Sally is leaving the Sunshine State, but the tropics remain active with two named storms and possibly two more on the horizon, including a system in the western Gulf of Mexico.
After dumping more than 30 inches of rain in the Pensacola area, Sally has weakened to a depression, but is threatening the Carolinas with flash flooding and isolated tornadoes Thursday. A few trailing rain bands were stretching as far south as North Florida Thursday morning, but widespread flash flooding is no longer anticipated from Sally. Existing flooding and river flooding are expected to last for several more days in the western Florida Panhandle, mainly from the Apalachicola River westward to the state line with Alabama. Some rivers are not expected to crest until the weekend because of additional run off from rains in Alabama and Georgia.
The National Hurricane Center is monitoring a tropical disturbance in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico, near the Mexican coastline. They said a tropical depression or named storm is likely to form there later Thursday. It is expected to move north to northeastward Friday and Saturday, but most reliable track models keep the developing system over the western Gulf through Saturday. The forecast track beyond that time is more uncertain and residents along the Gulf coast should occasionally monitor forecasts for possible changes this weekend.
Hurricane Teddy is forecast to be a major hurricane over the open Atlantic waters between the Leeward Islands and Bermuda later Thursday into the weekend. It may threaten Bermuda on Monday, a mere week after Hurricane Paulette moved directly over the island. Teddy is forecast to otherwise stay out at sea through Tuesday of next week.
Tropical Storm Vicky is over the far eastern Atlantic and is expected to dissipate because of strong wind shear over the storm. It is no threat to land areas.
Finally, another tropical wave a few hundred miles south-southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands (off the African coast) has a medium chance of becoming another depression or named storm late this week. The National Hurricane Center says conditions are expected to become less favorable for tropical storm formation over the upcoming weekend. It, too, is not expected to affect any land areas at this time.
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