As of Tuesday evening, the National Hurricane Center has identified a broad and disorganized area of tropical activity in the western Gulf of Mexico that they say has a 50-50 chance of developing into a tropical storm in the next two days. If it does happen, it will be somewhere along the northern Gulf Coast in a band stretching east to the Atlantic Coast. Even if it does not pull itself together, it will bring heavy rain and some gusty winds to southern Alabama and Georgia and northern Florida later this week, which could disrupt field work and harvest activities there. Hurricane Larry, out in the Atlantic, is not expected to be a threat, although it is bringing some swells and rip currents to the beaches along the East Coast.
Next week, the long-range forecast from NOAA indicates there is a moderate chance of more development in the western Gulf as well as development of at least one wave coming off of Africa. We are at the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season, so that should not be a surprise. Keep your eye on the tropics as you plan your outdoor activities and fieldwork for the next few weeks.
