According to the National Hurricane Center, the tropical system that has been hovering near the Gulf of Mexico for the past week has finally become organized enough to be upgraded to Tropical Depression 14.
The system is expected to be at or near major hurricane strength when it reaches the west coast of the Florida peninsula next week, more than a week after Helene’s landfall, which left at least 128 dead, while still hundreds are missing.
The next tropical storm will be named Milton.
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Here’s what we know so far:
NHC tropical system tracking in the Gulf of Mexico upgraded to Tropical Depression 14
According to the NHC’s 7 a.m. weather advisory, this system is expected to develop and a tropical depression or storm will likely form later today or Sunday as it slowly moves eastward over the southwestern Gulf of Mexico. The system is expected to move more rapidly eastward or northeastward over the central and eastern Gulf of Mexico early next week, where further strengthening is likely.
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Formation chance during 48 hours: High, 70%.
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Formation chance over 7 days: High, 90%.
More: Where are all those predicted hurricanes? Experts fear they are still coming.
Will Tropical Depression 14 Hit Texas?
Early forecasts show the tropical system moving from east to northeast, away from Texas, across the Gulf of Mexico. The NHC says Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, the Florida Peninsula, the Florida Keys and the northwestern Bahamas should monitor the progress of this system.
Regardless of the development, locally heavy rains are possible over the next two days in parts of Mexico, and in much of Florida late this weekend into the middle of next week.
Hurricane Tracker: NHC also tracks Hurricane Kirk, Hurricane Leslie and another tropical system
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– USA TODAY reporter Dinah Voyles Pulver contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: NHC hurricane tracker: Tropical Depression 14 forms in the Gulf of Mexico
