AccuWeather meteorologists warned of a potential tropical storm or hurricane forming next week that could threaten the U.S. Gulf Coast, including Florida.
AccuWeather meteorologists issued a warning on Friday about a potential tropical storm or hurricane that could threaten the U.S. Gulf Coast next week, with Florida among the areas at risk.
The forecast follows increasingly favorable conditions for storm development in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jon Porter indicated that the storm could form in the Caribbean or Gulf early next week, with the potential to reach the U.S. by midweek.
“We increased the development potential to ‘high’ because we are concerned that a tropical storm could form in the Caribbean or Gulf and approach the United States, leaving limited time to track it,” Porter explained.
Forecasters are monitoring a dip in the jet stream over the Gulf of Mexico, which will influence a storm’s path and intensity. A stronger dip could pull it northward toward Florida, potentially limiting its strength. In contrast, a weaker dip could allow the storm to track farther west toward Louisiana, possibly intensifying into a hurricane.
AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Expert Alex DaSilva confirmed that all indicators point to storm formation next week.
“There are different paths this storm could take, depending on how far south the jet stream dip extends over the Gulf of Mexico,” DaSilva said, noting that Florida’s central and western coasts could be impacted depending on the storm’s track.
AccuWeather’s analysis shows that 38 percent of tropical storms forming in the western Caribbean or southern Gulf of Mexico during this time of year make landfall between Louisiana and Florida’s Big Bend. According to the same analysis, Florida faces a 17 percent chance of landfall from a developing storm.
Record-high water temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico are contributing to the potential for rapid storm intensification. Some areas have water temperatures exceeding 80 degrees Fahrenheit, extending nearly 400 feet below the surface. These warm waters could significantly fuel the storm’s development, especially if it tracks toward the western Gulf. Offshore oil and gas operations, tourism, and the fishing industry across the Gulf Coast could face disruptions, particularly if the storm strengthens into a major hurricane, AccuWeather meteorologists warned.