for storm development.
Despite the lack of named storms, a system near the upper Texas coast is producing showers and thunderstorms, with the potential for heavy rain and flash flooding in coastal Louisiana and Texas. In the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico, this system is not expected to become a named storm, but could bring disruptive weather. Meanwhile, a tropical wave east of the Lesser Antilles may become a tropical depression later in the week, potentially bringing gusty winds and heavy rain to the area.
In the eastern tropical Atlantic, a tropical wave over western Africa is expected to move offshore on Monday. Slow development is possible as it moves westward, with uncertain impacts on the U.S. in the coming days. Overall, conditions are becoming more conducive to tropical storm development, with the next potential named storm being Francine. Despite the current lull in hurricane activity, experts are cautioning that the tropics are beginning to show signs of increased storm activity.
Photo credit
www.usatoday.com