WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Tropical Depression 19 strengthened into Tropical Storm Sara in the Caribbean on Thursday.
In some reassuring news for South Florida, WPTV First Alert Weather meteorologist James Wieland said the National Hurricane Center is calling for a weaker storm due to more land interaction.
TRACKING THE TROPICS: Hurricane Center | Hurricane Guide
The WPTV First Alert Weather team is cautiously optimistic with the recent models.
"The storm is not gonna be as strong or it's not gonna have the chance to get as strong as earlier runs of these models were suggesting the past few days," WPTV First Alert Weather meteorologist Jennifer Correa said.
Sara is still forecast to head into the Gulf of Mexico next week. However, it may be weaker as it may stay over land longer once it reaches the Yucatan Peninsula.
Wieland said a farther south and then farther west track has been trending on the models since late Wednesday, and the NHC has continued to shift its track in that direction.
Tracking close to or over Honduras, Belize, and the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico will not allow the storm to get terribly strong, and most models don't have it surviving by time it gets into the Gulf of Mexico.
There still could be some changes, but with the NHC jumping onboard, this is a positive step. It's still a ways out, so we will stay cautiously optimistic.
However, some leftover remnant moisture will get swept our way next Wednesday and Thursday, and there will be higher rain chances in South Florida on those days.
Also, for those who like cooler weather, the latest long-range models have a big cooldown for Thanksgiving through that weekend.
