Disturbance may pose threat to Florida

Tropical wave ‘one to watch’ for impacts to Florida

Updated: 5:43 PM EDT Sep 20, 2022

WESH 2 meteorologists are keeping a close eye on one of two tropical disturbances in the Atlantic Ocean. Tropical Storm Gaston is located in the Central Subtropical Atlantic has an 80% chance of formation but is expected to be short-lived tropical and will have no impact on land. However, a second tropical disturbance located several hundred miles east of the Windward Islands is one that may have an impact on Florida.”This could become a tropical depression later this week as it drifts into the Caribbean,” WESH 2 Meteorologist Kellianne Klass said. “The GFS and Euro are both showing this storm strengthening as it moves into the Gulf of Mexico next week. Watching midweek through the end of the workweek as a rough timeline. What we need to watch is the exact path of this storm. The latest GFS run moves the storm closer to Central Florida, whereas the previous run has it farther away.”The disturbance is given a 60% chance of development in the next 48 hours and a 80% chance of development in the next five days. Meanwhile, Hurricane Fiona is drifting through the Atlantic as a major Category 3 storm. KNOW WHAT TO DO WHEN A HURRICANE WATCH IS ISSUEDStay tuned to WESH 2 News, WESH.COM, or NOAA Weather Radio for storm updates.Prepare to bring inside any lawn furniture, outdoor decorations or ornaments, trash cans, hanging plants, and anything else that can be picked up by the wind.Understand hurricane forecast models and cones.Prepare to cover all windows of your home. If shutters have not been installed, use precut plywood.Check batteries and stock up on canned food, first-aid supplies, drinking water, and medications.The WESH 2 First Warning Weather Team recommends you have these items ready before the storm strikes.Bottled water: One gallon of water per person per dayCanned food and soup, such as beans and chiliCan opener for the cans without the easy-open lidsAssemble a first-aid kitTwo weeks’ worth of prescription medicationsBaby/children’s needs, such as formula and diapersFlashlight and batteriesBattery-operated weather radioWHAT TO DO WHEN A HURRICANE WARNING IS ISSUEDListen to the advice of local officials. If you are advised to evacuate, leave.Complete preparation activitiesIf you are not advised to evacuate, stay indoors, away from windows.Be alert for tornadoes. Tornadoes can happen during a hurricane and after it passes over. Remain indoors, in the center of your home, in a closet or bathroom without windows.HOW YOUR SMARTPHONE CAN HELP DURING A HURRICANEA smartphone can be your best friend in a hurricane — with the right websites and apps, you can turn it into a powerful tool for guiding you through a storm’s approach, arrival and aftermath.Download the WESH 2 News app for iOS | AndroidEnable emergency alerts — if you have an iPhone, select settings, then go into notifications. From there, look for government alerts and enable emergency alerts.If you have an Android phone, from the home page of the app, scroll to the right along the bottom and click on “settings.” On the settings menu, click on “severe weather alerts.” From the menu, select from most severe, moderate-severe, or all alerts.PET AND ANIMAL SAFETYYour pet should be a part of your family plan. If you must evacuate, the most important thing you can do to protect your pets is to evacuate them too. Leaving pets behind, even if you try to create a safe space for them, could result in injury or death.Contact hotels and motels outside of your immediate area to see if they take pets.Ask friends, relatives and others outside of the affected area whether they could shelter your animal.