Tropical Storm Gilma is on the verge of dissipating as it approaches the Hawaiian island of Kauai this weekend, according to the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center (NHC). The NHC described Gilma as “barely a tropical storm” and indicated that its trajectory will continue moving slightly north of due west until Thursday, before shifting to a west-northwest direction on Friday.
The storm’s remnants are anticipated to dissipate near Kauai on Saturday. Currently, maximum sustained winds are recorded at approximately 40 mph, with potential higher gusts. However, significant weakening is expected over Thursday and Friday, and there are currently no coastal watches or warnings in effect.
The National Weather Service in Honolulu reported early Thursday that both Tropical Storm Gilma and Hector are likely to weaken as they approach the islands from the east, which might lead to increased periods of wet weather across the region as the weekend approaches.
In addition, the NHC noted early Thursday a “broad area of disorganized showers” over the central Tropical Atlantic linked to a tropical wave, indicating a possibility of slow development for this system over the weekend and into the middle of next week, with a 20 percent chance of formation over the next seven days.
This year has seen a higher number of storms in the Pacific compared to the Atlantic, which has surprised forecasters. Despite this, meteorologists caution that residents should remain vigilant regarding Atlantic storms. AccuWeather forecasters predict a significant shift in weather patterns that may usher in a surge of tropical activity. They forecast between six and ten tropical systems may develop in September, akin to the 2020 hurricane season that set records with ten storms in the same month and a total of 30 named storms.
Meanwhile, the next named storm for the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season is expected to be named Francine.