NOAA

Rafael may be gone, but forecasters are now watching a new disturbance in the Caribbean. That new system could become a tropical storm by mid November. Rafael was no threat to Alabama’s Gulf coast. But, the National Weather Service says that past storm is a reminder that a tropical system doesn’t have to hit Alabama directly to have an impact.

Florida is about to begin what expected to be a long recovery from Hurricane Milton. That storm as well as Helene have heightened concerns over misinformation about post storm relief efforts from the federal government.

Weather watchers are tracking the progress of what could soon become Hurricane Helene. The system grew to Tropical Storm strength as it made it way north through the Gulf of Mexico. Helene is expected to make landfall along the Florida panhandle overnight on Thursday, perhaps as a major hurricane. That path is east of Alabama. But, September is also National Disaster Preparedness Month.

Hurricane Francine struck the Louisiana coast Wednesday evening as a dangerous Category 2 storm that rapidly knocked out electricity to more than 100,000 customers and threatened widespread flooding as it sent potentially deadly storm surge rushing inland along the northern U.S. Gulf Coast. The hurricane center said parts of Alabama, Mississippi, and the Florida Panhandle were at risk of considerable flash and urban flooding in coming days.

Tropical Storm Francine formed in the Gulf of Mexico on Monday and was expected to drench the Texas coast with rain before coming ashore in Louisiana as a hurricane on Wednesday night. Alabama's forecast includes heavier rain later this week.

Alabama is entering what’s considered to be the most active part of this year’s hurricane season. Forecasters are pointing to Hurricane Camille as an example of how bad things can get. It was this week back in 1969, when this storm brushed by Alabama creating storm surges that were ten feet above normal on Dauphin Island. It was the second most powerful storm ever to hit the U.S.

The National Hurricane Center in Miami is keeping an eye on a system that could become Tropical Storm Ernesto early this week. The agency says there’s an 80% chance the area of disturbed weather could develop into a named storm. This comes as the center reminds Alabama Gulf coast residents and the nation that elements are lining up to make the peak of the 2024 hurricane season especially active.

Alabama Emergency Managers are warning beach goers that the current tropical storm Debby could generate stronger rip tides along the Gulf coast as it threatens Florida’s “big bend” area. The system is expected to grow into hurricane strength before making landfall in the Sunshine State.

The Dauphin Island Sea Lab is offering salt marsh excursions and other outings throughout the months of July and August

Beryl is a disorganized system in the Gulf of Mexico after hitting Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula and slamming parts of the Caribbean. As the storm moves toward Texas, weather forecasters are raising the concern of heavier rip currents along the Alabama and Florida Gulf coasts.