MIDWAY, Fl. (WTXL) -- A triple dose of tropical activity highlights this Tropics check. We'll start with the one closest to home: Tropical Depression Nine.
T.D. 9: The system continues to stay poorly organized over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico. As of the latest advisory (5AM EST) it has winds sustained at 35 mph. It is expected to make a northwest turn today into Tuesday, likely strengthening into a tropical storm by that time. Our region is engulfed in the possible track of this storm. It may be a strong tropical storm with winds around 50-60 mph when it makes landfall. The potential of landfall stretches from as far west as Panama City to as far southeast as Sarasota.
T.D. 8: This Tropical Depression has already prompted Tropical Storm Watches for portions of the Outer Banks of North Carolina. As of the latest advisory (5AM EST) it has winds sustained at 35 mph. The storm is expected to approach, but NOT make landfall along that area.
Regarding both of these depressions, whichever becomes a tropical storm first will be named Hermine. The next named system will be Ian.
Gaston: Hurricane Gaston is maintaining Category 3 hurricane strength with winds at 115 mph. It is the FIRST major hurricane of the 2016 Atlantic Hurricane Season. Gaston is forecast to weaken and rapidly push east over the next few days. The Azores are under threat from Gaston by late week. It may bring Tropical Storm conditions to the island nation in the North Atlantic Ocean.
Aside from that triple threat, another disturbance is expected to develop as it moves off the coast of Africa. It has a 50% chance to develop over the open Atlantic in the next five days.
