National Hurricane Center Issues Tropical Storm Watch for Florida; Potential Tropical Cyclone Threatens Southeast US

Florida is bracing for a possible destructive potent storm system off the Gulf Coast in the coming days.

This comes after the National Hurricane Center (NHC) issued a "Tropical Storm Watch" for the Sunshine State after referring to the storm system as "Potential Tropical Cyclone 1" or "Potential Tropical Cyclone One."

The NHC expressed concern due to the possibility the system from Hurricane Agatha's remnants over the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico could either developed into a named storm called Tropical Storm Alex.

Over recent days, multiple storm forecasts have issued for Florida and its surrounding regions in relation to Agatha.

However, the latest NHC weather forecast confirmed previous predictions that Agatha could hit Florida in one way or another.

This is the first tropical system since the Atlantic hurricane season started on Wednesday, June 1.

No storms or hurricanes have officially formed over the US yet.

However, previous weather reports showed that an above-average hurricane season is looming for the US and its surrounding countries this year.

Florida Tropical Storm Watch

US hurricane season — Photo by NOAA via Getty Images

The NHC on Thursday, June 2, issued the Tropical Storm Watch for Florida as Tropical Cyclone One is expected to bring heavy rainfall with flooding over portions of Florida Keys, Southern Florida, and Cuba.

A similar storm watch has been issued as well for the northwestern Bahamas.

In Florida, the tropical storm alert included the areas of Miami, West Palm Beach, Melbourne, Key West, and Sarasota.

To supplement the NHC report, the National Weather Service (NWS) in Miami issued a post on its Twitter page regarding the looming system, advising residents and visitors in South Florida to take precaution and monitor local weather developments.

6/2 8:30AM: While we continue to monitor chances for storms this PM, we are also keeping a close eye on the system over the Yucatan peninsula, which is likely to develop in the next 1-2 days, and will bring heavy precip capable of causing flash flooding across SoFL. #FLwx pic.twitter.com/rdqv9MJfCB
— NWS Miami (@NWSMiami) June 2, 2022

In Cuba, the watch was issued for the provinces of Havana, Artemisa, Pinar del Rio, Isle of Youth, Matanzas, and Mayabeque.

Also Read: Hurricane Agatha Expected to Intensify After Making Landfall in Mexico

Potential Tropical Cyclone 1

The NHC developed the term "potential tropical cyclone" as a means to issue storm watches and storm warnings for a system that is being anticipated to develop while approaching land.

With this, the US weather authorities are unable to issue watches and warnings until an actual tropical storm develops, which leads to critical warnings, as reported by the US media outlet.

The US hurricane agency also reportedly said the storm system has an 90% chance to develop into a cyclone in the next two days from Thursday.

In a separate weather forecast, CNN Meteorologist Chad Myers estimate 12 to 16 inches of rainfall are possible in the worst affected areas.

Myers emphasized that regardless if the system develops or not, it could still bring significant flooding across southern Florida and the Florida Keys.

Hurricane Agatha

Hurricane Agatha weakened into a low-pressure system after making landfall in the Oaxaca state of Mexico on Monday, May 30, killing at least 11 people with 20 other missing.

The large number of fatalities comes as the storm caused flash floods due to torrential rain and landslides, according to the Associated Press.

Agatha, which formed over the Eastern Pacific Ocean, has been reportedly considered as the strongest hurricane to have landed in the Pacific hurricane season in the month of May.