UPDATE 10/5/20 11 PM
Gamma has succumbed to shear and dry air and is now post tropical. This is the last update on this system.
FOX 4 CHIEF METEOROLOGIST DEREK BEASLEY
UPDATE 10/5/20 5PM
Gamma has now weakened to a tropical depression with 35mph winds. It is dying quickly & is expected to become a post-tropical remnant low later tonight as it moves inland over the northern Yucatan Peninsiula.
FOX 4 METEOROLOGIST CINDY PRESZLER
UPDATE 10/5/20 11 AM:
Tropical Storm Gamma this morning has almost no convection near the center, with an exposed swirl noted on visible satellite. The storm is likely encountering some southwesterly shear and some dry air which basically as decapitated the storm. The surface pressures remain around 1000 mb so not much change in strength has occurred since this morning. It is still located just north of the northern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula and will slowly drift WSW over the next few days with it likely moving inland over the Yucatan by Tuesday into Wednesday with further weakening.
FOX 4 CHIEF METEOROLOGIST DEREK BEASLEY
UPDATE 10/5/20 5AM:
Tropical Storms Gamma drifting slowly WSW just north of the Yucatan Peninsula
Gamma is forecast to gradually turn toward the southwest later today, and continue to move slowly in that direction through mid-week. On the forecast track, the center of Gamma will continue to meander offshore of the northern Yucatan Peninsula early this morning, and pass near or just offshore of the northern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula late today and on Tuesday. Gamma could possibly move inland along the northwest coast of the Yucatan Peninsula Tuesday night and Wednesday.
Maximum sustained winds are near 50 mph with higher gusts. Slow weakening is forecast during the next 48 hours.
Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 160 miles, mainly northwest through northeast of the center.
The estimated minimum central pressure is 999 mb.
FOX 4 METEOROLOGIST TRENT ARIC
UPDATE 10/4/20 11 PM
Tropical Storm Gamma still has a maximum sustained wind of 60 mph as it drifts toward the east at 2 mph. A ridge building to the north of Gamma will cause the storm to move westward. Later in the weak Gamma is expected to turn back toward the north and weaken into a possible depression by Friday. Remnants of Gamma may move toward the Gulf coast, but will not impact southwest Florida.
FOX 4 METEOROLOGIST ERIC STONE
UPDATE 10/4/20 5 PM
Tropical Storm Gamma has now emerged into the Gulf of Mexico and has maximum sustained wind of 60 mph and is meandering just north of the Yucatan Peninsula. Gamma will encounter a building ridge to its north which will cause the storm to move toward the west and southwest this week. Strong southerly wind shear will keep Gamma from strengthening as it continues to move away from southwest Florida and into the Bay of Campeche.
FOX 4 METEOROLOGIST ERIC STONE
UPDATE 10/3/20 11 PM
Tropical Storm Gamma continues to pack wind of 60 mph as it moves northwest at 7 mph. Gamma will re-emerge in the Gulf of Mexico and encounter a ridge to its north which will cause it to move west and southwest over the coming days.
FOX 4 METEOROLOGIST ERIC STONE
UPDATE 10/3/20 5 PM
Tropical Storm Gamma has strengthened since this morning, but made landfall around 1 pm over the Yucatan Peninsula. Maximum sustained wind is 65 mph as it continues to move to the NW at 8 mph. Gamma developed a ragged eye as it almost reached hurricane status before making landfall. A ridge will cause Gamma to turn to the west and southwest next week where it could strengthen over the warm water in the Bay of Campeche.
FOX 4 METEOROLOGIST ERIC STONE
UPDATE 10/3/20 5 AM
Tropical Storm Gamma has strengthened a bit overnight and has maximum sustained wind of 50 mph. Central pressure continues to decrease to 992 mb. Gamma continues to move to the northwest at 9 mph and is expected to make landfall in the Yucatan sometime today. Tropical storm force wind and several inches of rain currently ongoing in the Yucatan and will continue into Sunday and Monday. Early next week Gamma will encounter a ridge to the north which will cause the storm to move westward and then southwestward into the Bay of Campeche. Gamma is expected to make a second landfall in Mexico later next week.
FOX 4 METEOROLOGIST ERIC STONE
UPDATE 10/2/20 11 PM
Central pressure associated with Tropical Storm Gamma has lowered over the past few hours to 998 mb which shows signs of strengthening although maximum sustained wind remains at 40 mph. Gamma continues to move to the northwest at 9 mph but the cone has shifted southward toward the end of the 5 day forecast period. Gamma is expected to move into the Bay of Campeche next week after making landfall in the Yucatan Peninsula tomorrow. Gamma will re-emerge into the Gulf of Mexico Sunday and be steered to the west due to a trough to its north early next week.
FOX 4 METEOROLOGIST ERIC STONE
UPDATE 10/2/20 8 PM
T.D. #25 has now strengthened into Tropical Storm Gamma, the third letter of the Greek alphabet. Maximum sustained wind is at 40 mph and Gamma continues to move toward the northwest at 9 mph. Central pressure has dropped to 1000 mb. Tropical storm watches and warnings have been issued for parts of Mexico as the storm is expected to move over the Yucatan and emerge into the Gulf of Mexico. It will then interact with weak ridge in the northern Gulf of Mexico which will cause Gamma to move westward and away from southwest Florida next week.
FOX 4 METEOROLOGIST ERIC STONE
UPDATE 10/2/20 5 PM
Thunderstorm banding has become a little better defined this afternoon but otherwise not much has changed since this morning. There could be a little S-SW hear the next couple of days but it is still expected to become a tropical storm before nearing the Yucatan Peninsula on Saturday.
A ridge building across the northern Gulf of Mexico should force it to turn to the west & away from SWFL. However, deep tropical moisture will be enhanced.
FOX 4 METEOROLOGIST CINDY PRESZLER
UPDATE 10/2/20 11 AM
Tropical Depression 25 formed this morning over the NW Caribbean Sea. It is better organized & shows cloud circulation. Since water temps are very warm & there will be very little shear the next couple of days, it is forecast to become a tropical storm by Saturday. Its name would be Gamma. It will bring heavy rain & wind to the Yucatan Peninsula with tropical moisture spreading northeastward toward FL through the weekend. Next week, it is forecast to turn toward the west in the southern Gulf of Mexico & away from SWFL.
FOX 4 METEOROLOGIST CINDY PRESZLER
FIRST UPDATE 10/1/20 11 PM
Tropical Invest 91-L is an open wave that has tropical storm force wind gusts. Maximum sustained wind is 35 mph with a central pressure of 1006 mb. Its currently moving to the NW at 8 mph and is expected to continue to move toward either the Yucatan or the Gulf of Mexico. Conditions are expected to be conducive for a tropical depression or storm to form sometime Friday or Saturday. If a tropical storm develops the name would be Gamma. Strengthening of this wave depends on whether this system moves over Central America, the Yucatan, or the Gulf of Mexico. It looks as though this system will move away from SWFL.
FOX 4 METEOROLOGIST ERIC STONE
