atlanta weekend travel tagged interest

A homebrew storm may form this weekend in the Atlantic Ocean soon after Hurricane Francine attacks southern Louisiana Wednesday.

GEORGIA — As Hurricane Francine continues its track toward the Gulf states, AccuWeather forecasters say there could be a new tropical development in the Atlantic Ocean that soon may be concerning for the Southeast.

The "homebrew" development is expected to show itself this weekend after Francine makes landfall, which was expected sometime Wednesday night. As of its 3 p.m. Wednesday update, the National Hurricane Center had Francineand#39;s eyewall closing in on southern Louisiana.

AccuWeather meteorologists explained the term, "homebrew," means a system formed near the U.S. coast. They said this activity is usual during the early stages of hurricane season.

The current risk of the development is medium, AccuWeather said.

Early Wednesday, the National Weather Service told Patch Georgia may anticipate some 30-plus mph wind gusts and heavy rainfall due to the remnants of Francine.

AccuWeather later said "Francineand#39;s energy" could enter the Gulf Stream near the East Coast, "where a storm will brew and likely take on at least some tropical characteristics this weekend."

"We continue to monitor the area just off the Carolina and Georgia coasts for tropical development this weekend to early next week," AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Expert Alex DaSilva said in a news release. "This system has the potential to spread heavy rain to the Carolinas and perhaps the lower part of the mid-Atlantic as it drifts to the west and northwest."

While AccuWeather said the system may run out of time to transform into a hurricane, it can become a tropical depression or a tropical storm.

News of a potential tropical development comes as the NHC said Tropical Depression 7 has assembled in the Atlantic and is expected to remain there for the next several days.

As of 2 p.m. Wednesday, the NHC said TD 7 was blowing 35 mph sustained winds and was located near the Cabo Verde Islands in west Africa. The storm was moving west-northwest and should maintain its speed of 18 mph before slowing down.

The next two names on the hurricane list are Gordon and Helene, with Gordon possibly going to TD 7 this week, AccuWeather said.

While TD 7 could upgrade to a hurricane, AccuWeather forecasters said it could remain in the ocean during its duration.

“We’re expecting conditions across much of the Atlantic basin to become more conducive for tropical development in the coming weeks,” DaSilva said in the release. “Waters temperatures are extremely warm right now. People need to be prepared for potential tropical threats that can rapidly intensify into a tropical storm or a hurricane in just a few days.”

TD 7and#39;s impact to Georgia, Virginia and the Carolinas will be based on the systemand#39;s ability to organize and strengthen before moving inland, as well as its forward speed, AccuWeather said.

Possible hazards include building seas, severe thunderstorms that could produce few tornadoes and waterspouts, rough surf, strong rip currents and beach erosion in coastal areas.

"Weak steering breezes may cause the storm to stall after moving inland over the Southeast states," AccuWeather said in the release.

Moisture from the Gulf is expected to move over Georgia between Wednesday and Sunday morning, with NWS meteorologist Lindsay Marlow telling Patch up to 3 inches of rain are possible to pour into parts of the state.

Friday is shaping up to be the rainiest day in metro Atlanta as it had a 60-80 percent of heavy rainfall as of early Wednesday.

"The more rainfall that we get, the more likely soils are likely to be saturated," Marlow said.

In this regard, power lines and trees could be knocked down though Marlow said no widespread behavior of downed trees and lines are anticipated.

Metro Atlanta may feel winds of 25 mph Wednesday afternoon, but Marlow said Thursday is forecast to be the windiest day in the metro.

Wind gusts to the west of the metro could experience wind gusts of 30 mph; however, she added winds of 30-34 mph could creep into the immediate metro.

If this happens, it would affect Fulton, DeKalb, Cobb, Douglas, Fayette and Cherokee counties due to the metro being more developed than other areas, Marlow said.

These winds are expected to travel away from the metro overnight into Friday, she said.

Wind gusts in the Northeast could ramp up to 35 mph from about 8 a.m. Thursday, with the strongest gust occurring between 1 and 5 p.m., due to tunnel winds in the valleys, Marlow said.

As of late Wednesday morning, there were three tropical disturbances in the Atlantic.

Marlow said while it is currently too early to know possible land contact, the NWS is monitoring the forecast in the next week and will communicate with the NHC in the instance signs of potential impact arise.

There is presently "not too much cause to worry," Marlow said.

Though Georgia has been minimally affected by the Atlantic hurricane season, she reminded people to not "let their guard down," take precautions and prepare.

As of around 4:45 p.m. Wednesday, the National Weather Service predicted the following detailed forecast for metro Atlanta:

Tonight: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after 4 a.m. Cloudy, with a low around 66. East wind 10-15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Thursday: Showers likely, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 5 p.m. High near 74. East wind 15-20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 10 p.m., then showers likely between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m., then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 1am. Low around 66. East wind 15-20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Friday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 75. East wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent.

Friday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Low around 66. East wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent.

Saturday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 8 a.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m., then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 74. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent.

Saturday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 8 p.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 8 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.

Sunday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 78.

Sunday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2 a.m., then a slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.

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