Gamma Now Tropical Depression Will Miss Florida
May Dissipate During Next 24 Hours
Could it have been the collective sigh of relief from South Floridians that might have helped blow Gamma's projected path farther southward? I think it's possible. In any case, this storm-ravaged and hurricane-weary region has every reason to breath easier today. Gamma has been down-graded to a Tropical Depression and forecasters think it's possible the storm could dissipate during the next 24 hours. The best news? Except for a few clouds and showers, it is expected to miss Florida all together.
If you are tracking Gamma, at 10:00 a.m. EST Sunday morning, the National Hurricane Center indicates the center of the storm near Latitude 16.9 North and Longitude 85.3 West or about 195 miles east-southeast of Belize City and about 80 miles north-northeast of Limon, Honduras. The storm is drifting toward the northwest near 3 mph. A slow drift toward the northwest or north is expected during the next 24 hours, however some erratic motion will be possible since the steering currents remain weak. Gamma's sustained winds have decreased to 35 mph, with higher gusts. A gradual weakening is forecast, with the possibility that Gamma could dissipate during the next 24 hours..
Of course, we all know how unpredictable these storms can be, so it is important that everyone in Florida keep an eye on weather reports over this weekend.
Tracking Tropical Storm Gamma
Saturday, November 19, 10:00 p.m.
Gamma Now Expected to Skirt South Florida Mainland
Poorly organized Tropical Storm Gamma has shown no change in strength over the last 24 hours, but forecasters have changed the storm's projected path to one farther south than originally anticipated. The new forecast would be good news for the South Florida mainland still reeling from Hurricane Wilma. Hurricane-weary residents in the southern portion of the state breathed a collective, yet tentative, sigh of relief today and took a break from the storm preparations that they had reluctantly started.
The area is still faced with the threat of gusty winds and rain on Monday, but nothing like the wrath that ensued during Wilma's visit less than four weeks ago. Blue tarps and piles of storm debris still litter South Florida from that storm.
If you are tracking Gamma, at 10:00 p.m. EST the National Hurricane Center placed the center of the storm near Latitude 16.6 North and Longitude 84.5 West or about 250 miles east-southeast of Belize City and about 90 miles northeast of Limon, Honduras. The storm has begun a forward movement toward the northeast near 6 mph. Gamma's sustained winds remain near 45 mph, with higher gusts. Those winds extend upward to 105 miles to the north of the center. Little change in strength is forecast for the next 24 hours.
Saturday, November 19, 5:00 p.m. EST
Tropical Storm Gamma Headed for South Florida?
The last thing on anyone's mind right now is the tropics. After all, the hurricane season comes to an end November 30, and late season storms are unusual. But this has been a record-breaking year for the tropics... and, it isn't over yet! Tropical Depression twenty-seven has re-generated and is now Tropical Storm Gamma which is forecast to possibly take the same path as Hurricane Wilma — across South Florida. Gamma is expected to be a strong tropical storm when it approaches Florida, packing sustained winds of 50-65 mph.
The storm is already pushing moisture across the southern portions of the state, so conditions are expected to deteriorate further over that area during the weekend. Although Gamma isn't expected to reach hurricane strength, it will still likely bring tropical storm winds and rain into an area that has hardly had enough time to recover from Hurricane Wilma. Blue tarps and piles of hurricane debris still litter South Florida from Wilma, who hit the area hard not even a month ago.
If you are tracking Gamma, at 4:00 p.m. EST the National Hurricane Center indicates the center of the storm near Latitude 16.3 North and Longitude 85.2 West or about 215 miles east-southeast of Belize City and about 45 miles northeast of Limon, Honduras. The storm is drifting erratically northward and a slow motion toward the north is expected during the next 24 hours. Gamma's sustained winds remain near 45 mph, with higher gusts. Those winds extend upward to 105 miles to the north of the center. Little change in strength is forecast for the next 24 hours.
Saturday, November 19, 10:00 a.m. EST
If you are tracking Gamma, at 10:00 a.m. EST the National Hurricane Center shows the center of the storm near Latitude 16.8 North and Longitude 85.9 West or about 160 miles east-southeast of Belize City and about 255 miles south-southeast of Tulum, Mexico. The storm is moving toward the north-northwest near 5 mph and its sustained winds remain near 45 mph. Those winds extend upward to 105 miles to the north of the center. Some slight strengthening is possible during the next 24 hours.
Friday, November 18, 10:00 p.m. EST
If you are tracking Gamma, at 10:00 p.m. EST the National Hurricane Center is positioning the storm at Latitude 16.4 North and Longitude 85.8 West or about 45 miles north of Limon, Honduras and about 175 miles east-southeast of Belize City. The storm is moving toward the northwest near 5 mph and is packing sustained winds near 45 mph. Those winds extend upward to 105 miles to the north of the center.
Friday, November 18, 5:00 p.m. EST
If you are tracking Gamma, at 5:00 p.m. the National Hurricane Center is positioning the storm at Latitude 16.4 North and Longitude 85.6 West or about 40 miles north of Limon Honduras and about 190 miles east-southeast of Belize City, Belize. The storm is moving toward the west-northwest near 5 mph and is packing sustained winds of about 45 mph. Those winds extend some 85 miles to the north of the center.
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