Tropical Storm Chris forms

SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) – After heavy downpours and numerous lightning strikes Sunday afternoon, the start of the work week will be noticeably drier. There is a chance of isolated thunderstorms in the coastal areas in the morning and late evening. In the afternoon, most of the thunderstorms will pass east of I-75.

As for clouds, Monday will be partly sunny. Highs will be around 90 degrees and the feel temperature will reach triple digits.

Boaters can expect much better conditions on Monday than they did over the weekend. Although there may be some storms along the coast in the morning, skies will be partly sunny to partly cloudy for most of the afternoon. For beachgoers and anyone engaging in outdoor activities, the UV index will once again fall into the “extreme” category, so sun protection is recommended.

In the tropics, the third named storm of 2024 has developed. Tropical Storm Chris developed into a depression and then a tropical storm Sunday evening. It has sustained winds of 40 mph and up to 50 mph. It is located in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico on the west side of the Bay of Campeche. A tropical storm warning has been issued along the east coast of Mexico. Heavy rains, tropical storm-force winds and possible mudslides in higher areas may occur. It is expected to weaken quickly as it moves ashore overnight.

Meanwhile, Hurricane Beryl, a strong and very dangerous Category 4 hurricane, is moving westward toward the Leeward Islands with sustained winds of 210 km/h. Life-threatening winds and storm surge are expected in parts of the Leeward Islands starting Monday.

Beryl’s projected path is west-northwest. It is too far away to predict its exact location, but some steepening in the upper levels combined with Saharan dust could contribute to weakening as it moves over open water in the Caribbean. At this point, it looks like Beryl will eventually weaken to a tropical storm as it reaches the Yucatan Peninsula. Some models predict it will restrengthen after leaving the Yucatan and make landfall again as a tropical storm or hurricane near the Mexico-Texas border on Sunday. Beryl is being followed on the heels of a disturbance that has a 70% chance of developing in seven days and a 40% chance in two days.

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