Tropical Storm Gamma forms over Caribbean Sea, more rain for South Florida

Alex Harris, Michelle Marchante, Devoun Cetoute
·2 min read
Tropical Storm Gamma has formed southeast of the Yucatan Peninsula, marking the 23rd named storm of the season, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Tropical Storm Gamma has formed southeast of the Yucatan Peninsula, marking the 23rd named storm of the season, according to the National Hurricane Center. It is forecast to strengthen before hitting the Yucatan Peninsula Saturday.

Tropical storm watches and warnings were issued for parts of the Yucatan Peninsula, where the depression is expected to cross over the weekend before hooking west into Mexico.

It’s far enough from South Florida that forecasters don’t expect to see any impacts, but an approaching cold front is on track to drench the region anyway.

South Florida is forecast to see heavy rain and potential flooding this weekend. And while the bad weather is being caused by a stalled front, the activity in the Caribbean Sea is also bringing extra moisture to the area, potentially increasing the region’s rain chances, the National Weather Service said Thursday. Parts of Miami-Dade and Broward remain under a flood watch through the weekend.

Tropical Storm Gamma formed Friday night, and as of the 11 p.m. update it had 40 mph maximum winds and was moving northwest at 9 mph. Tropical storm force winds are extending outward up to 45 miles.

“On the forecast track, the center of Gamma should be near the northeasternYucatan Peninsula on Saturday,” forecasters wrote.

Forecasters say the main threat is expected to be heavy rainfall. Gamma is expected to produce 4 to 8 inches of rainfall across portions of the Yucatan Peninusla and far western Cuba, with maximum rainfall amounts as high as 10 to 15 inches across the northeastern portion of Quintana Roo, Mexico.

Life-threatening flash floods are possible, forecasters said.

Forecasters are also monitoring another tropical wave that is moving across the eastern Caribbean Sea Friday and is producing widespread cloudiness, showers and thunderstorms.

The wave is forecast to move west or west-northwestward at 15 mph during the next several days and could see some conducive environmental conditions when it enters the central or western Caribbean Sea early next week, according to the hurricane center.

It has a 10% chance of formation in the next 48 hours and a 40% in the next five days.