Tropical Depression 9 to target US Gulf Coast late this week

By Kristina Pydynowski, Senior Meteorologist

August 30,2016; 8:20PM,EDT

 

 

Tropical Depression Nine developed just south of Florida on Sunday and will turn toward the northeastern Gulf Coast of the United States later this week.
Tropical Depression Nine was the former tropical disturbance 99L.
The center of this system is about 350 miles west of Key West, Florida. The latest indications are that the storm was beginning to turn toward the northwest.
This is a closeup live loop of Tropical Depression Nine. (NOAA/Satellite)
While Tropical Depression Nine could become a tropical storm at any time prior to landfall on Thursday.
"Tropical Depression Nine will be moving into an area more favorable for strengthening," according to AccuWeather Hurricane Expert Dan Kottlowski.

The next tropical storm names in the Atlantic are Hermine and Ian. A system off the North Carolina coast, currently called Tropical Depression Eight, is in competition with Tropical Depression Nine to become the next tropical storm.
Latest indications point toward the system making landfall along the northeastern Gulf Coast, most likely in the Big Bend area of the Florida coast on Thursday.

A storm system near the Texas coast and another system are forecast to plunge into the eastern United States should grab Tropical Depression Nine and cause it to turn quickly to the northeast at midweek.
In this most likely scenario, the system would then track across the northern part of the Florida Peninsula on Thursday and then near the Georgia coast Thursday night.
Only if the depression remains weak and misses the connection would the system wander farther west and perhaps make landfall west of Apalachicola. In this case, the storm is likely to weaken significantly with less coastal impact farther north during the weekend.
"Enhanced showers and gusty thunderstorms can be expected with localized flooding possible along the system's path," AccuWeather Meteorologist Ed Vallee said.
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There is the potential for 4-8 inches of rain near, east and northeast of where the center makes landfall.
All residents and visitors from the central and northeastern Gulf Coast to the coastal Carolinas should continue to monitor the progress Tropical Depression Nine and review what preparations are needed if a strong tropical storm threatens.
Should the system strengthen and track in the upper part of the west coast of Florida, low-lying areas near and south of the center of the storm could face coastal flooding during the period from Wednesday night through Thursday. Stormy conditions will then spread northeastward over the coastal areas of the Carolinas on Friday.

The storm could bring dangerous seas and rip currents along much of the coastal Northeast during the weekend.
Residents of Louisiana should also keep an eye on this system in the event it moves on a farther west path than anticipated.
Content contributed by Alex Sosnowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist.