Tropical Storm Gert 3rd named storm in 24 hours as hurricane center tracks 2 more systems

Three of the five investigations by the National Hurricane Center in the Atlantic system grew into named storms during a busy Sunday with the arrival of tropical storms Emily, Franklin and Gert with more likely this week.

At midnight Monday, the NHC upgraded its advisories for a depression in the Atlantic into what’s expected to be a short-lived Tropical Storm Gert.

As of 5 a.m., the storm was located about 455 miles east-southeast of the northern Leeward Islands moving west at 9 mph. It had sustained winds of 40 mph with tropical-storm-force winds extending out 70 miles.

“Gert is expected to become a remnant low later today and dissipate on Tuesday,” the NHC said.

It had formed as Tropical Depression Six late Saturday, but was never a threat to land. Meanwhile, two other investigations skipped over the depression phase from the busy tropics and formed directly into tropical storms on Sunday.

As of 8 a.m. Monday, Tropical Storm Franklin was located about 235 miles south of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, moving west at 12 mph with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph and higher gusts.

Its tropical-storm-force winds extend out 60 miles and tropical storm warnings and watches were issued for parts of the Dominican Republic and Haiti and a tropical storm watch for the Turks & Caicos.

“On the forecast track, the center of Franklin is forecast to reach the southern coast of Hispaniola late Tuesday or Tuesday night,” forecasters said. “Some strengthening is forecast before Franklin reaches Hispaniola.”

Its five-day forecast then has it continuing north and then back east into the Atlantic.

Earlier Sunday saw the formation of Tropical Storm Emily, which came from a broad area of low pressure with showers and thunderstorms located 1,165 miles west-northeast of the Cape Verde Islands moving west-northwest at 12 mph.

As of 11 a.m. Monday, it had devolved into Post-Tropical Cyclone Emily with the NHC giving its last advisory. It was located about 1,225 miles west-northwest of the Cape Verde Islands with 35 mph sustained winds moving west-northwest at 9 mph.

The system is projected to head north into the central Atlantic.

The NHC was also keeping track of two more systems with the potential to grow into another tropical depression or storm. If any gain enough strength to become a named system, they would become Tropical Storms Idalia.

A system that dropped some rain over South Florida over the weekend and has moved into the Gulf of Mexico has now become a broad area of low pressure. Convection has increased as of Sunday night as the low becomes more organized.

“Environmental conditions appear conducive for development of this system, and a tropical depression or tropical storm is likely to form before it reaches the western Gulf of Mexico coastline on Tuesday,” forecasters said.

The NHC said tropical storm watches or warnings may be necessary on Monday for portions of the southern Texas and northern Mexico coastlines.

The NHC gives it a 80% chance to form in the next two days, and 80% within the next seven.

And the last tracked system emerged from a tropical wave off the coast of Africa late Friday. It is now producing a large area of disorganized showers and thunderstorms.

“Environmental conditions appear generally conducive for gradual development of this system, and a tropical depression is likely to form later this week while it moves west-northwestward across the eastern tropical Atlantic,” forecasters said.

The NHC gives it a 40% chance to form in the next two days, and 70% within the next seven.