Tropical storm watches issued in Southwest Florida ahead of Potential Tropical System 9

Writer: Nicholas Karsen
Published: Updated:
Potential Tropical System 9
Credit: The Weather Authority

The Weather Authority is monitoring Potential Tropical System 9, as tropical storm watches have been issued throughout our area.

The disturbance in the Western Caribbean will rapidly strengthen as it moves through the Gulf of Mexico before making landfall along the Panhandle of Florida Thursday evening.

According to the National Hurricane Center’s 5 a.m. Tuesday advisory, the system is moving toward the northwest at nearly eight mph.

This motion will continue throughout Tuesday, shifting into a faster northward to north-northeastward motion on Wednesday and Thursday.

According to The Weather Authority Chief Meteorologist Matt Devitt, “Collier County in Southwest Florida is now under both a Tropical Storm Watch and Storm Surge Watch. NHC has a preliminary forecast of 2 – 4 feet of storm surge on Thursday in Collier County due to the future of Hurricane Helene.”

Lee and Charlotte Counties are under a tropical storm watch and are forecasted to have 2—7 feet of storm surge along the coastlines on Thursday.

Strengthening is expected during the next few days.

The system is forecast to become a Category 3 hurricane on Wednesday and continue strengthening on Thursday as it moves across the eastern Gulf of Mexico.

The Weather Authority will continue monitoring this tropical system as it continues to develop throughout the week.

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