TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — The National Hurricane Center on Tuesday continues to monitor Tropical Storm Bill and a disturbance near the Gulf of Mexico that could develop into a tropical depression sometime this week. It’s also watching a wave off the coast of Africa.
Tropical Storm Bill
Tropical Storm Bill gained some strength as it moved farther into the Atlantic away from the United States.
At about 11 a.m. ET, the storm had winds of 60 mph, and was centered about 420 miles east of Nantucket, Massachusetts, moving northeast at 31 miles per hour. It’s forecast to weaken as it moves farther into the Atlantic before it becomes a post-tropical low and dissipates on Wednesday, the National Hurricane Center said.
Disturbance near Gulf of Mexico
The NHC is also monitoring a group of disorganized showers and storms near the Gulf of Mexico over the Bay of Campeche. The system is expected to move north before it turns into a tropical depression by midweek. It was given a 20% chance of formation over the next 48 hours and a 70% chance of development over the next five days. Regardless, it’s expected to dump heavy amounts of rain over portions of Central America and southern Mexico in the next several days. Parts of the northern Gulf Coast could see heavy rain on Friday.
Tropical wave off coast of Africa
Forecasters are also watching a tropical wave located several hundred miles south of the Cabo Verde Islands. The system is currently producing disorganized showers and has a small 10% chance of formation over the next five days.
Bill was the second named storm of the 2021 Atlantic Hurricane Season. The next named storm will be Claudette.
