Meteorologists Warn of Possible New Storm Brewing Off the Coast of French Guiana as Air Pressure Drops

As the Atlantic waters churn off French Guiana, meteorologists are on high alert. The falling air pressure is raising concerns that a new storm could develop, potentially causing widespread damage along the southeastern coast.

Earlier this month, Hurricane Beryl brought devastation to Texas and the Mississippi Valley. The storm resulted in at least eight fatalities and left over 2.7 million people without power.

Now, just as the storm’s aftermath is being managed, attention turns to the possibility of another hurricane forming.

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has issued a warning about a potential new storm, tentatively named Debby, brewing east of the Lesser Antilles. The Texas Storm Chasers have noted that the likelihood of tropical development has risen to 40 percent within the next week.

They advise anyone along the Florida coast to stay vigilant, as August is historically a busy month for storms.

The NHC first detected the tropical disturbance on Friday, noting its potential interaction with an incoming tropical wave.

Since then, the probability of this system developing into a significant storm has nearly tripled. Weather Jamaica has issued a code Orange alert, indicating that Debby could be imminent.

Forecast models suggest that if the storm does form, it could traverse the Caribbean and potentially impact Florida.

There is also a possibility that it could make landfall anywhere in the Gulf of Mexico or the Carolinas, influenced by a large high-pressure area near Bermuda or another system over the southern plains.

Expert Opinions

WJBF forecaster Miller Hyatt commented, “The tropics are waking up! A disturbance is brewing in the central Atlantic.

Will it become Debby? Saharan dust is currently slowing its development, but that could change soon.”

If Debby materializes, it would be the fourth named storm of the 2024 hurricane season, which began with Storm Alberto in June.

Beryl, the previous storm, set records as the earliest-forming Category 5 hurricane and caused significant damage across the Caribbean before weakening to a Category 1 hurricane upon reaching Texas.

Ongoing Concerns

The NHC has noted a medium chance that the latest disturbance will evolve into Debby, with the odds improving over the weekend.

They predict that environmental conditions will become more favorable for development in the coming days, possibly leading to a tropical depression forming around midweek near the northern Leeward Islands, Greater Antilles, or southwestern Atlantic Ocean.

Fox Weather’s Michael Estime suggested that the Caribbean has been relatively protected this year due to unusual conditions. However, as Saharan dust levels decrease, the potential for storm development could increase.

“With less dust in the atmosphere, the sun’s impact may accelerate the development of this disturbance,” he explained.