Ports along the Gulf Coast are monitoring a storm in the Caribbean that AccuWeather meteorologists predict will strengthen into a hurricane and hit the area on Thursday.
The weather forecasting company predicts the storm will impact areas that were affected by Hurricane Idalia in August 2023. The National Hurricane Center issued an advisory Monday about a possible tropical cyclone for parts of Mexico and Cuba but said the storm was forecast to strengthen.
“We expect this evolving storm threat to rapidly intensify into a hurricane,” said AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Expert Alex DaSilva. “Don’t wait to prepare if you’re in the path of this storm. There is a possibility that we could be dealing with a major hurricane at landfall.”
AccuWeather expects 4 to 8 inches of rain across the Florida Panhandle and Big Bend Region through Saturday, with some areas seeing 8 to 12 inches near where the storm makes landfall.
The Panama City Port Authority in Florida is aware of the storm and monitoring it, said spokeswoman Sarah Harris. Operations will continue. Ports in Alabama and New Orleans were also closely monitoring the potential severe weather.
Leaders of the Manatee County Port Authority in Florida were working closely with local, state and federal agencies on Monday ahead of the potential storm. The staff plans to meet with a heavy weather advisory group, which consists of a variety of entities, to discuss necessary steps, said spokeswoman Virginia Zimmermann.
Six hurricanes have made landfall so far this year, which experts predicted to be an above-average season. Hurricane Francine made landfall in Louisiana on Sept. 11, causing an estimated $9 billion in damage and economic loss.