The Caribbean is currently hosting a tropical rainstorm, that some experts fear may develop into a more serious tropical storm.
It will approach Florida over the weekend, and, depending on its development, may bring with it thunderstorms and downpours.
Record Hurricane Already This Season
This season has already seen a record-breaking hurricane, in the Class 5 Hurricane Beryl, which is the earliest Category 5 hurricane recorded.
It weakened before hitting the Texas shoreline, although not before wreaking havoc across the Caribbean and some parts of Mexico.
Intense Hurricane Season Ahead
Experts have warned of a potentially intense hurricane season coming for the Caribbean and Caribbean-adjacent locales.
AccuWeather are predicting 20 to 25 named storms, which would be an increase on last year’s 19.
Already Impacting Caribbean
Although the current activity is not yet strong enough to be considered a full-on tropical storm, it is already expected to have an impact on Caribbean nations.
It is predicted to cause floods and torrential downpours along the Turks and Caicos, as well as the Bahamas as it moves West.
Largely Formless
As of the time being, the rainstorm is largely formless, which can make it difficult for forecasters to predict its next actions.
Once it has a defined ‘core’, its classification may be upgraded and its path easier to track.
Not Expected to Strengthen Rapidly
The storm is not expected to strengthen rapidly, given it is forming near a group of large islands.
However, as it slowly moves away from Cuba, the chances of it forming into a larger tropical storm rises.
Not Yet Named
As the storm has not yet been upgraded to a full tropical storm, it has not been given an official name.
The earlier Category 5 Hurricane this season was called Beryl, and this one will be called Debbie if it fully develops.
Long and Undefined
The storm may be currently formless, but it is still covering a vast area over the Caribbean Sea.
On Wednesday, it sprawled over a few hundred miles, raining down over Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
Islands Containment Effect
Depending on if and where the core of the storm forms, the storm may be hampered in its development by rocky islands such as Hispaniola.
The mountains effectively ‘cut up’ storms, reducing their potential to form larger, more damaging tropical storms.
Risk to East Florida
If the core forms farther North, and in warmer waters, it has a real risk of developing into a stronger storm.
Hurricane Debbie, as it would be called, has the potential to cause disruption along the east of Florida as early as this weekend, although it remains too early to say for sure where it will end up.
