A new tropical depression could form in the Atlantic next week. Here’s what we know.
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Debby’s impact on the Triangle & NC
Tropical Storm Debby drenches the Triangle and North and South Carolina. By Thursday afternoon, it was downgraded to a tropical depression. Here are stories on the impact of the storm.
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A new disturbance has formed in the Atlantic that forecasters say could develop into a tropical depression by the middle of next week.
On Friday, the National Hurricane Center identified a tropical wave several hundred miles west-southwest of the Cabo Verde islands that is generating showers and thunderstorms over the Atlantic.
Forecasters say the system would develop slowly over the next couple of days as it moves west across the ocean.
Could the new disturbance become a tropical storm?
Forecasters give the disturbance a 60% chance of developing into a tropical depression over the next seven days.
The system is expected to approach the Greater Antilles by midweek.
Are we still expecting a busier-than-average hurricane season?
The 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season still is expected to be among the busiest on record, the National Hurricane Center said Wednesday.
In its mid-season update, the agency said its forecasters still expect:
▪ 17 to 24 named storms;
▪ Eight to 13 hurricanes;
▪ Four to seven major hurricanes with winds of 111 mph or greater.
Those are totals for the Atlantic Hurricane Season, which runs from June 1 to Nov. 30. There have been four named storms so far. The next named storm would be Ernesto.
Meteorologists say the Atlantic Hurricane Season peaks in September. North Carolina has had some of its most devastating storms then, including Floyd, Fran and Florence.
Are we done with Debby?
Showers and thunderstorms are possible through the day Friday over much of North Carolina as the remains of Hurricane Debby travel north. The forecast for Raleigh on Saturday is mostly sunny with a high of 91.
Emergency planners continue to watch for stream flooding as river basins drain and downstream levels rise. Some rivers in eastern and southeastern North Carolina will peak Friday or over the weekend, according to data in NC FIMAN, the Flood Inundation Mapping and Alert Network. The Neuse, Cape Fear, Lumber, Haw and Black rivers all are expected to see major flooding as a result of Debby’s heavy rains.
A flood warning is in effect through Friday afternoon for portions of North Carolina’s southern and eastern Piedmont, Sandhills and central Coastal Plain.
Most shelters that opened to provide safe, dry spaces for residents during Tropical Storm Debby will close Friday.
This story was originally published August 9, 2024 at 10:58 AM with the headline "A new tropical depression could form in the Atlantic next week. Here’s what we know.."
