MIAMI—A disturbance swirling over the Caribbean Sea on Wednesday has been designated as Potential Tropical Cyclone Nineteen, and forecasters say the system will likely strengthen further Tropical Storm Sara in the coming days.

The PTC designation allows the NHC and other governments to issue tropical weather watches and warnings when a disturbance is not too severe. tropical storm strength, but is expected to reach that point soon, with storm impacts occurring within 36 hours.

Some of these models are based on the system previously defined as Invest 99L on Tuesdaymay continue to grow stronger and hurricane. Hurricane Watches have been issued for parts of Honduras and Tropical Storm Watches for northern Nicaragua.

” atmospheric FOX Weather Hurricane Specialist stated that the trend in the Caribbean looks extremely favorable for Sara to further organize and strengthen. Bryan Norcross said. “The only obvious obstacle to the system developing into an intense hurricane in the Caribbean appears to be interaction with land.”

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What’s the latest on potential Tropical Cyclone 19?

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Potential Tropical Cyclone Nineteen is located in the Caribbean Sea, approximately 460 miles east of Isla Guanaja, Honduras. Peak winds are 30 mph and slowly moving west.

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What is the forecast for potential Tropical Cyclone 19?

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Potential Tropical Cyclone 19 will continue to move west toward the Western Caribbean Sea, and Jamaica should see showers and rain, the NHC said. storms is associated with the system throughout the next day.

Strengthening is expected over the next few days. The system is expected to become a Tropical Storm Storm on Thursday and continue to strengthen as it moves towards the coast of Central America.

The storm will bring 10-20 inches of life-threatening rainfall to northern Honduras, with isolated areas seeing 30 inches, the NHC said.

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“These rainfalls will lead to large areas of life-threatening and potentially devastating flooding and landslides, especially along and near the Sierra La Esperanza,” the NHC said.

Tropical storm-force winds of at least 40 mph are expected in the region late Thursday, with the potential for hurricane-force winds in eastern Honduras on Friday. Storm surge of 1-3 feet is possible along the Honduran coastline north of where the hurricane approaches or moves toward the coast.

Florida on alert as long-range forecasts likely show potential impacts from Sara

Likely-Sara is expected to travel across Central America over the weekend. Mexicanon the Yucatán Peninsula until early next week.

“Diversion currents in the Caribbean are very gentle,” says Norcross.

After that, computer forecast models show the system could stick around the area and strengthen again, taking advantage of warm waters and low waters. wind shear.

Forecasters said that a high pressure area will form in the north of the system next week, and where it is established will ultimately determine the path of Sara in the future.

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Drifting currents could push the system toward Central America or possibly allow Sara to move north and move toward the Gulf of Mexico next week, ultimately impacting the system. Florida.

“The fact that most computer forecast models are predicting a threat to Florida is concerning, but things can change,” Norcross said. “As always, when a system is still in development, prediction errors are likely to be large.”

Norcross went on to say there’s nothing to do right now but stay informed, so be sure to download it for free. FOX Weather app and enable notifications to be alerted to any changes in forecasts.