The first named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season is likely to develop this week, according to the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center.
A broad area of low pressure is forming over the Bay of Campeche. Forecasters say conditions are conducive for additional gradual development, and a tropical depression or tropical storm is likely to form by midweek while it moves slowly westward or west-northwestward toward the western Gulf coast. While this development isn’t a direct threat to south Mississippi, the region may see heavy rainfall through Tuesday.
The Hurricane Hunters are scheduled to investigate the system on Monday.
Another disturbance east of Florida has potential for development as it moves closer to the U.S. It’s expected to approach the southeast coast by Thursday or Friday.
To become a tropical storm, maximum sustained winds must reach at least 39 miles per hour (mph). To be classified as a hurricane, maximum sustained winds would have to reach at least 74 mph, which is not predicted.
The first named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season will be Alberto.
