A brand new weather system brewing over the mid-Atlantic Ocean is expected to be soon renamed Tropical Storm Gordon as it intensifies.
The storm, currently named Tropical Depression Seven, is forecast to possibly strengthen to a tropical storm on Friday, making it the seventh named storm of the 2024 hurricane season.
The tropical depression is currently moving westward across the Atlantic towards the Caribbean but may veer northwest in the general direction of the U.S. in the coming week.
"Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph (55 km/h) with higher gusts. The depression could become a tropical storm later today, however little change in strength overall is anticipated through the weekend," the National Hurricane Center said in a public advisory. "The depression is moving toward the west-northwest near 14 mph (22 km/h). A turn toward the west is forecast by tonight, with the system gradually slowing down through the weekend."
Tropical depressions are the initial stage of a tropical cyclone, forming when a low-pressure area organizes and sustained winds reach less than 39 mph. When the tropical depression intensifies and its sustained wind speeds increase to between 39 mph and 73 mph, it is classified as a tropical storm. At this stage, it is given an official name. If the tropical storm strengthens further and its sustained winds reach 74 mph or higher, it is classified as a hurricane.
The previous six named storms of the season include Tropical Storm Alberto, Hurricane Beryl, Tropical Storm Chris, Hurricane Debby, Hurricane Ernesto, and Hurricane Francine.
Beryl was the earliest-forming Category 5 storm ever recorded in the Atlantic, hitting Category 5 on July 1, surpassing the previous record set by Category 5 Hurricane Emily on July 16, 2005. It is considered the strongest July storm ever recorded and was also the first Category 4 storm ever seen in June.
"The rate at which Beryl has strengthened is unheard of for the time of year, with a 65 mph increase in maximum winds over 24 hours, nearly doubling the threshold for rapid intensification, defined as at least a 35 mph increase in winds in 24 hours," hurricane specialist and storm expert Michael Lowry previously told Newsweek. "The typical date of the first major (Category 3 or stronger) hurricane is September 1st, so Beryl is a full two months ahead of schedule."
Debby hit Category 1, while Ernesto and Francine peaked at Category 2 strength. Francine was the most recent hurricane to slam into the U.S., bringing intense winds and flash flooding to Louisiana and Mississippi.
After Gordon, the list of Atlantic storm names for 2024 are: Helene, Isaac, Joyce, Kirk, Leslie, Milton, Nadine, Oscar, Patty, Rafael, Sara, Tony, Valerie, and William.
Two other potential tropical depressions are building in the Atlantic at the moment, one near the Leeward Islands and another just off the Southeastern U.S. coast.
The Leeward Islands system has a 20 percent chance of becoming a tropical cyclone in the next 48 hours.
"Environmental conditions, including the proximity of dry air, do not favor development of this system while it moves west-northwestward at about 15 mph. Regardless of development, locally heavy rainfall and gusty winds are possible across the northern Leeward Islands today," the NHC said.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Southeast low-pressure system has a 30 percent chance of becoming a tropical cyclone in the next 7 days, but a 0 percent chance in the next 48 hours.
"Some subtropical or tropical development is possible during the early part of next week while the system moves generally northwestward toward the coast," the NHC said.
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