Tropical Disturbance in the Gulf is likely to bring heavy rain to Florida, although there is a lower chance of development

TAMPA, Fla. – A low-pressure system in the Gulf of Mexico could bring several inches of rain to parts of Florida, including the Tampa Bay area, by early next week.

As of Thursday afternoon, the system remains disorganized, with the National Hurricane Center giving it a 30 percent chance of developing over the next seven days.

FOX 13 meteorologist Dave Osterberg says regardless of whether the disturbance develops into a named storm, it will bring heavy rain to areas affected by severe flooding from Hurricane Helene.

“We could get all of our October (average) precipitation early next week, which is only about two inches,” Osterberg said. “But the computer models are bringing 4 to 5 inches of rain to Central Florida and 8 to 10 inches over South Florida.”

Several inches of rain could fall across the Tampa Bay area over the next seven days, according to FOX 13 meteorologists.

As for the timing, tropical moisture is expected to spread across the state late Sunday and rain will continue into Monday and Tuesday, according to Osterberg.

“At this point there are no computer models that predict a major hurricane or anything like that,” Osterberg said. “They simply create a weak, broad low pressure area with a lot of rain.”

Other activities in the tropics

Hurricane Kirk is a major hurricane moving across the Atlantic and is expected to continue to gain strength and reach at least Category 4 status, but is expected to remain in the open Atlantic.

Tropical Storm Leslie formed Wednesday evening and will also move out to sea, following a similar path to Kirk.

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