Tropical Storm Gordon has developed this Friday morning in the Atlantic Ocean, marking the seventh named storm of what is expected to be a highly active hurricane season in 2024.

As of 5 p.m. ET on Friday, Gordon is positioned nearly 2,500 miles from the East Coast of the United States and is currently moving west-northwest at a speed of 10 mph.

The National Hurricane Center’s forecast indicates that the storm will drift slowly westward across the central Atlantic in the coming days and may even weaken into a tropical depression.

Looking further ahead, most computer simulations suggest that the storm will curve out to sea, avoiding North America.

In contrast, Tropical Storm Francine has downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone but continues to bring heavy rainfall to parts of the Southeast and Tennessee Valley.

Tropical Storm Gordon’s Current Status

As of 5 p.m. EDT Friday, the center of Tropical Storm Gordon was approximately 1,045 miles west-northwest of the Cabo Verde Islands, with maximum sustained winds reaching 40 mph.

The storm is progressing toward the west-northwest at about 12 mph. A shift to the west is expected later tonight, with the storm likely slowing down over the weekend.

The hurricane center reports that slight strengthening may occur today before the storm starts to weaken on Saturday.

Gordon: The Seventh Named Storm of the Year

Tropical Storm Gordon is the seventh named storm of the season. If it escalates to hurricane status, which is not currently anticipated, it would become the fifth hurricane of the year, joining Beryl, Debby, Ernesto, and Francine.

This storm is also only the second named storm to develop since August 12. Statistics from Colorado State University hurricane researcher Phil Klotzbach indicate that the Atlantic has not seen such a low number of named storms during this period since 1997.

Typically, there are around 14 named storms in a year, with roughly 7 of those becoming hurricanes; however, predictions for this year suggest there could be as many as 33 named storms.

Examining Gordon’s Forecast Models

Important note about spaghetti models: These visualizations consist of various prediction tools and models, and their accuracy can differ. The National Hurricane Center primarily relies on the top-performing models for its forecasts.

Potential Development of Helene?

In addition to Gordon, meteorologists are keeping an eye on a weather disturbance just off the Southeast U.S. coast that may lead to tropical or subtropical development next week.

“In a few days, a non-tropical low-pressure area might form along a lingering frontal boundary a few hundred miles off the southeastern U.S. coastline,” the National Hurricane Center stated in a forecast published Friday.

“Subtropical or tropical development could occur in the early part of next week as this system migrates to the north or northwest,” they added.

If this system receives a name, it would be called Helene.

Another disturbance is currently active in the open Atlantic, but the hurricane center reports it has a minimal near 0% chance of developing further.