Eye on the Tropics

Franklin develops over the Caribbean, approaching the Yucatan

By Irene Sans, WFTV.com
By Irene Sans, WFTV.com
Tropical Storm Franklin, which could also become the first hurricane of the season later this week, formed over the western Caribbean. 
The storm has been traveling mainly westward since last week, but battling dry air and wind shear. On Sunday evening, a closed low-level circulation became better defined and The National Hurricane Center officially named the system, Franklin. 
Franklin is the sixth named storm of the season. It could become a hurricane after it crosses the Yucatan Peninsula and reaches the very warm Gulf waters, by Wednesday afternoon.

SEE CURRENT WATCHES & WARNING: Franklin Watch & Warnings

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Conditions are favorable for the system to reach hurricane status, perhaps a Category 1 hurricane, by the time it reaches the Gulf of Mexico. Water temperatures in the western Gulf of Mexico are in the mid to upper-80s, serving as fuel to a storm. Most models predict for the system, as strong tropical storm or hurricane, to continue moving west after it leaves the Yucatan Peninsula and most likely make landfall in the northern part of the Mexican state of Veracruz or southern Tamaulipas by Thursday.

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This system does not represent a threat to Florida or the U.S. Gulf states.
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>>Watching the next tropical wave
As we go up-slope in the season, the tropics are showing more signs of activity. The wind shear seems to be (generally) relaxing a bit more. Lack of wind shear allows for tropical systems to become better organized by not disturbing its structure in the upper-levels flow, allowing a natural growing flow. 

Water temperatures are warm enough serving as fuel to feed the systems; at least in the mid-80s across much of the Atlantic and Caribbean basins. 

The rest of the tropics
There is another system that has a medium potential chance for development during the next five days. The second system is located well east of the Caribbean, and over 2,000 miles from Florida, and will continue to travel west. We will monitor the evolution of this next tropical wave and bring you prompt updates on WFTV.com,  Eyewitness News, and across all of our social media platforms.

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Irene Sans

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