NHC: Tropical system could form near Florida

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – The National Hurricane System continues monitoring a tropical system that could develop near Florida or the Bahamas this weekend.

An area of disturbed weather near the Lesser Antilles is trying to get its act together in the next couple of days as it moves near the Bahamas. But it’s still too early to know where the storm if it does form, will go.

There is a medium risk of a tropical depression or storm developing, or a 60% chance. A weaker storm could mean it heads west toward the Gulf of Mexico while a stronger system means it could turn north.

“If it’s stronger sooner, it’s going to turn farther to the north. If it stays weaker that would be a more westward trend. You really aren’t going to know until this thing closes off and tries to organize,” said Storm Team 2 Meteorologist Josh Marthers.

Marthers explained, “The longer it takes to do that, the higher the risk that this bends farther to the west toward the Gulf of Mexico. If those thunderstorms really pull in and form a center quickly, let’s say over the next 24-48 hours, that increases the likelihood this heads farther north.”

The European model system shows the most likely scenario, which is that the storm moves north with a tropical storm passing off the coast of the Carolinas during the first part of next week.

“I wouldn’t get worked up about this thing just yet. We don’t even know that it’s going to develop. So, until it does, that’s when we’ll really start paying attention to it. For now, enjoy the rest of your week.”

Count on Storm Team 2 to monitor the system and provide updates on-air, online, and in the app.