Tropical Storm Beta: torrential rains, storm surge and life-threating flooding

ORLANDO, Fla. — 5 p.m. update

The latest update on Tropical Storm Beta now shows the storm weakening.

Although parts of Texas and Louisiana are still under hurricane watch forecasts show strong winds and dry air are limiting the storm.

According to meteorologist George Waldenberger the latest track still has Beta as a tropical storm as it heads towards Texas.

5 PM UPDATE - SOME BETTER NEWS: Wind shear+ dry air may limit strengthening. Tropical Storm Beta's chances of become a hurricane are decreasing. Latest track maintains tropical storm intensity nearing Texas Coast Tuesday. However hurricane watches are still in effect. pic.twitter.com/QQo9Z3aSui
— George Waldenberger (@GWaldenWFTV) September 19, 2020

Radar shows Tropical storm Beta is nearly stationary with sustained winds of 60 mph.

2 p.m update

Tropical storm Wilfred formed in the far eastern Atlantic Ocean on Friday morning. Later Friday, Subtropical Storm Alpha formed near Portugal. On Friday afternoon, Tropical Storm Beta formed in the Gulf. We explain the outlook for each of the three systems below:

TD-22 now upgraded to Tropical Storm Beta pic.twitter.com/h5Udg4ZmmE
— Kassandra Crimi (@KCrimiWFTV) September 18, 2020

NOTA EN ESPAÑOL: Trópico hiperactivo: Wilfred, Alfa y otra tormenta sobre el Golfo de México

Tropical Storm Beta

Tropical Storm Beta continues to gain strength as he moves west through the Gulf of Mexico at 3 mph.

Tropical storm warnings have been issues for portions of Texas and the Louisiana coast.

It is likely that this will be the next named storm of the season, and the system will slowly continue to gain strength and become better organized. By Saturday, it should be a tropical storm. The next name on the list is Beta, since Wilfred form in the far eastern Atlantic and Alpha formed near Portugal. the last time we had to use the greek alphabet for names was in 2005.

This system is forecast to move very slowly toward the northeast, coming close to the central Gulf of Mexico on Saturday. Most meteorological computer models show a turn to the west on Sunday, which could place this system as a strong tropical storm or hurricane somewhere between northeastern Mexico and the central Texas coast early next week.

Tropical Storm Wilfred

As of 11 a.m. Saturday Tropical Storm Wilfred continues to move northwest at 14 mph. with sustained winds of 40mph.

The National Hurricane Center’s forecast shows that this storm will dissipate this system by early next week as wind shear is expected to increase.

Short-lived storm caught in a bigger low-pressure system... Rare. #Alpha
This means that the Gulf of Mexico system will be Beta... maybe. I mean it's 2020 and something else can pop up. pic.twitter.com/lIT5Rv6PnD
— Irene Sans (@IreneSans) September 18, 2020

Subtropical Storm Alpha

A rare subtropical storm formed just off the coast of Portugal. This storm will be a remnant low by Saturday morning. The National Hurricane Center initiated advisories on this system the small system that is expected to bring rain and strong winds to Portugal during the next 24 hours.