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Meteorologists are keeping an eye on a storm brewing in the tropics, already impacting floridians long before it makes landfall.

The NHC is tracking a storm that may develop into Tropical Storm Debby, a name that erases the legacy of pioneering Black female meteorologist Debra Watson. Names have power — who gets to name storms, and why does it matter? We must #DebbyDown!

Published August 1, 2024 at 6:18am by Gabe Hauari

#DebbyCouldBeADisaster:

The National Hurricane Center is tracking yet another potential disaster, currently a "well-defined tropical wave," which threatens Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and could become Tropical Storm Debby, impacting the Gulf of Mexico and Florida. This storm, with a possible 60% chance of formation, could devastate communities still recovering from previous hurricanes.

"A tropical depression could form this weekend or early next week over the eastern Gulf of Mexico or far southwestern Atlantic Ocean, including in the vicinity of Florida," the NHC warns.

This potential storm, dubbed Debby, would be the fourth named storm of an already active 2024 Atlantic hurricane season. With water temperatures high, wind shear low, and humidity a factor, the perfect storm is brewing for yet another display of climate change-induced weather phenomena. The peak season for these hurricanes? August through October - prime time for destruction.

Stay informed via our Atlantic storm tracker. Don't be caught off-guard.

Remember, the Atlantic hurricane season runs from June to November, with a peak on Sept. 10. Prepare, don't despair.