Tropical depression forecast to form this week could head toward Caribbean; Gert and Katia to soon degenerate

Robin Webb, Steve Svekis, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
·2 min read
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With Tropical Storms Gert and Katia forecast to degenerate Monday, attention in the Atlantic turns to a tropical wave off Africa that is expected to develop into a tropical depression and potentially head in the general direction of the Caribbean and Florida.

That tropical wave is producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms south-southeast of the Cabo Verde Islands. The disturbance is expected to become a tropical depression this week as it moves west-northwestward between 15 and 20 mph over the eastern and central Atlantic, according to the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center.

As of 2 a.m. Sunday, it was given a 70% chance of developing in the next seven days and saw its 48-hour chances bump up from 20% to 30% late Saturday.

Well north of that wave in the Atlantic Ocean, Tropical Storm Katia was named early Saturday, joining re-emerged Tropical Storm Gert and what was Hurricane Idalia.

As of 11 p.m. Saturday Katia was located about 855 miles north-northwest of the Cabo Verde Islands, moving north-northwest at 16 mph with maximum winds of 45 mph, a significant deterioration from 60 mph on Saturday evening.

Katia is expected to degenerate into a remnant low by Monday, the National Hurricane Center said.

Tropical Storm Gert was located 710 miles east-southeast of Bermuda moving north-northeast at 6 mph with 60 mph sustained winds as of 11 p.m. Saturday. Gert is forecast to generate into a trough of low pressure early Monday.

The NHC, which operates under the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, has forecast 14-21 named storms, including 6-11 hurricanes, and two to five major hurricanes.

As of Sept. 3, there have been three hurricanes — Don, Franklin and Idalia, the latter two of which were major hurricanes.

The next named storm to form would be Lee.

The National Hurricane Center has been predicting an “above-normal” 2023 hurricane season as a result of ongoing record-breaking sea surface temperatures that continue to fight off the tempering effects of El Niño.

While sea surface temperatures have remained hot for longer than anticipated, El Niño’s effects, which typically reduce hurricane chances, have emerged more slowly.

Reporter Shira Moolten contributed to this report.