National Hurricane Center tracking Tropical Storm Sean, tropical wave
Sean has strengthened back into a tropical storm after weakening into a tropical depression earlier this morning, according to the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center.
Farther east in the Atlantic, a tropical wave moving west toward the Caribbean now has a medium chance for development over the next seven days. Forecasters say the system could become a tropical depression by the middle of next week.
Meanwhile, Florida residents in the northern and central parts of the state have been seeing severe weather from a low-pressure system moving across the state. Officials at the National Weather Service confirmed an EF2 tornado in Palm Coast with estimated peak winds of 115 mph.
Damage from what may have been three tornadoes has been reported in Palm Coast, Clearwater Beach and Crystal River.
Most of North Florida is under a tornado watch until 3 p.m.
Hurricane season 2023: No-name storm brings nasty weather to Florida; cold fronts could chill hurricane season
Here's the latest update from the NHC as of 5 p.m.:
Tropical Storm Sean: Where is it and where is it going?
Location: 960 miles west of Cabo Verde Islands
Maximum sustained winds: 40 mph
Movement: northwest at 12 mph
Pressure: 1006 mb
At 5 p.m., the center of Tropical Storm Sean was located near latitude 13.8 North, longitude 38.2 West. Sean is moving toward the northwest near 12 mph. A northwest to west-northwestward motion is expected during the next few days.
Maximum sustained winds are near 40 mph, with higher gusts. Little change in strength is forecast during the next few days.
Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 105 miles from the center.
The estimated minimum central pressure is 1006 mb.
Spaghetti models for Tropical Storm Sean
Special note about spaghetti models: Illustrations include an array of forecast tools and models, and not all are created equal. The hurricane center uses only the top four or five highest performing models to help make its forecasts.
What else is out there and how likely is it to strengthen?
Invest 94L: Shower and thunderstorm activity is limited and disorganized this afternoon in association with a broad area of low pressure located several hundred miles to the south of the Cabo Verde Islands.
While environmental conditions are currently only marginally favorable for slow development over the next couple of days, they are forecast to become more favorable by early next week.
A tropical depression could form by the middle of next week as this system moves generally westward across the eastern and central tropical Atlantic.
Formation chance through 48 hours: low, 10 percent.
Formation chance through 7 days: medium, 40 percent.
Who is likely to be impacted?
No impacts to Florida or the rest of the U.S. are expected at this time from the tropical disturbances being tracked by the National Hurricane Center.
Forecasters urge all residents to continue monitoring the tropics and to always be prepared.
Weather watches and warnings issued in Florida
When is the Atlantic hurricane season?
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30.
When is the peak of hurricane season?
The peak of the season is Sept. 10, with the most activity happening between mid-August and mid-October, according to the Hurricane Center.
Tropical forecast over the next seven days
Excessive rainfall forecast
What's out there?
Systems currently being monitored by the National Hurricane Center.
Noaa
Embedded content: https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/xgtwo/two_atl_0d0.png?052051
What's next?
We will continue to update our tropical weather coverage daily. Download your local site's app to ensure you're always connected to the news. And look at our special subscription offers here.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Tropics update: NHC tracking Tropical Storm Sean, tropical wave
