Weather Tracker: Francine Looks Like Next Atlantic Hurricane | Hurricanes

Weather Tracker: Francine Looks Like Next Atlantic Hurricane | Hurricanes

Francine could soon be the next to be checked off this week’s list of Atlantic hurricane storm names. On Friday, a broad area of ​​low pressure formed in the Gulf of Mexico, designated Invest 91L. An “invest” — short for “survey area” — refers to an area of ​​atmospheric disturbance characterized by low pressure and thunderstorms, and is being closely watched for its potential to develop into a tropical cyclone.

Invest 91L is expected to encounter more favorable environmental conditions as it moves northward over the next few days, meandering along the eastern coast of Mexico and Texas. The National Hurricane Center has now designated it as a potential tropical cyclone, and it is expected to reach hurricane status before it reaches the U.S. Gulf Coast. It advises that hurricane and storm surge warnings will likely be issued for coastal areas of Texas and Louisiana on Monday, with impacts expected to be felt beginning Tuesday evening.

While wind speeds may not be the most noticeable feature, the associated rainfall could create challenging conditions. As Invest 91L moves inland, East Texas and Louisiana could see intense precipitation on Thursday, with some areas receiving up to 4 inches (100 mm) of rain in a six-hour period.

South America is set to experience a significant increase in temperatures later this week, with daily highs reaching the mid to high 30s Celsius. Both Brazil and Paraguay are expected to see temperatures around 10 degrees above the seasonal average, with Rio de Janeiro reaching 36 degrees and Asunción in Paraguay peaking at 37 degrees on Wednesday. Argentina, however, will take the top spot for the most extreme climate anomaly, with Córdoba expected to approach 35 degrees on Tuesday, 13 degrees above the norm.

In contrast, Central Europe is set to experience a dramatic drop in temperatures after its warmest summer on record. An influx of Arctic air will sweep across the UK and Central Europe into the Mediterranean from Tuesday, resulting in daytime maximum temperatures dropping more than 10C below the seasonal average.

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Daily highs in Croatia, the Czech Republic and Slovenia, among others, will struggle to reach double figures on Thursday and Friday. Innsbruck in Austria is likely to endure the most severe cold, with temperatures around 13C below the norm, going from a forecast daytime high of 23C on Wednesday to a maximum of 8C on Friday.