The Atlantic hurricane season has gone without a named hurricane until now, but that’s about to change. The National Hurricane Center has upgraded Invest 92L, the disturbance we’ve been tracking in the southwestern Gulf, to Tropical Depression 9. Forecasters expect it to strengthen into a hurricane before landfall Friday evening or early Saturday, somewhere between New Orleans and Florida’s Western Panhandle.
The Suncoast is not in the forecast cone, and that’s worth a deep breath. Still, a storm this size sends energy across the entire Gulf. Expect building surf, breezy winds, and dangerous rip currents from later this week into the weekend. Small craft advisories are possible as early as Thursday, so boaters should start making plans now.
If you’re heading to Siesta Key, Lido, or any of our beaches this weekend, respect the red flags and never swim alone. And if you have friends or family in the Panhandle or Louisiana, this is a good week to check in on them. What’s your hurricane prep plan this season? Let us know in the comments.
